How to Install Undercabinet Lighting and Power | All About Lights | Ask This Old House

Electrician Scott Caron helps a homeowner upgrade her kitchen with new LED lights and electrical outlets.

#ThisOldHouse #AskTOH
SUBSCRIBE to This Old House: http://bit.ly/SubscribeThisOldHouse

Shopping List for How to Install Undercabinet Lighting and Power:
– LED undercabinet light fixtures
– Outlet strips, to provide undercabinet electrical outlets
– Old-work electrical boxes, to house wires and wall switch
– Nonmetallic electrical cable, for powering new lights and outlet strips
– Blank plate, to conceal wires in junction box
– Electrical tape, to secure cable to fish tape
– Twist-on wire connectors, for securing wire connections
– Dimmer wall switch, to power new lights and outlet strip

Tools for How to Install Undercabinet Lighting and Power:
– Jigsaw, for cutting through cabinet back
– Drywall saw, to cut through drywall
– Screwdriver, for tightening screws
– Torpedo level, to mark level and plumb cutlines
– Pliers, for gripping and twisting
– Cordless drill, to drive screws
– Fish tape, for pulling cable through walls
– Wire strippers, used to strip off wire insulation

Steps for How to Install Undercabinet Lighting and Power:
1. Go to the main electrical panel and turn off the power to the existing undercabinet lights and outlets.
2. Unscrew the old light fixtures from the underside of the cabinets.
3. Use a jigsaw to cut a hole in the cabinet back for an old-work junction box.
4. Cut a similar hole in the wall directly above the cabinets.
5. Push two nonmetallic electrical cables through the upper hole and down into the hole cut inside the cabinet.
6. Cut a hole in the kitchen wall for an old-work switch box, then use a fish tape to pull a cable into the hole.
7. Push the ends of the cables through the rear of the switch box, then screw the box to the kitchen wall.
8. Wire a dimmer switch into the box; be sure the switch is designed for use with LED lights.
9. Make the wire connections in the junction box inside the cabinet. Screw a blank cover onto the junction box.
10. Make the wire connections inside the light fixtures, then screw the fixtures to the underside of the cabinets.
11. Run a new cable to the wall beneath the cabinets, then install the 120-volt outlet strips.
12. Make the final wire connections at the outlet strips and test your work.

About This Old House TV:
This Old House is the No. 1 multimedia home enthusiast brand, offering trusted information and expert advice through award-winning television, a highly regarded magazine, and an information-driven website. This Old House and Ask This Old House are produced by This Old House Ventures, LLC and are presented on PBS by WGBH Boston.

Follow This Old House and Ask This Old House:
Facebook: http://bit.ly/ThisOldHouseFB
Twitter: http://bit.ly/ThisOldHouseTwitter
http://bit.ly/AskTOHTwitter
Pinterest: http://bit.ly/ThisOldHousePinterest
Instagram: http://bit.ly/ThisOldHouseIG
Tumblr: http://bit.ly/ThisOldHouseTumblr

How to Install Undercabinet Lighting and Power | All About Lights | Ask This Old House
https://www.youtube.com/user/thisoldhouse/