Cabinet Lighting

Cabinet Lighting

Cabinet Lighting FAQ

ADJUSTABLE
Q) Once they're installed which cabinet light fixtures can be adjusted?

A) The Fluorescent Swivel Sticks can be adjusted after they're installed. Once they are mounted these fixtures can be rotated a full 180 degrees.

COOLEST
Q) Which cabinet light fixtures are the coolest?

A) All of the fluorescent light fixtures give off very little heat. The xenon (pronounced ze-non) light fixtures are hotter than the fluorescent light fixtures but are still cooler than halogen light fixtures. To learn which fixtures are the hottest please click Hottest Cabinet Lights.

DIMMABLE
Q) Which cabinet light fixtures are dimmable?

A) The Xenon Light Strip is fully dimmable. Depending on which transformer is used (a hard wire transformer OR a cord & plug transformer) the Xenon Puck Lights and the Xenon Triangle Lights may or may not be dimmable. If a hard-wire transformer is selected, then these xenon cabinet light fixtures ARE dimmable. If, however, they are powered by a cord & plug transformer, then they are NOT dimmable. None of the fluorescent light fixtures can be dimmed.

ENERGY EFFICIENT
Q) Which cabinet light fixtures are the most energy efficient?

A) All of the fluorescent under cabinet light fixtures are the most energy efficient to operate. Fluorescent fixtures are always more efficient than incandescent fixtures including xenon and halogen light fixtures.

FLICKER-FREE
Q) Which fluorescent cabinet light fixtures turn on instantly with no flickering?

A) All of the fluorescent fixtures turn on instantly without flickering because they all have instant start electronic ballasts. All of the xenon fixtures and halogen fixtures, of course, turn on instantly because they are forms of incandescent lighting.

HARD WIRE to POWER
Q) Which cabinet light fixtures can be hard-wired to power?

A) To “hard wire” a light fixture means to connect it electrically by using a Romex wire. If the fixture receives its power by plugging a cord & plug into the nearest electrical receptacle, then this is NOT considered to be a hard-wired connection. The Xenon Light Strip can all be easily hard-wired to power. The Xenon Puck Lights and the Xenon Triangle Lights can be hard-wired to power if a "remote" transformer is used.  The Microfluorescent Light Fixtures can be hard-wired to power if the proper Hard-Wire Box option is selected. To learn which fixtures can be plugged in please click Plug-In Cabinet Lights.

HOTTEST
Q) Which cabinet light fixtures are the hottest?

A) Any cabinet light fixture that uses LINE VOLTAGE (120 volts) halogen lighting with NO transformer is the hottest type of cabinet light fixture. It is for this reason that we do NOT sell any cabinet fixtures of this type. To learn which fixtures are the coolest please click Coolest Cabinet Lights.

INSTALLATION
Q) Which cabinet light fixtures are the easiest to install?

A) If a single light fixture is being installed, the Microfluorescent T4 Fixtures, the Fluorescent Low-Profile Fixtures, or the Fluorescent Swivel Sticks are probably the easiest to install. If a group of light fixtures is being installed, the Microfluorescent T4 Fixtures or the Fluorescent Low-Profile Fixtures are probably the easiest to install. The Xenon Light Strip is probably the most difficult to install.

LENGTH
Q) Which cabinet light fixtures are the longest?

A) The longest cabinet light product is the Xenon Light Strip. Because of its very nature it can be almost any length that it needs to be. Excluding this lighting product the longest light fixture is the 59.0in Fluorescent T5 SlimLite XL Light Fixture.

LIGHT BULBS PROVIDED
Q) Which cabinet light fixtures are supplied with light bulbs?

A) All of the cabinet light fixtures are supplied with their own light bulbs EXCEPT for the Xenon Low Voltage Light Strip, the Fluorescent T5 SlimLite XL Light Fixtures, and the Halogen Mini Recessed Fixtures. With these light fixtures the light bulbs must be purchased separately.

LIGHT QUALITY
Q) Which cabinet light fixtures produce light that is similar to incandescent light?

A) All of the xenon light fixtures use xenon light bulbs, which ARE incandescent light sources with a little bit of xenon gas introduced into the glass envelope to help lengthen the life of the lamp. Therefore, all the xenon light fixtures produce the familiar warm glow (low color temperature) of an incandescent light bulb. If the fluorescent light fixture uses a warm white fluorescent light bulb or one that has a low color temperature of 3200K or lower, then it, too, will look very much like an incandescent light bulb.

LINE VOLTAGE
Q) Which cabinet light fixtures are considered to be line voltage fixtures?

A) Any light fixture that uses the available voltage (usually 120 volts) directly and does NOT use a transformer to step down the voltage from line voltage to low voltage (12 volts or 24 volts) is considered to be a line voltage fixture. All of the fluorescent fixtures and the Rope Light are considered to be line voltage light fixtures. To learn which fixtures are considered to be low voltage please click Low Voltage Cabinet Lights.

