Best in cabinet/under cabinet puck lights

[Jared Sankovich]

Looking for a suggestion on under cabinet (flush mount) 12-24v puck lights. Cost isn't a issue. Ideally something with a separate paint able or white bezel.

I was considered the hafele loox line.

Anything I should stear clear of?

[Dave Sabo]

LooX are really good
Tresco makes a solid product.
Hera is really good too - but hard to get a hold of.
L&S has great products too. Not widely know though.

None have paintable bezels. Wouldn't even consider other brands.

FWIW
Circular, puck lights are becoming passe these days. Linear, full width recessed LEDs are where everyone is headed.

[Patrick McCarthy]

FWIW
Circular, puck lights are becoming passe these days. Linear, full width recessed LEDs are where everyone is headed.[/QUOTE]

Dave, any recommendations for the latter?? Thank you, Patrick

[Jared Sankovich]

LooX are really good
Tresco makes a solid product.
Hera is really good too - but hard to get a hold of.
L&S has great products too. Not widely know though.

None have paintable bezels. Wouldn't even consider other brands.

FWIW
Circular, puck lights are becoming passe these days. Linear, full width recessed LEDs are where everyone is headed.

I don't think led strips would look right in this application (specifically talking under cabinet) though I agree on the interior lighting.

[Dave Sabo]

FWIW
Circular, puck lights are becoming passe these days. Linear, full width recessed LEDs are where everyone is headed.


Dave, any recommendations for the latter?? Thank you, Patrick



same as above , all 4 have numerous LED options.



I don't think led strips would look right in this application (specifically talking under cabinet) though I agree on the interior lighting.

To each his own. However, under the cabinet is where recessed linear lights shine; so to speak. Inside a cabinet with a glass door is where one might want a cone of light that a puck produces , for dramatic effect.

[Curt Harms]

I don't think led strips would look right in this application (specifically talking under cabinet) though I agree on the interior lighting.

We have LED strip lights under cabinet and we like them. It makes for a very evenly lit counter surface. We had halogen puck lights previously, our cat still misses the Halogen lights in the wintertime. Those little suckers got WARM, he liked it. I just bought a couple 16' rolls of LED light strips and a 12 volt power supply. This was back when there was not the huge selection of LED lighting options there are today. The self adhesive tapes were stuck to white strips of wood (2 tapes in parallel) with jumper wires soldered as required. The strips of wood were simply screwed to the bottom of the cabinets. Anyone would have to squat down to see them so I didn't worry too much about a finished look. We did use 2 LED pucks over the sink. We're still quite happy with the result today.

[Jared Sankovich]

same as above , all 4 have numerous LED options.




To each his own. However, under the cabinet is where recessed linear lights shine; so to speak. Inside a cabinet with a glass door is where one might want a cone of light that a puck produces , for dramatic effect.

This kitchen only has 2 upper units, and those have flush false panel bottoms. I dont see an way to conceal the linear strips, thoughthay may just be my ignorance. I had actually gone back and forth about any under cabinet lights and decided against, but with them installed I'm second guessing again.

My plan was 2 pucks under each upper.
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[Darrell Bade]

Read all this with interest. Just added a couple more undercounter lights in my kithen. Stuck with the flouresent that matched my others that are 13 years old, was surprised you could still get them. I'll have to eventually find a way to make myself warm up to the led's.

[Curt Harms]

This kitchen only has 2 upper units, and those have flush false panel bottoms. I dont see an way to conceal the linear strips, thoughthay may just be my ignorance. I had actually gone back and forth about any under cabinet lights and decided against, but with them installed I'm second guessing again.

My plan was 2 pucks under each upper.
471312

Flush bottoms would not work with what I did. Our cabinet bottoms are recessed about 1 1/2" so the 'works' are not really visible. Amazon has some pretty low profile devices but there's wire running between them.

[Patrick McCarthy]

Dave Sabo, thank you kindly. Patrick

[andrew whicker]

I went w/ DALS for a project of mine and I thought it felt and looked fairly high quality.

[Dave Sabo]

This kitchen only has 2 upper units, and those have flush false panel bottoms. I dont see an way to conceal the linear strips, though thay may just be my ignorance. I had actually gone back and forth about any under cabinet lights and decided against, but with them installed I'm second guessing again.

How are you planning on concealing the puck lights ?


Stuck with the flouresent that matched my others that are 13 years old, was surprised you could still get them. I'll have to eventually find a way to make myself warm up to the led's.

LED lites can be tuned to provide warm or cool light. Matching fluorescent color is pretty easy.


Flush bottoms would not work with what I did

With a bit of planning , one can recess lights into a "flush" bottom cabinet. Doesn't matter if it's strip or puck, round, square or rectangle. Or whether they are LED, Halogen, Xenon, or Fluorescent.

[Jared Sankovich]

How are you planning on concealing the puck lights ?


They won't be concealed, or at least the bezel won't. I haven't installed the flush panels yet specifically because of the lighting.

My thought was to do a version of this.
471403

It's a traditional looking kitchen. Strips of any sort just seem out of place. The hood already has two puck lights that are part of the vent insert. I'd be happy to reconsider the strips if I'm missing something here.
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[andrew whicker]

I'm with you. There are still needs for puck lighting because of how the light looks. The puck lights can also be LED to ensure the color changing ability.

