Hi all, my first post. I want to replace my undercabinet lighting, currently florescent tubes hardwired to a switch, with low voltage halogen (hockey puck type). Trouble is, all the halogens I find are "simple" plug-in type, and I'd rather tie them to the switch. I assume my way is more complicated, requiring a transformer, I'll bet, but I'm up for it, as long as it's not too much more expensive. What do I need to go from Romex to halogens?

 

You need a receptacle. Just install a receptacle controlled by a switch and plug them in.

 

I guess I know that's an option. I'm more interested in simply removing the florescent fixture, and replacing it with halogen or xenon or something. To install a receptacle at the site of each florescent fixture, just so that I can buy lights that "simply" plug into a receptacle, seems needlessly complicated (especially since they should be GFCI receptacles, given their proximity to the sink).

 

Installing a receptacle is about as a simple of an electrical project as they come.

GFCI requirements have nothing to do with proximity to the sink. If these receptacles do not serve countertop appliances, they need not be GFCI protected.

 

thanks. replies on another forum have recommended xenon over halogen, citing heat issues among others.

 

I made this replacement a number of years ago using Xenon "linear strip" lightingfrom WAC (basically tiny little lampholders in low-voltage track). You are looking for "hardwire" transformer(s) instead of plug-in transformers.

If I were to do it now I would seriously look at the "Ambiance" low-voltage system from Sea Gull Lighting:

http://www.seagulllighting.com/Ambiance-Low-Voltage.htm

 

thanks for your advice; what do you think makes Ambience better than your choice? how do costs compare? and Ambience is the "puck" type halogen, what's your opinion of the heat issue? last, how are your xenons?

 

The Ambiance system looks cleaner than what I used. The lampholders crimp onto a low-voltage wire which is then snapped into a track. A cover is than snapped over the track. What I used is more like conventional track lighting.

I would use the linear lighting version of Ambiance, I dislike pucks (I like the lights to be more distributed). WRT heat, even with Xenon bulbs the bottom shelves of my cabinets right above the lamps gets warm (not not).

Note that any linear lighting system will cost way more than flourescent or the off-the-shelf pucks. My kitchen took three transformers and probably 20-30' of track with bulbs about every 3". It ran around $400 if I recall correctly.