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jess111_gw

House could've burned down-halogen light.. Xenon needed!!!!

jess111
15 years ago

Long story short, I have a cabinet that someday (LOL) will have a glass door. Still have the wood shelves as I haven't swapped them for glass yet. Right now it is just a door frame missing an inset. I have xenon UC lighting, and the electrician installed a halogen puck light by drilling a big hole in the top of this cabinet. *Apparently* he just stuck this puck light up in the hole from the inside without securing it, IDK, figuring gravity would never take over????

Anyway, apparently it fell down, and unbeknownst to me, the switch was turned on. You couldn't tell because the light had fallen onto the solid wooden shelf so no light was being given off, and this is the only light that operates on that switch.

Got up the other night at 1am, and saw a glimmer of light coming from beneath that top shelf. Odd, so I examined further and found the switch on, with a hole BURNED now through the cabinet by the halogen light that was sitting against it. The light melted to the cabinet, but was still ON!!!!!! There was a faint crackling and popping noise coming from the shelf, like it was still sizzling. THANK GOD I saw it!!!!

So DH calls the electrician to come back, and he was supposed to be here this week, but nothing. Now that he will be swapping out the light, I DO NOT want halogen. I want Xenon, and I would prefer a bronze light, instead of the white fixture he put in before, since I have a med wood cabinet. Anyone know where I can find a bronze xenon puck light?

Comments (11)

  • jess111
    Original Author
    15 years ago

    oh, and I was hoping to get something that doesn't need a transformer. I have the series II (or III) kirchler lights UC.

  • bluekitobsessed
    15 years ago

    I am so sorry! You must have been terrified for your family! I ordered xenon puck lights from Pegasus Lighting (per GW suggestions) with a chrome finish. I've also seen them at Lamps Plus (online and in stores) and HD (in the shop lighting section, not the pretty lamps section), although I'm not sure about bronze.

    Xenon does get hot, although not as much as halogen. If you're seriously gun shy -- and I couldn't blame you if you were -- look into fluorescent strips and, maybe, LED lights. Right now you can buy stick on LED lights of dubious quality at mass market retailers (BB&B, Walmart, etc), but I'm expecting the market to evolve substantially within 6 months or so. Good luck!

  • User
    15 years ago

    Xenon, while cooler can still cause a fire under the conditions you found. Were you thinking LED which prodouces almost no heat?

  • jess111
    Original Author
    15 years ago

    No, I was thinking Xenon, though it would probably still cause a fire, the halogen was red hot!!! The UC xenons only warm the cabinet a little, although it would be different if the face of the bulbs were leaning against it, but the heat was why I was against halogen anyway. I just feel a little better with the xenons. I assume the led would look very blue. I don't know if flourescents come in pucks. But I will SURELY be making sure this thing is secured if the electrician ever comes back.

  • jess111
    Original Author
    15 years ago

    what about these flurescent pucks? They are not in bronze, but black may blend better than white

    Here is a link that might be useful: puck lighting

  • jess111
    Original Author
    15 years ago

    what about these flurescent pucks? They are not in bronze, but black may blend better than white

    Here is a link that might be useful: puck lighting

  • jess111
    Original Author
    15 years ago

    bump....please help, have to order something so he doesn't just install the same thing.

    any experience with the fluorescent pucks?

    how is the light in the leds? Is it very blue?

  • jess111
    Original Author
    15 years ago

    bump

  • birkie_2006
    15 years ago

    I have fluorescent puck lights made by FEIT.

    The light is nice, but appears more greenish due to the glass. (The undercab lighting is fluorescent too, T4 microfluorescent fixtures from Pegasus).

    The box says not for inside cabinet use, but the vendor told me they would be fine. They still get warm (not hot), and have a slight plastic smell when they are on--maybe because they are new. They are plugged into a switched outlet on top of the cabinet. The fixture is basic white plastic.

    I am not a fan of xenon or halogen inside a cabinet, so these were the best fit I found. In the future, LED lights will be perfect for inside cabinets--just not much choice yet.

    Here is a link that might be useful: Fluorescent puck lights

  • User
    15 years ago

    Jess, I had done a fair amount of reading about the undercabinet lighting a while back but my brain being what it is lately, I cannot remember the specifics.
    I did just do a search on the lighting forum for undercabinet and then one for puck and brought up many posts. I am glad you didn't have any more grief with your halogens- they scare me and I would not use them period (Even though I do remember they give off great light)--- I think that flourescents seem to be the favorite with little downside other than perhaps the cosmetics - but then again, who needs a house burning down. I did look at some LED and they were just not very bright. THings might have changed some, but that is my recollection. Keep us posted and good luck.

  • brickeyee
    15 years ago

    Hang the electrician out to dry.
    ANY improperly installed fixture can result in a fire.
    Even a florescent with an electronic ballast can result in overheating of the ballast and fire.

    Your problem is not with the puck light, it is with the idiot that installed it without securely mounting it.
    Sounds like he either did not have the correct Forstner bit to drill part way through and leave a flat bottom hole (you also need a low RPM drill since the bit is so large, but any decent electrician should have a hole-hawg).

    He probably used a hole saw.
    If he has a boss, call.
    If he is a sole practitioner report him.