How to Wire a Light Into a Kitchen Cabinet With Glass Doors

Installing lighting in a cabinet will require installing a second light switch.

Many homeowners have fine china and dishes to display. Homeowners who are lucky enough to have a glass fronted kitchen cabinet can easily and safely display these items. Wiring a light fixture into the cabinet will further enhance the display of your showpieces. Under cabinet lighting is typically installed under the entire kitchen cabinet. This same lighting can be installed inside the cabinet. Homeowners who are unfamiliar with electrical wiring should consult with a licensed electrician. Inexperienced do it yourself homeowners can wire the light incorrectly and cause damage to their home.

Things You'll Need

• Screwdriver
• Under cabinet light fixture
• Drill
• ½-inch diameter drill bit
• 12/2 NM electrical cable
• Cable connector
• New electrical switch box
• Electrical switch
• Wire nuts
• Switch plate cover
• Light bulbs

Instructions

1. Locate the circuit breaker junction box for your home. Turn off the power to the kitchen.

2. Attach the under cabinet light fixture to the underside of the top of the kitchen cabinet. Set the light fixture in place on the cabinet. Secure the fixture to the cabinet with screws and a screwdriver.

3. Drill a hole through the back wall at the top of the cabinet with a large ½ inch diameter drill bit and drill.

4. Run a length of 12/2 NM electrical cable through the hole in the back of the cabinet to the existing light switch.

5. Strip away the plastic sheathing from approximately six inches at each end of the cable. Under the outer plastic sheathing are three wires covered with plastic sheathing. Strip away ½ inch of the plastic sheathing from the ends of these wires.

6. Knock out the perforated round piece on the under cabinet light fixture with a screwdriver. Install a cable connector in the resulting hole. Slip the three cable wires through the cable connector. Tighten the connector so it clamps down on the wiring to hold it in place.

7. Remove the old electrical box for the light switch. Install a new box that has room for an extra light switch. Connect the wiring from the old box to the new cable and the light switches wiring. Locate all of the white wires. Twist together the ends of the wires and thread a wire nut over the top of the exposed metal ends. Repeat with the black wires and the green grounding wires.

8. Push the outlet wiring into the electrical box. Screw the switches and switch plate cover in place with a screwdriver.

9. Connect the wiring of the under cabinet lighting to the three cable wires. Match the black, white, and green wires of the cable with the corresponding wires in the light fixture. Twist wire nuts on the ends of the wires.

10. Install light bulbs in the under cabinet light fixture. Turn on the power to the kitchen.

References

• This Old House: How to Install Undercabinet Lighting
• The Family Handyman: How to Install Under Cabinet Lighting in Your Kitchen