LINKABLE
Q) Which cabinet fixtures are linkable?

A) The term, "linkable", means that two light fixtures can be easily connected electrically by simply plugging in a Flexible Connector into the two fixtures. The Microfluorescent Light Fixtures, the Fluorescent Low-Profile Light Fixtures, and the Fluorescent T5 SlimLite XL Light Fixtures are all linkable. More than two "linkable" fixtures can be linked in one long line of fixtures. Most of the fixtures that are NOT "linkable" may be connected electrically to each other but this connection requires the use of household Romex wire.

LOW VOLTAGE
Q) Which cabinet light fixtures are considered to be low voltage fixtures?

A) Any light fixture that uses a transformer so that the light bulbs operate on 12 volts or 24 volts is considered to be a low voltage fixture.  The transformer may be located inside the fixture or it may be located outside the fixture at a "remote" location; thus, the low voltage fixture will have either an integral transformer or a remote transformer. The Xenon Light Strip (remote), the Xenon Puck Lights (remote), the Xenon Triangle Lights (remote), and the Halogen Mini Recessed Fixtures (remote) are all considered to be low voltage light fixtures. None of the fluorescent light fixtures are considered to be low voltage light fixtures. To learn which fixtures are considered to be line voltage please click Line Voltage Cabinet Lights.

PLUGGED IN
Q) Which cabinet light fixtures can be plugged in to the nearest electrical outlet?

A) The Xenon Puck Lights, the Xenon Triangle Lights, the Microfluorescent Light Fixtures, the Fluorescent Low-Profile Light Fixtures, the Fluorescent T5 SlimLite XL Light Fixtures, the Fluorescent Swivel Sticks, and the Rope Light may all be plugged into the nearest receptacle using a cord & plug. To learn which fixtures can be hard-wired to power please click Hard-Wired Cabinet Lights.

POPULAR
Q) Which cabinet light fixtures are the most popular?

A) The Xenon Puck Lights are our most popular cabinet light fixtures.

PROFILE
Q) Which cabinet light fixtures have the lowest profile?

A) The Xenon Light Strip has dimensions of only 7/8in inches total width by 1.0 inches total height (including the Mounting Channel) while the Microfluorescent Fixtures have dimensions of only 0.75 inches wide by 1.38 inches high. Both the Xenon Puck Lights, when recessed mounted, stick down only 0.25 inches from the "ceiling" of the cabinet.

RECESSED MOUNT
Q) Which cabinet light fixtures may be recessed mounted?

A) The Xenon Puck Lights and the Halogen Mini Recessed Fixtures may be recessed mounted.  All of the other under cabinet light fixtures may only be surface mounted. To learn which fixtures can be surface mounted please click Surface Mount Cabinet Lights.

ROMEX WIRE
Q) Which cabinet light fixtures may be connected to each other with household Romex wire?

A) Romex wire is used throughout your household behind walls to wire your entire house. It usually is made up of 3 wires: one wire with white insulation, one wire with black insulation, and one copper wire with NO insulation and white insulation around all 3 wires holding them together. The Romex wire that is used to connect lighting fixtures is usually described as "14/2 with ground" (although this MAY vary with geographical location). The "14/2" refers to the two insulated wires that are each 14 gauge in diameter and the "ground" refers to the uninsulated copper wire. None of the cabinet light fixtures may be connected to each other using Romex wire. The Microfluorescent T4 Fixtures, the Fluorescent T5 Low-Profile Fixtures, and the Fluorescent T5 SlimLite XL Fixtures are simply too small in their profile for a Romex wire to be inserted in them.

SURFACE MOUNT
Q) Which cabinet light fixtures may be surface mounted?

A) A light fixture that is surface mounted is simply mounted ON a surface whereas a recessed mounted fixture is mounted IN a surface. All of the cabinet fixtures may be surface mounted EXCEPT for the Halogen Mini Recessed Fixtures. To learn which fixtures can be recessed mounted please click Recessed Cabinet Lights.

SWITCH, FIXTURE
Q) Which cabinet light fixtures come with their own On/Off switches?

A) Most of the Microfluorescent Light Fixtures, all of the Fluorescent Low-Profile Light Fixtures, all of the Fluorescent Swing-Down Fixtures, and all of the Fluorescent Swivel Sticks come with their own On/Off rocker switches.

SWITCH, WALL
Q) Which cabinet light fixtures can be installed so that a group of them can be controlled by one wall light switch?

A) When several cabinet light fixtures are being installed all of them can all be controlled by only one wall light switch but only when they are hard-wired to power. Only a group of Fluorescent Swivel Sticks cannot be controlled by one wall light switch; each of these units is plugged into a separate receptacle and. therefore, works independently.

Cabinet Lighting Tips

Guiding Principle

Without light there is no color, form, or texture - period.

General

Lighting can add depth or drama to your cabinet or to the items inside your cabinet.
Lighting can give even a small display inside your cabinet a "dimensional quality".

