Kitchen Cabinet Undermount Lighting
#1
Kitchen Cabinet Undermount Lighting
I am going to be running the electrical for my new kitchen cabinets. There will be undermount lighting...I havent checked yet but i think they go through a transformer and then plug into an outlet (correct me if i am wrong) I want to put a dimmer onto the lights...can I just put the whole outlet onto a dimmer? thanks.
#2
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Probably not. Before planning the electrical, you need to fully understand the lights first.
If the lights are hard wired they need to be on a different circuit than the counter receptacles. Whether they can be dimmed or not depends on the lights themselves.
If they plug in then you need to understand the type of lights and electrical requirements.
If the lights are hard wired they need to be on a different circuit than the counter receptacles. Whether they can be dimmed or not depends on the lights themselves.
If they plug in then you need to understand the type of lights and electrical requirements.
#3
The whole system must also be permantenly accessible. It is common practice to install the receptacle and the transformer on top of the wall cabinets. If you have a soffitt, then that it not an option. You will have to find another location for the receptacle and transformer.
Some types and brands of transformers can operate on a standard dimmer, some can operate only with a special dimmer, and some cannot be dimmed at all. You will have to check the specifications of the lights you have bought/will buy. That will determine the design of the electrical system.
Some types and brands of transformers can operate on a standard dimmer, some can operate only with a special dimmer, and some cannot be dimmed at all. You will have to check the specifications of the lights you have bought/will buy. That will determine the design of the electrical system.
#7
No, sorry, you cannot do that. Although it is true that the NEC says you cannot make a receptacle controlled by a dimmer, I would probably violate that code. This is perhaps the only code in the NEC I would ever suggest this for. To minimize problems, buy a simplex receptacle (space to plug in one thing) rather than a duplex receptacle (space to plug in two things). Then mount the receptacle somewhere that is out of the way, where nobody will be tempted to use it for anything else.
If somebody sees a good solution that doesn't violate the NEC, please tell me.
If somebody sees a good solution that doesn't violate the NEC, please tell me.