HomeKit Wanted: Recommendation for kitchen under cabinet countertop lighting

[flynz4]

I am considering putting in some under cabinet countertop lighting for our kitchen. Automation would be nice. I have 3 separate areas, and ideally it would be nice if they can all light simultaneously. I do not have a wall switch for the 3 separate power outlets, so I would want a wireless remote switch... ideally HomeKit compatible.

Primarily, I would want it as task lighting, so white light is sufficient. However, color control would be nice as an accent, but not strictly necessary.

Any advice would be welcome.

/Jim

 

[gwhizkids]

I am considering putting in some under cabinet countertop lighting for our kitchen. Automation would be nice. I have 3 separate areas, and ideally it would be nice if they can all light simultaneously. I do not have a wall switch for the 3 separate power outlets, so I would want a wireless remote switch... ideally HomeKit compatible.

Primarily, I would want it as task lighting, so white light is sufficient. However, color control would be nice as an accent, but not strictly necessary.

Any advice would be welcome.

/Jim

Cannot recommend the Philips Hue under-cabinet lights enough. Easy to install. HomeKit friendly. You can link them in either the Hue app or HomeKit so they operate synchronously.

https://www.philips-hue.com/en-us/products/smart-light-strips

As for a wireless remote, I use this product which is made for Hue. No batteries and connects to the Hue hub. To everyone but you it’s just a light switch.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07MMWH2Y...YFY1Y35KCBQERF6T6&starsLeft=1&skipTwisterOG=1

 

[AZhappyjack]

My wife wanted under-cabinet lighting for task lighting. I picked up some LED strips off of Amazon and installed them. To connect them to HomeKit, I installed dedicated wall outlets above the cabinets and ran the wires up to the plugs, and added VCOClink smart plugs to each outlet. They now turn on and off per a schedule, and I can operate them manually using the Home app, as needed. I did four separate runs all for about $150, including the smart plugs.

 

[BrianBaughn]

We have under-cabinet lighting from a kitchen remodel done several years back. They don't get used an awful lot but they put out a lot of heat. Something to consider…when choosing the lights…depending on what's in the cabinet.

 

[gwhizkids]

We have under-cabinet lighting from a kitchen remodel done several years back. They don't get used an awful lot but they put out a lot of heat. Something to consider…when choosing the lights…depending on what's in the cabinet.

I’m not shilling for Hue but those kind of lights give off almost no heat at all.

 

[Kenny99]

Amazon has lots of LED strip lights for very little $. So little it may be advisable to buy some and try them out to see what you want permanently. May not be able to have them sync but for trying them out would be OK. Try them in the front, middle, and back under the cabinets. Love ours, No heat and use VERY LITTLE power, make great night lights.

 

[haralds]

I use an Eve Light Strip. It has been reliable and can be used with multiple colors.

 

[gsucyclist]

I recently picked one of these up and it was easy to install and works great. The first one I got was defective, but exchanged it and no issues with the 2nd one

https://www.amazon.com/Cync-Undercabinet-Fixture-Changing-Undercab/dp/B0D4ZLZNVP/ref=sr_1_2_sspa?crid=QSIBGIIL9EF5&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.826CPBaCd872INej8YukiXrlXjbNHVWziLoRoWpru7PpUNZjHCB61OEmpvCYFvvypykU-Voga7B07r07nj3JSoxawNgSxjg4i7FVAAmu5A2YO6aVzIMx2SC58-MoTor7YZxEHrWdAQZcC3_2QQRDCFdUis7Oiy337ldY5w5hd24IciFzK4JTWfPVDFDeBA0XQxcu0PO83TG_p1KTzv3-xg.unonzvgSgwk_R1LMYKjQmqNunmqZempqG67FiSTme10&dib_tag=se&keywords=GE%2BSync%2BReveal%2BHD%2B&qid=1725289008&s=hi&sprefix=ge%2Bsync%2Breveal%2Bhd%2B%2B%2Ctools%2C108&sr=1-2-spons&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9hdGY&th=1

 

[erihp]

I recently picked one of these up and it was easy to install and works great. The first one I got was defective, but exchanged it and no issues with the 2nd one

https://www.amazon.com/Cync-Undercabinet-Fixture-Changing-Undercab/dp/B0D4ZLZNVP/ref=sr_1_2_sspa?crid=QSIBGIIL9EF5&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.826CPBaCd872INej8YukiXrlXjbNHVWziLoRoWpru7PpUNZjHCB61OEmpvCYFvvypykU-Voga7B07r07nj3JSoxawNgSxjg4i7FVAAmu5A2YO6aVzIMx2SC58-MoTor7YZxEHrWdAQZcC3_2QQRDCFdUis7Oiy337ldY5w5hd24IciFzK4JTWfPVDFDeBA0XQxcu0PO83TG_p1KTzv3-xg.unonzvgSgwk_R1LMYKjQmqNunmqZempqG67FiSTme10&dib_tag=se&keywords=GE%2BSync%2BReveal%2BHD%2B&qid=1725289008&s=hi&sprefix=ge%2Bsync%2Breveal%2Bhd%2B%2B%2Ctools%2C108&sr=1-2-spons&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9hdGY&th=1

Doesnt look like these support Homekit natively?


Also here is a sane link to the above without all the tracking/referral jargon: https://www.amazon.com/Cync-Undercabinet-Fixture-Changing-Undercab/dp/B0D4ZLZNVP

 

[erihp]

Athom makes Homekit compatible devices that can drive normal LED strips.

https://www.athom.tech/blank-1/homekit-rgb-light-strip-controller

I would also recommend diffusing the LEDs in some way. This will help with securely installing them as well. They made extruded channels that can angle the strips and often include light diffusers built in.

 

[gsucyclist]

Doesnt look like these support Homekit natively?


Also here is a sane link to the above without all the tracking/referral jargon: https://www.amazon.com/Cync-Undercabinet-Fixture-Changing-Undercab/dp/B0D4ZLZNVP

Thanks for the updated link. These don't support Homekit natively, but they do support Matter and I was able to get them into Homekit through the Home app without jumping through any other hoops

 

[flynz4]

From the discussion earlier in this thread, I’m looking to move forward with Hue. I remember hearing there were some Apple HomeKit issues with Philips Hue. Are those sorted out? I suspect I’d want to use a bridge as well.

/Jim

 

[erihp]

From the discussion earlier in this thread, I’m looking to move forward with Hue. I remember hearing there were some Apple HomeKit issues with Philips Hue. Are those sorted out? I suspect I’d want to use a bridge as well.

/Jim

should be mostlt sorted out. you will need a hue hub, or some other zigbee solution

 

[flynz4]

should be mostlt sorted out. you will need a hue hub, or some other zigbee solution

Thanks. I’ll plan on getting a hub.

I wasn’t originally thinking I need or even want color control for under the cabinets; I was thinking more as bright task lights. However, the new house has a more open great room concept, and when watching a movie, it would be nice if the area lighting had more of an overall soft colored glow. The under cabinet lights would be perfect.

I also want to have some colored lights in our bedroom and bathroom with controls for each of us in reach from our sides of the bed. During the day it can be general room lighting, but if we hit our bedside button during the night, I want a soft red glow so if either of us gets up for a bathroom break, we can do it without waking the other and also not saturate our eyes with blue/green wavengths making it harder to fall back asleep.

I’ll probably also do some home light automation in different rooms when we are away to make it appear occupied.

 

[erihp]

I’ll probably also do some home light automation in different rooms when we are away to make it appear occupied.

Home Assistant can do some really amazing things.

Advanced users only! https://github.com/slashback100/presence_simulation