Geek-cheap Under-Counter lights - The coolest, cheapest and most sensible under-counter lights

Are you a geek? Do you want to be a practi-geek? Do you want your SWMBO to love your geekness? I have a project that you can complete in an evening that will light up her day.

The Need: I live in a 70's rental apartment and the cupboards are ok but not modern. Thus, no lights under the counter. I am 53 and my eyes would love to have lights under the counter but I neglected to mention that I'm also parsimonious (really cheap). So I had to design something myself.

I knew I wanted distributed light. I also know that I like convenience. I don't want to have to turn lights on - they need to be on when I likely need them. Let's not spend time on chatting, this project is simple enough for you to see the light as we proceed (luv them puns).


Pls ignore the water in the sink, the bags of spinach on the counter, etc. It's real life!

Step 1 Go forth and gather

1. Quantity 3 or 4 or 5 or 6 LED puck lights (press center for on/off, 3xAA batteries, $1 each at Dollarama). If you can only find the major brand version they'll cost you $5 or $6 but the project still works out real cheap.

2. Thin 2 conductor, polarity marked (stripe on on conductor), stranded speaker wire ($2.50 for 25 ft at no name electronics shop). See photo 2.

3. 5v DC power supply (wall wart). $2.99 used at Variety village. Probably $12.95 at most electronics shops.

Total $10.50

Optional:
4. Plug in timer and short extension cord.

Comments

[admin]

This is a great Instructable, but you need to add a main image of the final project to the intro step. Please do that and leave me a message when you have so that we can publish your work. Thanks!

[leopoldb]

Thank you. I'll get that photo and update this week. I love instructables and am very happy to contribute. Leopold B.

[junado]

Thanks for the great idea! I'll be making mine soon, found the same lights at Dollarama for 1.25 CAD ! Branded versions at my local Home Depot were being sold for 9$ each... I'll be making this but adding a switch and a fuse just to be on the safe side.

[stephenniall]

oo very cool Damn i just passed a place selling these lights for £1 each ) (2$)

[TheDeviant13]

I like your idea very much and am going to try it in my bedroom except using switches so I can turn them on and off individually. 5 out of 5 stars