After breakfast, I started working on installing the new under-cabinet light. There was an issue I needed to resolve before I started. Should I hard-wire it or just use the plug-in option? The hole in the bottom of the cabinet was in the wrong spot for the new light. The plug wire on the new one was in the right place of the existing hole. However, I needed to add an outlet box in the cabinet. I had a retrofit box in the basement, but no outlet. I guess I hard-wire it.
I shut off the breaker to the light and started removing the old light. I removed the clamps from the cable and disconnected the wires from the old light. No drama with this part.
I then took some measurements to center the light under the cabinet. The old light was eighteen inches, and this one was sixteen inches, so the old screw holes would not work. The knockout for the connector on the light was about ¾ inch off center. I transferred the measurement to the inside of the bottom of the cabinet.
The BX cable is quite stiff. It is very difficult to bend it. I needed to bend it 90 degrees to fit the connector in the light. Knowing I was not going to get the to happen, especially with this cheap plastic cover on the light, I decided to drill the hole about one inch behind the light. I had a 90-degree connector for the old light, but it would not work on the new one.
I did some test-fitting to ensure the connector for the new light could accept a BX cable. The cover that held the connector was a thin piece of plastic. The stiffness of the BX cable would come back and haunt me. I tried to find the black and white wires inside the light. I pulled several wires and none of them would come out. I re-checked the directions, and it suggested opening the whole cover to release the wires. There the wires were…zip-tied to other wires. Time to install the light.
I used my ¾ inch Forstner drill bit to start drilling the hole from the top. About three-quarters through, I drilled a small hole through the center and finished the drilling from the bottom of the cabinet. I cleaned up all the wood shavings and moved on to wiring.
I connected the wires and ran downstairs to turn the breaker on. As I walked back into the dinette, there was the glare of an almost newly installed under-cabinet light. Time to finish up.
The manufacturer provided these tiny 3/8-inch-long screws to hang the light. Really?? One hard attempt to turn on the light and the light would be hanging from the cable. Time to find some replacements. The screw openings on the light were so narrow I could not find any longer screw that had a small head. So, I used a longer screw with the head exposed outside the cover and yet long enough to screw deeper into the bottom of the cabinet.
I eyeballed the centering of the light between the 2 old screw holes and made sure the BX cable was perpendicular to the light. I lined up the light and pre-drilled the first screw hole and then screwed in this side of the light. I proceeded to do the same on the other side, but first I made sure the light was square under the cabinet.
Done! At least I thought I was done. The cheap plastic cover that held the BX connector popped out. So, I laid on the desk and maneuvered the cover back in place. Now I just needed to nail down a clamp to hold the BX cable in place inside the cabinet.
After several attempts to hammer down the clamp, I decided that screwing it down was a lot easier. A couple hits on the light switch to make sure it worked, and I was officially done.
