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How to Troubleshoot Halogen Lights Under Cabinets

Under-cabinet halogen lighting provides clear, bright light that directly illuminates your work surface. Halogen under-cabinet lighting is most often sold as round "pucks" that affix underneath the cabinet. They give off a white to blue light and last on average about two years. They use energy comparable to regular incandescent light bulbs. If you aren't getting the light you need from your halogen under-cabinet lights, troubleshooting may help you solve the problem.

Things You'll Need

  • Soft cloth
  • Voltage meter
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Instructions

    • 1

      Clean the lights. Turn the lights off and allow them to cool. Wipe with a soft, damp cloth and allow to dry completely before you turn the lights on again. A build-up of grease, dirt or anything else, such as flour in a kitchen, on the lights could cause them to look dimmer.

    • 2

      Examine the wiring. Look for breaks in the wiring or nicks in the insulation. Loose wiring or broken wires could cause lights to flicker or to go out unexpectedly.

    • 3

      Test the voltage coming from the transformer with the voltage meter. Halogen lights that use a transformer need at least 12 volts coming from the transformer. Lower voltage than this can lead to dim lights, while voltage fluctuations can cause lights to burn out too soon. Replace the transformer if you find problems.