Best way to run electricity to light and preserve cabinet integrity.

[shan2themax]

So.... as the title says, I want to figure out the best/safest/code way to get electricity to the underneath of this very cheap cabinet without destroying its limited integrity.

As you can see from the picture there is very little space between the upper and lower back frame to use to attatch to the wall.

I have a low profile light that I want to go there. The cabinet is only 12 inches from top to bottom, there is 2" between the upper and lower back frame.
I have an idea of how to attatch it, but it seems way to easy and probably not safe. So, I am all ears for your thoughts.

 

[Ron Van]

Is this cabinet going here?

 

[shan2themax]

Yes it is. And the electricity is already there. Idk why he put it up so high.


My thought was bringing the electric down to right under the cabinet, and then running it into a junction box of some sort in order to connect to the light, which will be attatched to under the cabinet since it isn't a wall light.

 

[Snoonyb]

Well, in lowering the recep., it affords you the ability to, entrepreneurially, install decorative swag extension cords for both the light fixture, and the range hood.

 

[Ron Van]

Yes it is. And the electricity is already there. Idk why he put it up so high.


My thought was bringing the electric down to right under the cabinet, and then running it into a junction box of some sort in order to connect to the light, which will be attatched to under the cabinet since it isn't a wall light.

Moving the wire down should be easy. Just determine where the bottom of the cabinet will be and drill or cut a small hole in the Sheetrock. Fish the romex down with a coat hanger or other suitable flexible wire. I usually use a coat hanger and tape the romex to it with electrical tape. The existing hole will be covered by the cabinet.

I just brought the romex right out of the wall and into a junction box for my under cabinet lights. A white cord (similar to an extension cord comes out of the junction box and goes to the lights.




In your case, I would probably just bring the romex out of the wall, as close to the bottom of the cabinet as you can get it, and run it directly into the light fixture base. You’ll have to cut or drill a hole in the base for the romex to come through. Then make a cover to hide/protect the romex from the wall to the fixture. They sell cover material or you can make one by cutting a length of PVC in half (longwise) and painting it black or white.



You could also run the romex inside your cabinet and bring it down into the fixture. That might look better but you’d lose some space inside your cabinet.

 

[shan2themax]

You could also run the romex inside your cabinet and bring it down into the fixture. That might look better but you’d lose some space inside your cabinet.

my thought originally was to go directly into the light fixture base, but wasnt sure if that would be ok.

I could bring it through the cabinet and out a small hole, I *think* the wire would be long enough. If I do that I need to build a box of sorts around the wire to keep the wire safe correct?

 

[Ron Van]

my thought originally was to go directly into the light fixture base, but wasnt sure if that would be ok.

That’s probably what I would do. Use some kind of cover over the romex to make it look nice and to protect the wire. I’m not sure what could possibly damage the wire in that position but code requires it and it would definitely look better with a plastic cover over it.

I could bring it through the cabinet and out a small hole, I *think* the wire would be long enough. If I do that I need to build a box of sorts around the wire to keep the wire safe correct?

Yes. A plastic cover (like in the picture above) would work. The light you have isn’t the kind made to hang under a cabinet but you can make it work.

Is that power source switched? You probably want a switch for it.

 

[shan2themax]

That’s probably what I would do. Use some kind of cover over the romex to make it look nice and to protect the wire. I’m not sure what could possibly damage the wire in that position but code requires it and it would definitely look better with a plastic cover over it.

Yes. A plastic cover (like in the picture above) would work. The light you have isn’t the kind made to hang under a cabinet but you can make it work.

Is that power source switched? You probably want a switch for it.

Yes it is switched. I can't find any lights that I like that are for under the cabinet. The old one was attatched to the drywall, no junction box or anything. The base plate was just screwed into the wall.

