1. Simple Plug-In Power Supply System

This kitchen lighting is a simple system using a plug in power supply and one long custom flex strip.

Measure available space for flex:

To build this set up you will need to first measure out the entire length of the area where the flex strip will be mounted. Once you have the full measurement you will need to subtract 3” in order to make room for the cable connectors on each side. In this case, with a measurement of 87” of available space the flex strip is made to 83.5” because that is the closest cut length. Before measuring the cabinets, it is a good idea to know where you plan on mounting the flex strips.

Mounting the flex strip:

Typically there are two common ways to mount the flex strips under the cabinets. The first option is mounting the flex strip on the front trim facing the backsplash or the second option is mounting the flex 2” away from the front of the cabinet facing down on the counter top. Mounting the flex with the first option will highlight the backsplash and helps to eliminate some of the reflection off of the counter top. The second mounting option will give the most task light for under cabinet lights but will cause a reflection on very reflective counter tops. A good way to decide on which mounting option you prefer is to use painters tape to hold the flex strip in place so you can see how the lights will look. Once the mounting option has been decided you will want to clean the bottoms of the cabinets, where you plan on mounting the flex, with isopropyl alcohol to remove any dust or dirt.

Dividers under cabinets:

This cabinet set had a full run underneath with no interference so we are able to run one long flex strip which makes installing easier and less expensive. However, not all cabinets will have a straight run, most will have dividers underneath them. When there are dividers under the cabinets you have two options to modify the cabinets so it is able to have long runs of LED strips. The two options are to either make a slot in these dividers for the flex to fit in or drill a 1/2” hole in them for the flex strip to slide through.

Providing Power:

After knowing where and how the lights will be mounted, it is good to know where the power supply will be mounted so that you’ll know how to run the cables. Plug in the power supply into an outlet closest to the run of LEDs, or into a switched outlet if you want to control it. In this case the power supply is plugged into an extra outlet in the cabinet above the oven. Since the outlet is not a switched outlet, the lights will stay on at all times in this current set up.

Wiring Cables:

To hide cables from being seen, you will want to drill a hole in the bottom front corner of the cabinet so that the cable can be hidden inside, behind the stile (vertical pieces of the front frame). When using Inspired LED’s Interconnect Cables you will need a drill bit that is 3/8” in diameter for the connector to fit threw.   Once the hole is drilled, run the cable up through the inside of the cabinet behind the stile. Use Inspired LED’s Cable clamps to hold the cable in place as well as any excess cable.