Lighting for the kitchen under the cabinets: do it yourself

Lighting is the main component of any design solution. It is necessary to correctly calculate the number of required lamps and take a responsible approach to their choice. It is best to use a combination than one bright chandelier. In this article, we will take a closer look at the lighting of kitchen cabinets using LEDs.

Most often, the kitchen space is divided into two main zones: the dining area (where guests are received, drink tea, and eat) and the work area (where food is prepared). A not too bright and warmer light is installed in the dining area, which adds coziness to the kitchen. But over the working part, a bright light is used, which makes the cooking process comfortable and pleasant, does not strain the eyes.

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If you do not do the backlight, then a shadow will fall on the countertop during cutting or other cooking work, which causes some discomfort.

DIY lighting planning

When planning kitchen lighting with your own hands, you need to take into account the following factors:

• When the working part is located in the center of the kitchen, ceiling mounted lamps are used;
• You can make the lighting of kitchen cabinets;
• The light from the lamps must be diffused.

Luminaires, which are installed in the bottom of the hanging kitchen cabinets, provide directional light, which makes cooking comfortable and convenient.

Types of lighting: advantages and disadvantages

Incandescent lamps

They can be with swivel arms to guide them, or fixed. The main advantages are their low cost. As for the disadvantages, the bodies and brackets take up a certain place, which is inconvenient when cooking. Incandescent lamps are uneconomical and have a short lifespan.

Spotlights

Spotlights are equipped with protective glasses that prevent steam and moisture from entering them. They do not create partial shade, as they distribute the lighting evenly. Luminaires have no significant drawbacks, with the exception of installation difficulties.

LED strips

Today they are quite often used as lighting. And not only for decorating light under kitchen cabinets.

Long service life, economy, no heating during operation, ease of installation, affordable cost are the reasons why many people choose this particular option.

LED strip lighting has several disadvantages:

• additionally you need to install a transformer;
• when one LED fails, then all must be replaced.

LED panels

This illumination option produces uniform and soft illumination that is pleasing to the eye. Their price is higher, however, the benefits override this easily. The main advantages are: long service life of LEDs (more than 70 thousand hours), economy, ease of maintenance and installation, absence of hazardous substances.

LED panels are used in houses and apartments, offices, workplaces and even in large shopping malls. These panels are gaining popularity and are replacing traditional lamp lighting.

LED panels have significant advantages, in contrast to lamp ones: they are energy-saving, have a long time services - they can work for 15 or more years, they are easy to install and dismantle, and there are no problems with them disposal. Moreover, these lamps do not require special maintenance.

Lighting with the help of panels is used in any premises, since during operation they generate almost no heat, as well as radiation harmful to the eyes. They can even be installed in a children's room.

LED panels are the safest LED luminaires that do not emit harmful infrared or ultraviolet rays. The light from them lays down softer and smoother, in contrast to the lamp. Flicker does not appear during operation.

Panel design: their power source is 220 volts, and the light source is special LED lamps. The panels use LEDs that do not contain mercury and other substances harmful to humans and the environment.

The principle of operation of LED panels: diodes emit light, which at a given angle hits the surface of the inner panel. It is due to this that the most optimal lighting method is obtained.

The main advantages of installing LED devices:

• Resistance to external stimuli;
• Durability;
• No additional warm-up time is required during power-on;
• Create bright light;
• Affordable cost;
• Variety of colors;
• Operational safety;
• Environmental friendliness;
• Do-it-yourself installation.

If you want to highlight the functional areas, then select only white LEDs, and if install the backlight to emphasize the original interior, then it is advisable to use colored diodes. The tape with diode elements can fully provide the lighting rate. It is an elastic strip, where semiconductor elements with resistors are located on one side, and an adhesive base on the other.

Tapes are classified according to several criteria:

• By the number of crystals: from 1 to 4;
• By color: multicolor or one-color version;
• By the density and length of the diode arrangement;
• By the type of glow: monochrome or full color;
• By the degree of moisture protection;
• By electrical voltage.

