# LED Under Counter and Recessed Swivel Spotlight Kitchen Lighting **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [August 25, 2016, 11:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/led-under-counter-and-recessed-swivel-spotlight-kitchen-lighting/763959 "2016-08-25T23:10:10Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![MindsEye\_Watering](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mindseye_watering/32/3619_2.png) [@MindsEye\_Watering](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MindsEye_Watering)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2016, 11:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/led-under-counter-and-recessed-swivel-spotlight-kitchen-lighting/763959/1 "2016-08-25T23:10:10Z")
Hello again, folks! I would like to install LED under counter LED strip lighting and LED recessed swivel spotlights in my kitchen and I am getting confused on how to accomplish this. Perhaps someone can point me in the right direction, or perhaps recommend another forum that can help. I would like to install about 15 feet of LED strip lighting under my kitchen cabinets, and because I have some counter space that have no cabinets over them, I would like to combine the strip lighting with five or six LED recessed swivel spotlights in the ceiling above. I can’t use pendant lights because a large section of counter is overhung with a large (and loaded) suspended pot rack, so in order to light that section of counter, I have to offset the recessed fixtures and aim them at an angle (hence the swivel). I would like to control ALL from one dimmer. This is important because I don’t want to cut drywall for more than one switch/dimmer, and I don’t need multiple lighting zones. Is this possible? I can perform the wiring - either line voltage or low voltage, but most of the recessed ceiling lighting fixtures that I see on Amazon seems to be designed to run on line (120V) voltage, and all of the strip lights seem to be designed to be dimmed **after** the DC transformer. It looks like I can’t turn on, off or (especially) dim from a single control. Can anyone help? ---
**Author:** ![mixdenny](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mixdenny/32/2962_2.png) [@mixdenny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mixdenny)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2016, 6:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/led-under-counter-and-recessed-swivel-spotlight-kitchen-lighting/763959/2 "2016-08-27T06:34:12Z")
Check out lights for RVs. There are plenty of recessed fixtures, I’m not sure about swivel versions. Most are 12 volt, but I have seen other voltages up to 30, I have no idea why. Dennis ---
**Author:** ![GaryM](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/garym/32/241_2.png) [@GaryM](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GaryM)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2016, 11:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/led-under-counter-and-recessed-swivel-spotlight-kitchen-lighting/763959/3 "2016-08-27T11:53:38Z")
If you can’t get good answers here. as unlikely as that might seem, check out Candle Power Forums candlepowerforums.com to connect with experts and enthusiasts in the lighting field. There’s a sub forum that covers what you’re interested in. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2016, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/led-under-counter-and-recessed-swivel-spotlight-kitchen-lighting/763959/4 "2016-08-27T20:17:24Z")
Would [this Leviton universal dimmer](http://home.leviton.com/products/illumatech-universal-dimmer/) work? That webpage links to a list of LED fixture it’s compatible with. Are the products you’re looking at on the list? ---
**Author:** ![MindsEye\_Watering](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mindseye_watering/32/3619_2.png) [@MindsEye\_Watering](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MindsEye_Watering)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2016, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/led-under-counter-and-recessed-swivel-spotlight-kitchen-lighting/763959/5 "2016-08-27T21:16:29Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > Would [this Leviton universal dimmer](http://home.leviton.com/products/illumatech-universal-dimmer/) work? That webpage links to a list of LED fixture it’s compatible with. Are the products you’re looking at on the list? I think that will control the recessed spots that are wired directly to AC/line voltage, but what will the DC/12V transformer for the strip lighting behave? Is this how strip lights are normally dimmed? ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2016, 9:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/led-under-counter-and-recessed-swivel-spotlight-kitchen-lighting/763959/6 "2016-08-27T21:46:38Z")
I don’t know but Leviton makes complex lighting control systems, so they may have something that can control both your 120V spots and the 12V strip lights. I suggest you explore their site. ---
**Author:** ![Kedikat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ed655f/32.png) [@Kedikat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kedikat)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2016, 7:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/led-under-counter-and-recessed-swivel-spotlight-kitchen-lighting/763959/7 "2016-08-29T07:40:09Z")
Tough to find LED systems that combine those different types. You can get dedicated LED power supplies with various ratings, then look for lights of the same voltage range. Ceiling pots all seem to be A/C with built in supplies. But some puck type modules might fill the ceiling needs and hook into a master power supply. ---
**Author:** ![Renee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/renee/32/287_2.png) [@Renee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Renee)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2016, 12:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/led-under-counter-and-recessed-swivel-spotlight-kitchen-lighting/763959/8 "2016-08-29T12:44:28Z")
Re: cutting drywall. It’s really no more trouble to cut a hole for a double box than a single one. I suspect you will find this easier to accomplish with two switches. ---
