Tutorial · updated 2026-07-09 · 1 min read
Plan circular under-cabinet LEDs before buying a controller
For replacing round halogen under-cabinet lights, decide whether you need dimming, tunable white, RGB, or WLED-style control before choosing fixtures.
Replacing circular halogen puck lights is not the same project as installing an addressable LED strip. The hole size, power supply, color temperature, and control method all matter. Start by deciding what the kitchen should do every day, then choose the fixture and controller around that requirement.
Define the lighting job first
- Measure the existing cut-outs and trim diameter. A fixture that looks right electrically is still a bad choice if it leaves a visible old hole.
- Choose whether you need simple on/off, dimming, tunable white, RGB color, or addressable effects. Most task-lighting kitchens only need dimmable white or tunable white.
- Check whether the pucks are constant-voltage, constant-current, mains-powered, or supplied by a driver. Do not assume a WLED controller can safely replace every halogen transformer.
- If you want one controller to drive several lights together, make sure the fixtures can be wired in the required series or parallel layout and that the driver has enough capacity.
- Prototype one puck and one driver on the bench before opening every cabinet.
Use effects sparingly for task areas
WLED is excellent for accent strips and scene lighting, but under-cabinet task lights should still produce clean, reliable white light. If those kitchen lights later feed into Rhythm through a supported path, keep the daily state simple: bright enough for cooking, warm enough for evenings, and not dependent on fragile effect presets.