I toyed with the idea of trying to find something else, but I need it to be bright like a ceiling light would be because the light in the kitchen isn't centered and it is much more dim by the sink and I can't stand dim lighting, it bothers my eyes alot. That's why I have that silly 2 way light in the kitchen. I have about 2 weeks before my return window is over with this light, so I have time. I just want the kitchen to be done. I'm tired of messing with it and it's no fun on the mental health looking at it in its current or previous state all the time.

 

[zannej]

Have you already purchased the light, Shan? If not, have you considered using a slim LED under cabinet light?
How wide is this cabinet?
You could potentially get a hardwired slim under cabinet LED light.

I was looking for the pancake boxes that can be used for mounting exterior lights to walls but don't know if those would work.

Those cable run covers are nice. They make things look cleaner when you run wire under the cabinets.

I wish I had more to contribute. I'm not finding what I'm seeking in google searches right now.

 

[Ron Van]

Yes it is switched. I can't find any lights that I like that are for under the cabinet. The old one was attatched to the drywall, no junction box or anything. The base plate was just screwed into the wall.

I toyed with the idea of trying to find something else, but I need it to be bright like a ceiling light would be because the light in the kitchen isn't centered and it is much more dim by the sink and I can't stand dim lighting, it bothers my eyes alot. That's why I have that silly 2 way light in the kitchen. I have about 2 weeks before my return window is over with this light, so I have time. I just want the kitchen to be done. I'm tired of messing with it and it's no fun on the mental health looking at it in its current or previous state all the time.

I installed this light for my MIL today.



I had already run the wire for the switch which is to the left of the window next to the air freshener. I shot a laser line up from the faucet to get the light centered.



I discovered that the ceiling fan isn’t quite centered but oh well!


I used this box the catch the dust as I drilled the hole.

 

[shan2themax]

Looks great!

 

[shan2themax]

So.... I finally decided to just have the wire come out of the wall and into the light base.
As you can see i cut a rather large opening (quarter for size comparison) in the back of the light base and then I put a few layers of electrical tape around that opening so that there would be no sharp edges. I also used 5 screws to attatch the light plate onto the cabinet. I did have to remove the grounding screw but was going to connect the grounds together. Hopefully that's OK, I couldn't find a straight answer.



Now I need to go finish hanging the wallpaper in that area so that it's all ready to hang when my son gets up later.

 

[shan2themax]

And the wallpaper is done..... now the helper needs to wake up!

 

[Ron Van]

So.... I finally decided to just have the wire come out of the wall and into the light base.
As you can see i cut a rather large opening (quarter for size comparison) in the back of the light base and then I put a few layers of electrical tape around that opening so that there would be no sharp edges. I also used 5 screws to attatch the light plate onto the cabinet. I did have to remove the grounding screw but was going to connect the grounds together. Hopefully that's OK, I couldn't find a straight answer.
View attachment 33710
View attachment 33712

Now I need to go finish hanging the wallpaper in that area so that it's all ready to hang when my son gets up later.

That’ll work!

 

[shan2themax]

He woke up!

 

[shan2themax]

And I put the doors on anyway. Hopefully to paint them before my appt at 1 pm. The gap between the corner cabinet and cabinet by the vent hood is going to be for cutting boards. I just need to cut the wood that will go there and paint it also.

 

[zannej]

Looks great, Shan!
Hopefully you'll get those cabinets painted soon.

 

[shan2themax]

Looks great, Shan!
Hopefully you'll get those cabinets painted soon.

Thanks, I hope so too. Currently sidetracked with the rat situation, hoping to eradicate that problem soon.

 

[Ron Van]

Thanks, I hope so too. Currently sidetracked with the rat situation, hoping to eradicate that problem soon.

I think you’re going about this rat situation wrong!

You should get a saddle!

Think of all the gas you could save and the wear and tear on your car.

 

[Snoonyb]

I think you’re going about this rat situation wrong!

You should get a saddle!

Think of all the gas you could save and the wear and tear on your car.

All together, SAY AMEN!