Xenon Low Voltage Under Cabinet Task Lights

FAQs for Xenon Low Voltage Under Cabinet Task Lights

Dimmers | Transformers | Wiring Guidelines | Xenon Wedge-Base Lamps

DIMMERS
Q) Can I use a dimmer switch with the Xenon Low Voltage Task Lights?

A) Yes, both the hardwired Task Lights and the cord & plug Task Lights can be dimmed but only if they are wired correctly.

Q) While controlling the Xenon Low Voltage Task Lights with a switch or a dimmer what position should the Hi/Lo/Off switch be in?

A) The Hi/Lo/Off switch should be in either the "Hi" position or the "Lo" position.

Q) How can I control a cord & plug Xenon Low Voltage Task Light with a dimmer?

A) The cord & plug version can be controlled by a dimmer if the cord & plug set is plugged into the top outlet of a dual wall receptacle, for which only the top outlet is controlled by a dimmer. This will leave the bottom outlet available with full power for other electrical appliances like toasters, mixers, TVs, and electric knives.

Q) Can I use a “touch dimmer switch” with these Xenon Low Voltage Under Cabinet Task Lights, the type of dimmer that changes the brightness of the lamps to four different levels – from “off” to dim to “bright” to “brighter” to “brightest” – simply by touching something?

A) In short, no. The “touch dimmers” are designed to control only standard line voltage incandescent lamps – not low voltage xenon lamps.

Q) What kind of dimmer switch should I use?

A) An ordinary incandescent dimmer can sometimes be used to dim the hardwire Xenon Low Voltage Task Lights. However, on occasion the use of a standard incandescent dimmer may cause an audible humming sound. Also, the range of dimmability may be limited with an incandescent dimmer.

Q) What should I do if my incandescent dimmer produces an audible humming sound?

A) If this happens, the incandescent dimmer should be replaced with a dimmer specifically designed to control a low voltage electronic transformer.

Q) Where can I find dimmer switches that are designed to control low voltage electronic transformers?

A) Please click Electronic Low Voltage Dimmers to see a complete description of dimmers that can control low voltage electronic transformers.

Q) What might happen if I tried to control an electronic transformer with a dimmer designed for a magnetic transformer?

A) In all likelihood your lights will probably flicker.

Q) On which side of the transformer is the dimmer installed

A) The dimmer is always installed on the primary side (120-volt side) of the transformer.

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TRANSFORMERS
Q) What kind of transformers do I need to purchase to make the Xenon Low Voltage Task Lights work?

A) None; each Xenon Low Voltage Task Light is equipped with its own low voltage electronic transformer (12 volts, 50Hz/60Hz).

Q) What type of wire should be used to connect the primary side of the transformer (120-volt side) to the household current?

A) You can use standard household wire, which normally can be found at your local hardware store.

Q) How is the electrical connection between the household wire and the transformer inside the xenon fixture made?

A) These electrical connections are very easy to make with the assistance of the Push-In Connectors that are supplied inside all of the Xenon Low Voltage Task Lights. To make this electrical connection simply push the wires from the household cable into the push-in connectors.

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WIRING GUIDELINES
Q) How should the Xenon Low Voltage Task Lights system be wired?

A) It is always wise to consult an electrician in your geographical area about any electrical details that you might have questions about and to make certain that you are fulfilling all of the appropriate electrical codes.

Q) What type of wire should be used to connect the primary side of the transformer (120-volt side) to the household current?

A) You can use standard household wire, which can normally be found at your local hardware store.

Q) On which side of the transformer is the dimmer installed?

A) The dimmer is always installed the primary side (120-volt side) of the transformer for the hardwire Xenon Low Voltage Under Cabinet Task Lights. The Task Lights with a cord and plug cannot be dimmed.

Q) Can I connect several Xenon Low Voltage Task Lights together and control them with one switch.

A) Absolutely. Simply connect the “first” xenon task light to household current using standard household wire, then connect the “second” xenon task light to the “first” task light using household wire, then connect the “third” xenon task light to the “second” task light using household wire, etc.

Q) How should these fixtures be wired - in series or in parallel?

A) The xenon task lights should be wired in parallel with each other and in parallel with the household power so that each fixture is powered by 120 volts.

Q) How do I make certain that the Xenon Low Voltage Under Cabinet Task Lights are wired in parallel?

A) Simply make certain that each of the two push-in connectors inside the "first" fixture has THREE wires: a household wire bringing power to the first fixture, a wire inside the “first” fixture bringing power to the transformer inside that “first” fixture, and a household wire bringing power to the second fixture. Then simply continue this same wiring scheme throughout the “chain” of fixtures that are connected in parallel.

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XENON WEDGE-BASE LAMPS
Q) What makes this a xenon lighting system?

A) Xenon gas has been introduced into the glass envelope of the Xenon Wedge Base Lamp.

Q) Why is xenon gas added into the glass envelope of the lamp?

A) The addition of xenon gas into the glass envelope increases the rated life of the lamp. The addition of the xenon gas also creates a light source that has a color temperature that is higher (cooler) than an ordinary incandescent lamp but still lower (warmer) than a halogen lamp.

Q) What is the rated life of the xenon wedge-base lamps?

A) 10,000 hours.

Q) What does “rated life” mean?

A) The “rated life” of a lamp signifies the time at which 50% of a large quantity of these lamps will have burned out. That means that 50% of these lamps will burn out BEFORE the “rated life” and 50% will burn out AFTER the “rated life”. The “rated life” does NOT mean that every one of the lamps will last at least that long.

Q) Is this definition of “rated life” true for all lamps?

A) Yes, this is the standard rating for the life of ALL types of lamps.

Q) What “kind of light” is given off by the xenon festoon lamps?

A) As mentioned earlier xenon lamps have a color temperature that is between ordinary incandescent and halogen. That is, the light is cooler in appearance than incandescent but warmer in appearance than halogen.

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