Under Cabinet Lighting Projects

Xenon, Incandescent & LED Strip Lights are the three options for under cabinet lighting projects. Let’s take a look at the pros and cons of each one –

Xenon Lights

Xenon under cabinet lights is technically a form of incandescent lighting, although they are classified separately because they utilize a specific type of gas—xenon—to produce a superior level of light.

Xenon under cabinet lights have an uncanny ability to render color with exquisite detail. They bring out the richness and depth of warm colors, and they make for an ideal lamping option for any under cabinet lighting projects that requires a blend of task and decorative appeal.

Xenon in cabinet lighting has become very popular due to the increasingly sophisticated detail we find in rooms that feature cabinets. The custom home industry has enlarged traditionally smaller and exclusively functional rooms such as kitchens and bathrooms into spacious, more heavily decorated areas.

Marble and granite counter tops have consequently become very popular, and nothing renders the depths of dark blues and reds underneath a cabinet quite like xenon light.

Incandescent Lights

Are incandescent lights equally effective? In some settings, they are. The key is the “warmth” of the color scheme.

Incandescents produce a steady distribution of very whit light and work very well when lighting cool color schemes such as white or off white counter tops. They are also very good for small kitchens and bathrooms.

Incandescent technology became very cost effective when low voltage transformers replaced the magnetic ballasts of previous fluorescent housings, rendering a 120V lamp a 12V power saving device. Low voltage lighting systems can also help extend incandescent bulb type up to 7,500 hours, minimizing replacement costs as well as electrical costs.

Incandescent vs. Halogen – Is halogen under cabinet lighting better than xenon? It is not a question of better, so much as it is a matter of what is appropriate to the environment. Halogens under cabinet lights, like xenon, are very powerful and produce very good color rendering. They burn extremely hot, however, and they have a much shorter bulb life—only 2,000 hours maximum. Halogen lamps work best in small, ornately decorated kitchens and bathrooms because they produce excellent decorative lighting that is also very bright. The lights are never on for very long, but when they are, they make wallpaper and decorations stand out and provide clear visibility for guests.

Fluorescent Fixtures – Do under cabinet lighting manufacturers still make fluorescent fixtures along with xenon, incandescent, and halogen? Yes – fluorescents will probably never completely disappear. They still have their place in the industrial world today, but over the years, newer and more efficient technologies have replaced them in more aesthetically conscious environments. The greatest contribution fluorescents have made to under has been in terms of physical design. The original fluorescent task lights served as the prototype for today’s linear strip lights.

LED Lights

LED light fixtures are, simply put, the latest and most advanced light bulb technology on the market. LED stands for “light-emitting diode,” which describes the tiny bulbs, or diodes, that make up our LED strip lighting tape. They are energy efficient with a low carbon footprint and do not emit any toxic material. This makes them the most environmentally-friendly bulb on the market. They are easy to install and come in a wide variety of colors, which can take lighting as a design feature to the next level.

They are durable and therefore are being utilized in a broad array of applications. They can be found in residential lighting for enhancing and highlighting under cabinets, bookcases, and more. The automotive and aviation industries use them in control panels and general lighting because they are so efficient and illuminate without an intense glare. LED’s are ideal for electronic appliances and entertainment systems, as well as gaming consoles.

LED lights are powerful, providing roughly 30,000 hours of lamp time, which is several times longer than the incandescent and xenon systems in our older products. LEDs are superbly efficient, so much so that they produce almost no radiant heat, and are much safer as a result. Because they can be attached to dimmer controls, they offer unparalleled power conservation as well for your under cabinet lighting projects.

The Latest and Greatest is found at Phantom

Over the years, low voltage strip lighting manufacturers like Phantom developed technology that allowed them to remove the low voltage transformer from the unit housing to a concealed, remote location. Under cabinet lighting projects can use xenon, incandescent, and LED strip lights installed at the front of the cabinet, throwing the light backward away from the eyes and creating an evenly distributed “wash” of light over counter tops and appliances. Phantom’s proprietary engineering completely conceals all visible wiring and creates the appearance of sourceless light.

If we can help with your lighting project or answer any questions about our series of cabinet lighting systems, give us a call toll-free at 800-863-1184 or request a quote using our online form.