How To – Use Hue LightStrip as Under Cabinet Lighting in your Kitchen

I’ve written several times about how much I love Hue products. I really bloody do! Something I’ve wanted to do for a while now is to use Hue LightStrip as Under Cabinet Lighting in the kitchen. Sure, the Hue LightStrip works nicely under the cabinet. It’s easy to cut down to the correct length, and stick underneath. The issue is – POWER. The Hue LightStrip uses a massive chunky transformer to step down mains voltage (240V AC in the UK) to 24V DC. We didn’t have a plug socket under the kitchen cabinet, or the space to hide one. There were just some wires, waiting for lights.

So, assuming you have some nice wires under your cabinet, waiting to have something wired in, then step right up, here’s how you can use Hue LightStrip as Under Cabinet Lighting in your Kitchen.

What you need to use Hue LightStrip as Under Cabinet Lighting in your Kitchen

• Philips Hue LightStrip Plus 2 m Colour Changing Dimmable LED Smart Kit
• PowerLED PCV2420 Constant Voltage LED Power Supply 24V 0.83A 20W
• Sugru Mouldable Glue – Original Formula – White
• Self Tapping Screws to hold the LED Power Supply under the cabinet

Before you start, it’s best to get the Hue LightStrip working and paired to your Hub. Sometimes you have to do this by entering the serial number (which is on the control box at the start of the Hue LightStrip). Also, to allow the Sugru / adhesive to set I’d do the first part at least 24 hours in advance.

Also, don’t forget, we’re dealing with mains voltages here. If you’re not comfortable with that, don’t continue.

How to use Hue LightStrip as Under Cabinet Lighting in your Kitchen

1. Give under the kitchen cabinet a blumming good clean, you need it to be clean and dry.

2. Unless you have a long continuous run of cupboards, you’ll probably need to trim down the LightStrip. So work out how long you need it to be, and trim it at the closest cut marker.

3. Peel off the adhesive from the back of the Hue LightStrip and stick it in position. It’s not the strongest of adhesives, so I’d recommend using little blobs of Sugru to hold it in place.

4. Use two blobs of Sugru to stick the control box under the cabinets. The Sugru really needs 24 hours to fully go off, so leave it to set before continuing.

1. Once everything is secure, turn the electric off now. Check and double check it’s all off.

2. Mount the PowerLED PCV2420 Constant Voltage LED Power Supply under the cabinets with your screws. Ideally near the control box. Connect your 240v supply.

3. If you’ve got a multimeter, it’s a good time to check that the LED Power Supply is outputting 24v. So, whack the power back on, and give it a test. If there’s no output, then you’ve messed up two wires. Either way, turn the power off – if all is good, continue, if not check your work.

4. Chop the connector off the PSU end of the Hue LightStrip power cable (the connector that goes into the Hue LightStrip PSU). Don’t get it confused with the end that goes into the Control Box – they look the same, but aren’t. Plug the connector in the control box just to be sure, make sure there’s enough cable to reach the LED Power Supply and cut.

5. Strip the wire and connect it to the 24V side of the LED Power Supply. The Positive cable is the one with the dashed line on it (it looks like it should be negative, but it’s definitely positive!), and the other wire (with writing on) is Negative.

6. Screw the covers on either end of the LED Power Supply, and then switch the power on. You’re done!