Just because everyone else is getting LED strips doesn't mean they are automatically the best choice.

[Joe Hendershott]

WAC Lighting makes a quality product, have used them several times. They have a nicely machined channel that can be recessed.

[Curt Harms]

I'm with you. There are still needs for puck lighting because of how the light looks. The puck lights can also be LED to ensure the color changing ability.

Just because everyone else is getting LED strips doesn't mean they are automatically the best choice.

Very true. It depends on what look or effect you're seeking.

[Frank Pratt]

I'm with you. There are still needs for puck lighting because of how the light looks. The puck lights can also be LED to ensure the color changing ability.

Just because everyone else is getting LED strips doesn't mean they are automatically the best choice.

I agree. But I would not even consider halogen pucks. I know some places are still selling them at very attractive prices, but even free would be too expensive for halogens. Maybe I should be more charitable towards halogens because I've made a LOT of money over the decades keeping halogen display lighting maintained. But I also learned to hate them for the horror show that they are.

[Jim Becker]

Puck style lamps, if necessary for style, are readily available in LED. Here's just one example from Lee Valley for illustration purposes.

https://www.leevalley.com/en-us/shop/hardware/lighting/surface-mount-lighting/75326-indoor-4-watt-white-led-downlight

[Frank Pratt]

The Lee Valley pucks are decent. I would stay away from Ikea LED lighting. I've installed it on a couple of projects (customer supplied it) and the quality of light is poor. I would guess that he CRI on them is way low, like maybe 60. They give colors a look they shouldn't have.

[Dave Sabo]

They won't be concealed, or at least the bezel won't. I haven't installed the flush panels yet specifically because of the lighting.

My thought was to do a version of this.
471403

It's a traditional looking kitchen. Strips of any sort just seem out of place. The hood already has two puck lights that are part of the vent insert. I'd be happy to reconsider the strips if I'm missing something here.
471407

471406


I think you’re missing the fact that the strip lights are recessed / dadoed / grooved / routed / into the bottom of your cabinet or flush panel. Instead of boring a “hole” , you’re machining a channel. The lens barely protrudes beyond the bottom and some don’t protrude at all. Just depends on the product you’re using.

Whether you use pucks or strips, the light housing really shouldn’t be visible from most angles. The only exception is if you’re below them looking up. So, the housings really don’t factor into the aesthetic very much. What does , is the beam spread and shape of the light produced.

Like I said earlier , you may prefer a cone and round pool of light with a “hot” center that pucks tend to produces rather than the more even light a strip gives off. We all make trade offs on form over function everyday; so if you like circles better and think it’s better for your cabinets and or lifestyle - I’m not going to try and dissuade you.

[Warren Lake]

Nice work Jared

[Weogo Reed]

Hi Frank,

Topic Swerve -

Do you know of any high-CRI (90+) shop lighting that is modestly priced?
3000~4000K would work well for me.

Thanks and good health, Weogo

[Jared Sankovich]

I think you’re missing the fact that the strip lights are recessed / dadoed / grooved / routed / into the bottom of your cabinet or flush panel. Instead of boring a “hole” , you’re machining a channel. The lens barely protrudes beyond the bottom and some don’t protrude at all. Just depends on the product you’re using.

Whether you use pucks or strips, the light housing really shouldn’t be visible from most angles. The only exception is if you’re below them looking up. So, the housings really don’t factor into the aesthetic very much. What does , is the beam spread and shape of the light produced.

Like I said earlier , you may prefer a cone and round pool of light with a “hot” center that pucks tend to produces rather than the more even light a strip gives off. We all make trade offs on form over function everyday; so if you like circles better and think it’s better for your cabinets and or lifestyle - I’m not going to try and dissuade you.

I'm familiar with the mounting method of the flush led strips I think they are better in the sides of a cabinet so that they run top to bottom or hidden by the face frame. The strips on the bottom (flush included) just look bad to me regardless of how much (or little) you can see.

You can see the bottoms of these upper cabinets when seated at the island, meaning you will see the led strip (and likewise the puck) the puck just looks better imho. I realize that may be out of favor and not where the trend is.

[Jared Sankovich]

Nice work Jared

Thanks. I was happy how this turned out.

[Jim Becker]

Hi Frank,

Topic Swerve -

Do you know of any high-CRI (90+) shop lighting that is modestly priced?
3000~4000K would work well for me.

Thanks and good health, Weogo

Multiple threads on this in the Workshops discussion area, Weogo.

[Frank Pratt]

Hi Frank,

Topic Swerve -

Do you know of any high-CRI (90+) shop lighting that is modestly priced?
3000~4000K would work well for me.

Thanks and good health, Weogo

I've installed a lot of product from https://sensolighting.com/ It's very high quality stuff, probably the best I've ever used, but not cheap. 90 CRI LED fixtures are creeping into the mainstream now, so you shouldn't have a problem finding some more economical stuff. You may need to go to an electrical distributor to get it though.

[Dave Sabo]

the puck just looks better imho. I realize that may be out of favor and not where the trend is.


Then, you haven’t missed anything.