Ambient Light

The ambient light provided by the room is often not enough to see what is in or under your cabinet.

Colored Lighting

Colored lighting effects may add warmth, energy, and pizzazz to your cabinet or its contents.

Fluorescent Lighting

Fluorescent lighting is, without question, the coolest of all of the light sources and modern, high quality fluorescent lamps provide excellent lighting with very good color rendition.

Line Voltage Halogen Lighting

Line voltage halogen lighting is often too hot to use in or under cabinets.

Low Voltage Halogen Lighting

Low voltage halogen lighting offers a very white, crisp kind of light source that has excellent color rendering capabilities and often makes crystal and jewelry "sparkle".

Task Lighting

Under cabinet lighting may be critical for good task lighting. Good task lighting will eliminate someone working in his/her shadow and, in some instances, provides "safety lighting" that might prevent an unnecessary accident.

Xenon Lighting

Xenon lighting is long-life incandescent lighting that can be dimmed, if need be.

Cabinet Lighting Information

Our Cabinet Lights

Our cabinet lights come in a variety of sizes, lamp wattages, and with a variety of light sources.

The Functionality of Cabinet Lighting

Cabinet lighting can make a china cabinet, a curio case, a display case, or a hutch look a little more attractive while providing pleasant accent lighting to the contents of the cabinet.

The Aesthetics of Cabinet Lighting

The light provided by a cabinet light can be used to light an attractive vase, sculpture, framed photo, piece of china, curio, or crystal. Cabinet lighting has the ability to give both a professional look and the look of warmth by providing another “layer of light” to the entire space.

The Light Sources In Cabinet Lights

Cabinet lights may use xenon, halogen, fluorescent, or traditional incandescent light sources. Cabinet lights with any of these light sources might provide a good deal of light, a modest amount of light, or just a hint of light. It is sometimes a good idea to control the cabinet lighting with a dimmer switch since this can provide a good deal of lighting flexibility. This cannot usually be done with fluorescent light sources but fluorescent lighting is generally the most efficient in providing a given amount of light. Fluorescent light sources are also the coolest of all the light sources. This property can be extremely important in some instances depending on what is stored in the cabinet.

Compare Cabinet Lights

FIXTURE IMAGE
FIXTURE NAME	Cabinet Xenon Puck Lights	Cabinet Halogen Mini Recessed Fixtures	Cabinet Xenon Triangle Lights	Cabinet Xenon Ultra-Slim Lights	Cabinet Xenon Eyelid Puck Lights	Cabinet Xenon Gemstone Puck Lights	LED Battery Operated Puck Lights
FIXTURE MODEL #	PALPX- xx-xx- xxxxx	PNM- xxx	PTRI- xx-xx-x	PNM- 254-x	PNM- 250-x	PNM- 251-x	PML-300
Finishes	White, Black, Chrome	White, Black, Chrome, Gold	White, Black, Brushed Chrome	White, Black, Chrome, Gold	White, Black, Chrome, Gold, Copper, Natural Metal	White, Black, Chrome, Gold, Copper, Natural Metal	Satin Nickel
Mounting	Surface or recessed	Recessed	Surface	Surface or recessed	Surface or recessed	Surface or recessed	Surface
Light Source	20W, 12V, xenon bipin lamp	MR11 or MR16 12V halogen lamp	20W, 12V, xenon bipin lamp	20W, 12V xenon bipin lamp	20W, 12V xenon bipin lamp	20W, 12V xenon bipin lamp	3 Super bright LEDs
Dimmable	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No
Pricing	Starts at $21.25 Buy this Item	Starts at $23.40 Buy this Item	Starts at $33.40 Buy this Item	Starts at $19.90 Buy this Item	Starts at $22.50 Buy this Item	Starts at $22.50 Buy this Item	$5.85 Buy this Item

FIXTURE IMAGE
FIXTURE NAME	Cabinet Microfluorescent T4 Fixtures	Cabinet Fluorescent T5 SlimLite XL Lights	Cabinet Fluorescent T5 Swivel Sticks	Cabinet Fluorescent T5 Low Profile Lights	Cabinet Xenon Low Voltage Light Strip	Cabinet Rope Light
FIXTURE MODEL #	PSP- xx/xx/xx	ES-xx	PSL-xxx	PNULS-xx	PNDSC-x	PLED-DL-xx-xx
Lengths	9 Lengths	3 Lengths	3 Lengths	6 Lengths	Custom lengths available	7 Lengths
Light Source	T4 Fluorescent lamps	T5 Fluorescent lamps	T5 Fluorescent lamps	T5 Fluorescent lamps	Xenon festoon lamps and/or low voltage halogen MR11 lamps	LEDs
Linkable	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes
Dimmable	No	No	No	No	Yes	No
Pricing	Starts at $21.90 Buy this Item	Starts at $62.45 Buy this Item	Starts at $15.90 Buy this Item	Starts at $22.80 Buy this Item	About $27.50/ft Buy this Item	Starts at $22.30 Buy this Item