Under Cabinet LED Lighting for Kitchen: How to Choose & Connect | Elhurt Expert
Kitchen Under Cabinet LED Lighting: How to Properly Light Up Your Worktop and Connect It
Overhead kitchen lighting often casts a shadow on the worktop, especially when you are facing the cabinets. To cook comfortably and safely, you need dedicated under-cabinet LED lighting. LED technology is perfect for this – it is energy-efficient, provides excellent visibility, and does not overheat food products.
In this guide, we explain how to create the perfect setup in 4 simple steps.
Step 1: Choose the Light Color Temperature (Kelvins)
In the kitchen, accurate color rendering of food and eye comfort are most important.
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Our recommendation: Choose neutral white light (approx. 4000K). It is the closest to daylight, does not strain the eyes, and does not distort the natural colors of food.
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Avoid cold/cool white (above 6000K) – it gives the kitchen a clinical, bluish look.
Step 2: Determine Brightness (Lumens) and Fixture Type
The worktop must be illuminated brightly and evenly. Instead of sticking bare LED strips (which require separate aluminum profiles for cooling), we highly recommend ready-to-use rigid LED bars or under-cabinet fixtures for the kitchen.
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Why rigid fixtures? They are more aesthetic, have a built-in heatsink (dissipating heat to extend LED lifespan), and are easier to keep clean.
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At Elhurt Expert, you will find fixtures of various lengths and powers. Choose them to cover the entire length of the countertop evenly.
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Tip: Consider a model with a built-in touchless/motion sensor switch for high convenience when your hands are wet.
Step 3: Selecting the Power Supply (Technical Side)
Under-cabinet fixtures usually require low DC voltage (12V or 24V). A proper LED driver (power supply) is necessary.
How to calculate the required power:
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Sum up the power consumption of all purchased LED fixtures (e.g., 3 fixtures x 5W = 15W total).
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Add a 20% safety margin.
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Calculation: 15W + 20% = 18W. You need a power supply rated at least 20W.
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Step 4: Safe Connection
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230V AC Side: Connecting the power supply to the mains requires adherence to safety regulations. If you are not qualified, hire a certified electrician for this part.
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Low Voltage DC Side (12V/24V): You connect the output of the power supply to the input of the LED fixture. It is crucial to maintain polarity (+ to +, - to -). This is usually done using quick connectors, making installation easy.
Summary
Good countertop lighting is an investment in cooking comfort for years to come. Choose ready-to-use neutral white LED fixtures and pair them with a reliable power supply with a sufficient power margin.
Do you have questions? Need help assembling the perfect set? Contact the Elhurt Expert advisors – we are happy to help you choose the ideal solution for your kitchen!