**Author:** ![Doughbag](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/aeb1de/32.png) [@Doughbag](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doughbag)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2016, 1:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/led-under-counter-and-recessed-swivel-spotlight-kitchen-lighting/763959/9 "2016-08-29T13:17:25Z")
Most LED light strips are not dim-able or need a specific type of dimmer. Most likely this means, that you can’t use the same dimmer for both. However, there are some that do come with remote controls to dim, change the color and/or program. [Something like in this link](http://loweledlighting.ie/led-lighting/led-strip-bar-lighting/led-rgb-controller-with-remote.html) They usually come as a kit: Light strip, AC transformer (mostly 12Volt) and accessories (depending on version and capabilities). If you want them in different locations and want to control them via ONE control, you need to have a stronger driver/power supply to switch them on. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2016, 1:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/led-under-counter-and-recessed-swivel-spotlight-kitchen-lighting/763959/10 "2016-08-29T13:18:08Z")
> [@mixdenny](#): > > Most are 12 volt, but I have seen other voltages up to 30, I have no idea why. What voltages do aircraft use? Pardon the digression. ---
**Author:** ![MindsEye\_Watering](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mindseye_watering/32/3619_2.png) [@MindsEye\_Watering](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MindsEye_Watering)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2016, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/led-under-counter-and-recessed-swivel-spotlight-kitchen-lighting/763959/11 "2016-08-29T15:42:41Z")
Since my original post, I’ve found that there are [LED power supplies](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B015FH1FPG/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1) that are meant to be dimmed by a standard triac (Leviton, LUTRON, etc.) dimmer. This makes what I want possible as I can take the output of the Leviton dimmer directly to the recessed lights, and also take a split from the Leviton dimmer to the strip power supply. I am re-thinking the usefulness of controlling all from one dimmer, though. I’m starting to see that I may want to control both light sources separately. ---
**Author:** ![Digital\_is\_the\_new\_Analog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a88e4f/32.png) [@Digital\_is\_the\_new\_Analog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Digital_is_the_new_Analog)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2016, 1:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/led-under-counter-and-recessed-swivel-spotlight-kitchen-lighting/763959/12 "2016-08-31T01:20:58Z")
> [@carnivorousplant](#): > > What voltages do aircraft use? > > Pardon the digression. The aircraft stuff I worked on in a past life - lighting and seat controls - were 28V based. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2016, 1:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/led-under-counter-and-recessed-swivel-spotlight-kitchen-lighting/763959/13 "2016-08-31T01:46:30Z")
> [@Digital\_is\_the\_new\_Analog](#): > > The aircraft stuff I worked on in a past life - lighting and seat controls - were 28V based. Dad said 24v, but he worked on military aircraft in WW II. Less current, and lighter. Perhaps 30v LEDs are used in aircraft. ---
**Author:** ![swampspruce](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/swampspruce/32/261_2.png) [@swampspruce](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/swampspruce)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2016, 2:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/led-under-counter-and-recessed-swivel-spotlight-kitchen-lighting/763959/14 "2016-08-31T14:07:22Z")
Run two switches and dimmers if this will be a permanent install. It’ll be much easier in the long run. [Pot lights.](http://www.1stoplighting.com/LED-Lights_LED-Recessed-Lighting/26-659-0-0/list.aspx) [http://www.leevalley.com/en/hardware/page.aspx?cat=3,70322&p=70323](http://www.leevalley.com/en/hardware/page.aspx?cat=3,70322&p=70323). I ran strip lighting on top of my kitchen cabinets with something similar to the Lee Valley Kit but powered [it](https://www.amazon.com/SYLVANIA-Flexible-Starter-changing-Control/dp/B008COVFUA) with the supplied wall wart. The remote makes it super easy to turn on-off or change colour for mood lighting and has a dimmer function as well, although it’s not as capable as using something like the leviton switch. ---
**Author:** ![MindsEye\_Watering](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mindseye_watering/32/3619_2.png) [@MindsEye\_Watering](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MindsEye_Watering)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2016, 2:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/led-under-counter-and-recessed-swivel-spotlight-kitchen-lighting/763959/15 "2016-08-31T14:41:26Z")
> [@swampspruce](#): > > Run two switches and dimmers if this will be a permanent install. It’ll be much easier in the long run. > [Pot lights.](http://www.1stoplighting.com/LED-Lights_LED-Recessed-Lighting/26-659-0-0/list.aspx) > [Hardware - Lee Valley Tools](http://www.leevalley.com/en/hardware/page.aspx?cat=3,70322&p=70323). > > I ran strip lighting on top of my kitchen cabinets with something similar to the Lee Valley Kit but powered [it](https://www.amazon.com/SYLVANIA-Flexible-Starter-changing-Control/dp/B008COVFUA) with the supplied wall wart. The remote makes it super easy to turn on-off or change colour for mood lighting and has a dimmer function as well, although it’s not as capable as using something like the leviton switch. Thanks. I’ve decided to use two Leviton dimmers to control the strips and spots separately. Now all I need to do is figure out how to route wire to them all… ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2016, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/led-under-counter-and-recessed-swivel-spotlight-kitchen-lighting/763959/17 "2016-09-05T18:32:15Z")
Reported. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2016, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/led-under-counter-and-recessed-swivel-spotlight-kitchen-lighting/763959/18 "2016-09-05T18:38:34Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > Reported. For what reason?