IKEA cabinet lights are fantastic for accent lighting in your pantry and wardrobe. They are simple to install and can show the features of your shelves or drawers.
If you have recently installed some IKEA under cabinet lights to enhance the look of your kitchen cabinets and they are not working, do not worry; it can be frustrating and irritating, but – you are not alone!
A lot of people have been reporting this issue lately. This blog post will discuss the possible causes of this problem and how to fix it.
IKEA Under Cabinet Lights not Working
Causes include the following:
- Bulbs not screwed in properly
- Wires not connected
- Blown fuse
- The transformer is not working
- Fuses are not working
- Faulty bulbs
- Lights are not synchronized
- Installation not done right
- Replace the wrong lights
Now let us look at tried and tested tips to fix these issues.
- Bulbs Not Screwed Properly
There are a few possible reasons why your IKEA under cabinet lights might not work. The most common reason is that the bulbs are not properly screwed in.
When screwing your light bulbs, ensure you keep the cords upright so there are no tangles. Each bulb is properly placed and attached to the place where you want your light to be.
For that, you may mark your wooden panels before sticking them under your cabinets to avoid any dislocation of lights.
The bulbs must be screwed tightly, and enough space should be left for mounting the cords.
Inspect carefully; if you have already placed your lights, it’s recommended to take them off and screw in the bulbs properly.
If a loosening of the bulbs was causing your Ikea under cabinet, then fixing bulbs in their due places will solve your issue.
- Wires Not Connected
Another possibility is that the wires are not properly connected. Wiring any electrical product is a crucial step, as one tiny mistake can lead up to long hours of work.
This could be because the wires are loose or not connected to the right socket or the fitting of the wires was not done right.
To connect the wires correctly, first, make sure that they are tight and detangled the cords are placed in the right direction.
Each wire is either connected individually to the socket or in a group. If they are still not working, check to see if they are connected to the right socket.
You must also see if any of the wires of the cabinet lights are damaged or overstretched. The only way to get your lights working again if your wires are damaged is to get them replaced.
- Blown Fuse
There is a chance that the fuses are blown. A blown fuse might have discoloration, haziness or a heated or broken metal part.
It is most likely to happen if you have installed too many lights on one circuit.
If this is the case, you will need to replace the fuse with a new one. Changing the fuse with one more fuse of the equivalent size, category, rating, and voltage is significant to get better results.
To identify a blown fuse, look for blackened or broken wire inside the fuse. You might also smell burned wire.
After doing all this, if your IKEA under cabinet lights is still not working, you may consider calling its customer support.
- Transformer Not Working
If you are using a transformer, look for a heat fuse. Most transformers have a heat fuse in the main to stop the current if the transformer goes overly hot.
To check the transformer, you can plug in a different appliance or light fixture to see if it works.
To check your transformer, use your multimeter to look up current readings at the input supply and output stations when the transformer is connected.
You may also use your multimeter to verify the connection inside the transformer when it is not attached to any energy source.
- Fuses Not Working
We have discussed why your IKEA under cabinet lights are not working. Amongst them, it is also possible that the fuses you are using are not working properly.
To check the fuses, you can replace them with new ones or try plugging them into any other fuse.
If you still face the issue of the light not working, you should contact your nearby electrician to check-in.
- Faulty Bulbs
It is also possible that the bulbs themselves are faulty. The most suitable way to check for faulty bulbs in an under cabinet light is through the light tester.
To evaluate this, you can try replacing the bulbs with new ones or check your blubs at the IKEA store to confirm whether the blub Is faulty or has an issue with your wiring.
- Lights not synchronized
Your Ikea under cabinet lights may not work, too, if they are not well synchronized.
This issue is usually faced when the wiring of your lights is not done correctly or there has been something missing while co-joining the wires of your lights to give them a more mess-free look.
To synchronize your lights. Place the motion beam within 2cm of the light and hold the coupling button, which is often located at the back. This may help solve your issue.
- Issues in Installation
As easy as it may seem to install the bulbs, most of us do not follow the instructions given, due to which your IKEA under cabinets lights do not turn on or fluctuate.
If you follow these instructions, you will surely not face any problems with your lights.
It is advised to place the sticky part first, then place the light up and snap the uppermost part onto the sticky part all over the electric cord.
The twist in the cord during installation can cause your IKEA lights to not work.
- You Picked The Wrong Lights
Lastly, it is possible that you picked the wrong lights for your needs.
For example, if you need a lot of light in your kitchen, you might consider using LED lights under cabinet lights instead of fluorescent ones. You can consult a professional electrician to pick the right lights.
There are many people at the store for your help; you may want to discuss your preference and what you are looking for before leaving with what you want.
Also, ask for extra help, how the product work, how it will be installed and what challenges are expected while the lights are being installed.
Along with the instructions, manual and human assistance are always required for improved results and performance.
Follow The Instruction Guide
To correctly set up any pair of IKEA lights, you must follow the instruction guide. This is an important step; it allows you to not miss any step that could cause your Ikea under lights not to work.
The guide will help you understand how to connect the wires correctly, which are to be joined and stuck up first and how to properly install the bulbs.
If you have followed all these tips and your IKEA under cabinet lights are still not working, you must go and check in with your Ikea store, or it is advised to call Ikea customer support for extra support; you may also need to contact a professional electrician for further assistance.
Suggestions
Be it making dinner, wrapping lunches, coffee-making or browsing the early morning news, the kitchen is where you do the most job.
The right lighting for your kitchen shelves makes cooking better and easier, and more fun.
Ikea under cabinet lights can help you find things and are a perfect fit to elevate the look of any space, but along with all the pros comes the disadvantages if you face the issue of your lights not working, which can be frustrating.
It is recommended to choose your lights wisely with the help of a professional if you do not know what will go best with your cabinets; even with the right selection, you can still face the issue.
The reasons and their solutions are discussed above.
The Bottom Line
Ikea under cabinet lights in the kitchen makes preparing and cooking a meal so much safer and easier for you, be that in the early morning or late at night; nonetheless, it can be very inconvenient if you are used to working with them and they stop working.
In this article, we have listed all the common causes that may cause your lights to stop working and their troubleshooting methods for your practicality.
We hope this blog post helps you troubleshoot your IKEA under cabinet lights and you can resume your work comfortably.
If the basic troubleshooting doesn’t help you, contact IKEA customer service or maybe get a replacement for the budget-friendly, under-cabinet lights and lighten up your kitchen again!