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View Full Version : Looking for an LED under cabinet light with a convenience receptacle



Matt Meiser
12-05-2010, 3:50 PM
I'm looking for an under cabinet light to use in the desk I'm building. I'd like to have a convenience receptacle for laptop charging and I'd like it to be LED technology. I found kind of what I'm looking for in fluorescent (http://www.amazon.com/FA324HBAMCC-24-Inch-18-Watt-Fluorescent-Cabinet/dp/B000Z994IU) but I'd really like LED. Or I've found numerous LED strips without receptacles, but not both. Has anyone seen one? Max length would be about 28".

Chris Damm
12-06-2010, 8:33 AM
I'm researching LED under counter fixtures right now for a kitchen remodel. If I find one with a outlet in it I'll let you know. I don't remember seeing any yet. I have found that retail stores have a very limited array of options available. I am now searching online.

Matt Meiser
12-06-2010, 9:11 AM
Thanks Chris. You might want to look for a local supplier (i.e. not Lowes) that carries Kichler. We found some by them that we planned to use in our own kitchen. Not cheap, but nice. Or if you ever get over this way, Gross Electric in Ann Arbor is where we saw them. They are on South Industrial which isn't too far off the State St. exit from I-94.

Jamie Buxton
12-06-2010, 11:04 AM
Never seen one like that, but you should be able to change the pictured one to LED. Take out the fluorescent, bolt in an LED strip, and bolt in the power supply. Look for warm white LEDs. They're not as blue/green as the cool white ones. Units whose color is not specificed are likely to be cool white.

Matt Meiser
12-06-2010, 1:18 PM
Hmm...Just saw that they make them "wireless" which means battery powered of course. Given the low power requirements for LEDs and the fact this isn't going to be used all day every day, I wonder how long the batteries would last? Might be a good way to go. I'm thinking I'll just put a standard desk grommet in the back corner of the bottom for the computer cord.

Jamie Buxton
12-06-2010, 1:43 PM
If you handle the laptop charging issue with a standard grommet, you'll have a power cord permanently draped across the desk top, or you'll have to crawl under the desk every time you want to plug in the laptop. You'd be better off with an outlet above the desktop. The fluorescent with the outlet would be more convenient, or you could bolt a standard power strip to wherever you were going to put the light. Or you could use something like these: http://www.mockett.com/furniture-hardware/technology-into-furniture-integration/power-communication-systems or http://www.cabletiesandmore.com/powertap.php