“Welcome, to another edition of Thunderdome!”
Mad Max, Beyond Thunderdome

I know, we must be sounding like a broken record here, trumpeting the endless parade of LED lighting fixtures. The CounterMax MX-L Four LED under cabinet light (product page: http://www.affordablelamps.com/max-87904.html) is yet another addition to horde of LED undercabinet lighting fixtures, courtesy of the Mad Max of professional lighting, Maxim. This useful, if not terribly aesthetic light kit is available in satin aluminum, bronze or white. It measures nineteen inches and change by two inches wide and one inch high, making it extraordinarily sleek, perfect for placement in those tough to light spots heretofore ignored by the lighting mafia. This MX-L uses four 1 watt LED’s, and is supplied with a connector cord, coupler and direct wire box, built in light switch,  and the best part? Under $120.00, that’s what. So in keeping with the spirit of this blog, here are the end credits.

We don’t need another light bulb

We just want to light our kitchen in our home

All we really want is a cheap electric bill

So we don’t have to live like gnomes.

© 2009 Alan Williams, with apologies to Tina Turner

For those who just read my last blog about strip lighting, then this is the sequel. So, those Advent strips were too low end for you, eh? Then try Maxim Lighting, and their LED under cabinet lighting entry into this field, the CounterMax MX-L Two LED Under Cabinet Light Bar Kit (product page: http://www.affordablelamps.com/max-87902.html). These almost 10” long light strips come in white, satin aluminum or bronze, and use two 1W LED’s, and are supplied with a connector cord, coupler and direct wire box. They emit virtually no heat, and are the alternative to the strips. Use these in cabinets where heat is to be avoided, like pastry pantries, jewelry glass showcases, electronics cabinets or stereo consoles, home theater entertainment centers, or in a nursery, daycare center, or even hospital rooms.

Save the strip lights for the strip clubs.

Is it just me, or do these names Maxim and Advent remind you of something else? Now don’t think too hard.

The Revolution continues, and its starts with a strip club. Yes, House of Troy has a new lighting strip, designed for under cabinet lighting, and they join the growing club of new fixtures that are creeping up on the entire lighting industry. If you have counter, glass showcases, like those at the Antique mall, cabinets, book cases and shelves that need lighting, then these Advent Accent Light Strips (product page: http://www.affordablelamps.com/hot-als-lights.html) are the ticket. Available for 10” to 30” lengths, in black, white or polished brass, these $16.91 light strips (and up) get it done on the cheap. Just plug it in! The strips last 40,000 hours, and they come with 5’9” of cord, and that’s what counts. Great for kitchen counter lighting, too. Or the game room (over a dart board), the workbench, the laundry room, the mud room, the rumpus room, or the bathroom (for shaving, etc.). So start stripping! Lighting, that it.

This CounterMax under cabinet light kit from Maxim Lighting has everything you need to illuminate any surface with cool contemporary style. Each kit includes three LED disc lights, two connectors, a power cable, and an on/off switch. Choose from three finishes: black (as shown), silver, or white.

Comedy isn’t pretty, they say. And neither are these LED Under Cabinet Lighting fixtures from Maxim Lighting. But they sure are practical. The CounterMax MX-LD LED Under Cabinet Three Light Disc Kit (product page: http://www.affordablelamps.com/max-87883.html) is sort of a starter kit for those of you who want new LED technology in your kitchen, but don’t want to spend an arm and a leg for a system. This three light kit has it all, including three LED disc lights, two connectors, a power cable, and an on/off switch. The Counter Max is perfect for those of you who rent or lease, or for summer homes, cabins, condos, etc. These use one 1.7 watt LED module per unit, and they measure 3.125” by .875” tall, so they are small enough for most under cabinet lights. And they cone in white, silver or black, for a meager $75.59 per set.

Cheap, yes. Beautiful, not really. But at this price, and this efficiency, who cares?

OK, you live in California, or another state that has strict energy installation guidelines (Title 24). You are designing your dream home, and the contractor tells you that you need to be up to code. When it comes to the kitchen, the subject of under cabinet lighting comes up. What do you do, what do you do?

Well, thanks to American Fluorescent, you can take a deep breath and relax. This company features a complete line of energy efficient fixtures, incorporating GU24 based lamps, LED’s, or T5 linear fluorescent lamps. Whether it is a pendant fixture, sconce, flush mount or spotlight, they got you covered under the EPA act of 2005, the National Energy Conservation Policy act, or the above mentioned Title 24. For this blog, I will focus on one fixture: The Diode 28.

This amazing gadget does it all. Featuring 28 Light Emitting diodes, it uses only 5 watts of power, and is the equivalent to a 12 watt T5 fluorescent or 3 20 watt Xenon bulbs. No remote power supply is needed, as it is a plug in, or hardwire option fixture for 12 volt. These fixtures can be connected end to end, like LEGO, up to 20 fixtures long, which are perfect for a professional kitchen, or Montgomery Burns snack room. The fixture is screw in, or double sided adhesive mounting. It measures 9 ½” x 6 I/4″ x ¾”.

If you cook a lot, the under cabinet light is essential to your preparation and timing. There is virtually no heat, so it will not affect your food. The light is bright, and LED’s will last you until the next ice age before going nova (50,000 hours). And the install; even a caveman or lobbyist can do it. Personally, I prefer the caveman.

Maxed Out and Under!

This is a first for me. I just sold three of these to a nice lady from West LA, just prior to writing about this new LED under cabinet lighting from Maxim Lighting. I think the clincher in the deal was that this a ready to go system, with all of the accessories needed for a complete installation. The CounterMax MX-L Six LED Under Cabinet Light Bar Kit from Maxim is as easy as it gets. Measuring 28.5″ long by 2″ wide and 1″ tall, and using six LED’s with a 40,000 hour lamp life, the CounterMax also comes with the connector cord, coupler and direct wire junction box. You get to choose from three finishes: white, satin aluminum, or bronze, and there is a built in on / off switch.

Maxim is a new player in the LED field, so the jury is still out, but if this is anything like their other products, there should be no worries. Obviously, Maxim Lighting is giving Kichler Lighting a run for its money with their new line of undercabinet lighting. Kichler has been doing this for a few years now, and they have dominated the market. I used to specify. for a company called LED that also had a line of these going back 9 years ago. But that was when LED lamp life was a mere 20,000 hours, and not nearly as bright.

So, competition is good, and I’m sure more lighting manufactures will join the fray in the coming months. LED’s are safe, green, easy, efficient, and affordable now.

As a side note, for you book collectors out there (and I am one of you). LED’s are the best way to illuminate your bookcases, as the heat factor is nil, and the lamp life is long.