Counter lights producing a shadow

Father Ted · Post by **Father Ted** » Tue Apr 07, 2020 10:04 pm

As per the title, I've installed a set of LED strip lights underneathe some high level cupboards and they are casting a dark shadow on the floor.

Can someone tell me what the optimum position is for them in order to prvent the nasty dark spot in the corner on the left hand side? I've currently placed them in the middle of the underside of the high level cupboards.

Thanks.

Someone-Else · Post by **Someone-Else** » Tue Apr 07, 2020 10:46 pm

Daft that it may sound, shadows are caused by the absence of light. The lights you have are shining down but not at the correct angle as no light is getting past the corner of the worktop. I would suggest you move the lights from the centre of the underside to the edge of the underside of the cabinets.

There are calculations, but it has a lot of variables, so its quicker to use "trial and error"

big-all · Post by **big-all** » Tue Apr 07, 2020 11:04 pm

its easy to work out where your light are by drawing a strait line up from the shadow under to the back off the cabinets
you light source would normally be at the very front possibly pointing back using the undersurface and upstand/tiled surface to diffuse and spread light so no direct light on the floor just subtle deflected light
your lights are to illuminate the work surfaces and not possible to illuminate the floor fully unless level or perhaps 10 mm forward off the worktop front edge or perhaps 150-250mm forward off your upper wall units

Father Ted · Post by **Father Ted** » Wed Apr 08, 2020 7:23 am

The main reason for their addition was to illuminate the countertop - as big-all states.
The high level units do not go out much beyond half width of the low level units so no matter what I do I don't think I can rectify this shadow fully without adding lights to the kickboards.

Adding lights to the kickboards is something I want to avoid at this stage as I cannot see an easy way to do this on a new kitchen - getting power across to these units was a big enough job.

dewaltdisney · Post by **dewaltdisney** » Wed Apr 08, 2020 10:10 am

My lights sit to the front of the cabinets and seem to illuminate a good area, but they are on three opposing rows of cabinets so there is a degree of balance. Having said that we also have a central ceiling light on as well usually so I cannot say I have ever noticed a problem?

DWD