Cabinet Lighting question

Cabinet Lighting question · 09-30-2009, 01:20 PM

I am in the process of building a bookcase/display cabinet from one of Norms measured drawerererings (sorry about that you guys from up north). We plan to use it as a display case for LOMLs pottery colection and it will need some kind of interior lighting. Anyone got any ideas and suppliers?

timf67 · 09-30-2009, 01:23 PM

I know that rockler carries a bunch of options, and the BORG has a small selection too.

Ozzie-x · 09-30-2009, 05:05 PM

Of course the first consideration is electrical safety. Make sure you use appropriate wiring means and methods, and ground everything really well. The next main design consideration is heat, heat, heat. Stay away from high wattage line voltage incandescent or quartz. Some of the display lighting I've seen really scares me, cheap made, heat bombs, poor designs. A lot of them are cheap made-overseas that have questionable UL listings. Probably the source of some mystery fires. Stick with reputable American manufacturers where possible and install per manufacturers recommendations and instructions. I would recommend LED, T5 (NOT T5HO high output) fluorescent or low voltage (12 volt) lighting because of lowered heat considerations, plus the ability to remote mount the drivers, ballasts or transformers on top of the display case. On T5 and LED, most of the heat is released through the ballast and driver. Particularly the T5 fluorescent lamps themselves are not big heat producers. I'm currently building a lighted display case that I've been designing and thinking about for a couple of years. I have (2) low profile showcase T5 fluorescent fixtures with remote ballasts made by Legion Lighting Co. Inc, I will mount the two fixtures in the top of the cabinet behind a decorative wooden valance and drill a few vent holes in the top for heat venting, this will be the primary general lighting in the case. The remote ballasts will be located in the open on top for efficient heat dissipation. This project also has a top "pediment" or enclosure that will have the main display signage that will also need illumination front and back for visibility. The sign will be lit with low voltage lowered candela LED specialty strip fixtures located concealed in front of the sign with remote drivers located on top of the case. The backlighting will be done with 2 low voltage 12 volt track heads with 15 watt MR11 lamps, again with the remote low voltage transformer located on top of the case. I will drill some vent holes at the top back of the pediment for heat convection.

I you want more concentrated "cones of light" inside the case, there are some good quality small low voltage downlights available that will be safe and do a good job. You can "piggy-back" all of the low voltage downlight fixtures off one larger remote transformer located on top of the cabinet. Sorry for the windiness of this post, just try to share some the thought and work I've put into this.

Warren · 09-30-2009, 11:31 PM

The best source of cabinet hardware, fixtures, lighting and such is Woodworker's Hardware in Minnesota. They have a good line of lighting and wiring, transformers as well as surge protection. The catalog has very good installation information and the staff is very helpful when you call to order or have questions, I've used them for two complete kitchen cabinets' fabrications and a number of office cabinets' hardware items over the past 6-7 years.
Be sure to follow Ozzie-x excellent suggestions above with respect to installation.
Warren

Larry Rose · 10-01-2009, 08:43 AM

Thanks guys, a lot of good info.

Travis Porter · 10-01-2009, 10:34 AM

Way back when, I bought low voltage puck lights from Lowes. They could be surface mounted or recessed. Cheap and worked well.

gritz · 10-01-2009, 10:59 AM

The new LEDs are quickly moving to the front of the pack. The pucks were good for their time, but have been surpassed by the LEDs.
Just be sure to include a surge protector if you use any electronic transformers. It can be a real pain to exchange these items in an assembled and loaded cabinet.

DavidF · 10-02-2009, 11:37 AM

I have used recessed, low voltage puck lighting from Rockler with good results. They do get hot so read the installation guide lines. Some can be mounted in to a hole others need the back exposed - don't use the wrong one! I would probably look at LEDs these days, but depends how much light you need. most of the LEDs are about half the halogen.

McRabbet · 10-02-2009, 02:54 PM

Custom Service Hardware has a good new selection of LED lights for reasonable prices. I have used their Low-Voltage Xenon lights in the past for commissions -- they are dimmable but do run hot if left on. Looks like they are similar in price to Xenon's.

hholgate · 10-23-2009, 09:04 PM

LED tapes are great for this type of thing. I order rolls of 12 volt LED tape from Hong Kong through the web site http://ledlightsworld.com/.

The LED tape is available in 8mm and 12mm widths and can be trimmed in three inch increments. You need to solder leads to the tape or purchase slide on connectors from the web site. You need to supply your own 120v to 12v transformer. These can be purchased at most big box stores.

For inside cabinet lighting, I recommend using the 8mm wide LED strips. I used the 12mm wide strips to make under counter lighting for my kitchen. They were a little too bright and had to be dimmed.