DIY Hardwiring Under-Cabinet Lighting

Under-cabinet lights can add extra light to a kitchen that is solely lit from above. Although you can simply plug lights in to the nearest outlet, if you are using more than one light, the extra cords are unsightly. Hardwiring the lights hides the electrical cords and adds a switch for easier control. Running power to the light is a fairly simple procedure for those that are familiar with the basic principles of wiring.

Screwdriver
115 volt interior wire
Drywall saw
Wire stripper
Drywall electrical box
Metal junction box
Electric drill
1/2-inch drill bit
Wire connectors

Instructions

- 1
  Locate the closest source of power for the under-cabinet lights. Many modern kitchens have outlets every four feet along the cabinets. If you have an older kitchen you may have to use an outlet a little farther away. Turn off the power to the source from the electrical box in your house. Double check by plugging something into the outlet and testing for power.
- 2
  Remove the cover from the power connection to reveal the wires and the box in which they are enclosed. Pull the outlet from the box carefully to reveal the screws for connecting the wires.
- 3
  Cut a square hole for the light switch with a drywall saw, making sure not to hit any wires in the wall and to stay between the studs. Use the bottom of the switch box as a template by tracing it with a pencil.
- 4
  Feed 115 volt interior wire from the outlet up to the section of wall where you have cut the square hole. Leave about 12 inches of wire hanging out from the outlet end and 12 inches from the switch end.
- 5
  Strip two inches of insulation from the ends of the wire using a wire stripper and connect them to the appropriate spots on the outlet. The black power wire connects to the brass screw, the white neutral wire connects to the opposite screw, and the ground wire connects to the green ground screw. Fold the wires back into the outlet and replace the cover.
- 6
  Feed the wire at the switch end through an electrical box and secure the box to the drywall by tightening the screws at the top and bottom of the box. Wire a light switch using the same method as you did with the outlet, matching the colors to the appropriate screws.
- 7
  Run another section of wire from the switch to a hole drilled through the cabinet where you have a metal junction box. Feed the wire into the box. Drill a 1/2-inch hole in the base of your cabinet and feed the wires from your under-cabinet lighting into the metal box. Connect the matching colored wires with wire connectors and cover the box.
- 8
  Mount the under-cabinet lighting according to the manufacturer’s directions. Turn on the power at the panel and then on the wall at the switch.

DIY Splash Guard Behind the Stove

DIY Dimmable Kitchen Cabinet Lighting

Kitchens