The LED backlight is protected from dirt and moisture penetration through its surface. For illumination of the working surface, you can use a three-crystal version, and for decoration - a single-crystal version. The brightness level depends on the density of the LEDs.

Do-it-yourself installation of lighting in the kitchen under the cabinets

The density of the LEDs on the strip and its length will depend on the size of the countertop, the lighting zone and the height. Since the diodes require 12 volts for power supply, and not the standard 220 volts, as in a home electrical network, it is additionally necessary to install a transformer.

It is selected taking into account:

• power;
• output rated voltage.

As for the switch, there may be such options:

• Touch-sensitive.
• Regular push-button.
• A dimmer that regulates the luminous flux. Control can be made mechanical, in the form of a rotating handle, or touch.
• Infrared, this switch reacts to movement.
• A control unit that makes the light shine with colored lights or blink when a multicolor RGB strip is selected. However, these effects are rarely used.

In addition, you will need: a soldering iron with rosin and solder, scissors, connecting wires and a plastic box, an insulating tube or tape.

For the kitchen, LED lighting is attached to the surface under the cabinets on a special profile using connecting clips or double-sided tape. We measure the required tape size with a tape measure and cut off the excess. It is necessary to cut the tape in special places (most often they are located through three LEDs).

The power can be calculated according to the following rule: multiply the power of a meter of tape by the total installed length. It is necessary to add 25% to the resulting indicator (a margin to prevent overload).

Connect to the contacts using connectors or solder two cables, and insulate the connection. Only after that you can proceed directly to the fastening, having previously cleaned the surface with alcohol (to remove all dirt).

The connection to the transformer is made clearly according to the instructions that come with it. At the end, you need to check that there are no exposed wires, and put plastic boxes.

Installation safety rules:

• be sure to comply with all electrical safety requirements. Installation can only be carried out with the power supply disconnected;
• semiconductor elements should not be subjected to mechanical stress;
• at the time of installation on a metal surface between the surface and the tape, it is necessary to fix the electrical insulating material;
• be sure to observe the polarity of the connection.

Operation of LED strip

During the period of operation, you need to adhere to some rules:

• the ambient temperature should not be more than 45 degrees;
• systematically clean the surface from dust and dirt;
• minimize moisture ingress;
• it is forbidden to increase the supply voltage above the permissible value, which is indicated on the tape;
• do not immerse the tape in water.

Does this lighting harm your eyesight?

There are a lot of speculations about the dangers and safety of this lighting, but in general it is quite safe. However, this statement is only valid for certified LED luminaires.

It is simply impossible to independently determine the poor quality of these lamps without a special device. In order to preserve your eyesight, purchase LED surface-mounted lamps only in specialized stores.

There is only one thing that is prohibited - it is to look at a working tape, which does not have a protective case.

Diode lamps are a convenient modern source of lighting for the kitchen space. An important quality is a high level of efficiency. These lamps convert electric current into light radiation with little or no heat. They have a high efficiency.

Unlike other lighting methods, they create flicker-free and uniform light, which is why designers love them, and the service life is much longer than other lighting fixtures.

It should be noted the advantages of lighting with LEDs for the kitchen:

• due to its compact size, it can be built into furniture, glued inside it or installed behind furniture;
• copes with highlighting dark corners;
• with the help of this lighting, you can focus on individual objects or emphasize the overall design;
• consumes a minimum amount of electricity, unlike other lighting devices and even economical lamps;
• the light is directed only to the work surface, it does not hit the eyes and makes cooking comfortable;
• solid one-piece crystal structure and a sealed case are not afraid of temperature extremes, moisture - they are best suited to the climate of the kitchen;
• the service life can be up to 10 years.

LED lighting for kitchen cabinets has an average service time of 30-60 thousand hours. Its use in the interior is modern, reliable and stylish.

To lengthen the operating time, it is recommended to install a voltage stabilizer, which can reduce the brightness of the lighting.

Also a significant advantage is the ease of installation of the LED strip. Almost any home craftsman can handle this task with his own hands, subject to safety precautions. This means that you can save on installation costs.

Photo examples of lighting kitchen cabinets with LEDs