Black & Decker 3-Bar LED Under-Cabinet Lighting Kit, Cool White, 9"

3-Bar LED Under-Cabinet Lighting Kit, Cool White, 9"

Features

  • Tool-free installation
  • Ultra-slim, linkable light bars
  • Motion sensor for on/off control
  • Ten brightness levels
  • Optional three-hour auto-off timer
  • Cool white (4000 K) output
  • LEDs rated up to 50,000 hours
  • Energy-efficient operation (approximately 85% lower energy use versus incandescent)

Specifications

Average Life 50,000 hr
Color Rendering Index (Cri) 81
Color Temperature 4000 K
Current Rating 1 A
Voltage Rating 24 V
Lamp Type LED
Lamp Wattage 5.4 W
Wattage Rating 15 W
Lumens 1800
Number Of Lamps 3
Dimensions 9 in L x 3/4 in W x 3/8 in H
Mounting Type Mounting clips, screws
Includes (1) 12 in jumper wire; (1) AC adapter; (1) control box; (1) jumper extender; (1) LED light bar (power button); (2) LED light bars (no power button); (2) 30 in jumper wires; (3) 4 in jumper wires; (6) mounting screws; (10) bar mounting clips; (12) wire mounting clips

Three 9-inch LED light bars supplied as a kit for under-cabinet lighting. The kit includes wiring, a control box, an AC adapter and a motion sensor for on/off control. It provides multiple brightness settings, an optional three-hour auto-off timer, and a cool white (4000 K) output. The LEDs are rated for extended life and the system operates on low voltage.

Model Number: LEDUC9-3CK

Black & Decker 3-Bar LED Under-Cabinet Lighting Kit, Cool White, 9" Review

4.8 out of 5

I didn’t expect three slim bars and a motion puck to change my evening routine, but this Black & Decker under-cabinet kit has quietly become the lighting I reach for most. It doesn’t try to be architectural or flashy; it just delivers clean, bright task light with the kind of controls that make sense in a kitchen.

Setup and installation

Out of the box, you get three 9-inch light bars, a control box, a motion sensor module, an AC adapter, and a generous assortment of jumpers and clips. The bars are remarkably slim—about 3/8-inch thick and 3/4-inch wide—so they disappear under most cabinet lips once mounted. The system is low-voltage (24 V), so you’re routing small, safe cables rather than hardwiring anything.

The “tool-free” promise is realistic if you’re willing to mount with adhesive. I mapped my runs, cleaned the cabinet undersides, used the snap-in bar clips with double-sided tape, and then tucked wires into the included cable clips. For a more permanent install, the kit includes screws; I added a few to key points after a week of use. The assortment of jumper lengths—short 4-inch connectors to bridge gaps between adjacent bars, and longer 12- and 30-inch cables to hop over sinks or appliances—made routing straightforward without creating cable spaghetti.

A few practical tips from my install:
- Dry-fit everything and power it up before committing to clip placement.
- Keep the motion sensor out from under deep cabinet lips; it needs a clear line of sight to your hand.
- Plan where the control box lands; it’s the brain for brightness and timer functions, and you’ll want it reachable.

The only caveat is cable management. Because the kit is modular and linkable, you will have wires to corral. If your cabinet undersides are textured or dusty, clean thoroughly, and consider supplemental cable tape if you want a completely invisible look.

Light quality and output

On full blast, the three-bar set is rated around 1800 lumens, which reads as “bright enough to cook by” rather than “accent only.” The 4000 K color temperature hits a neutral-cool tone: crisper than warm white, but not the bluish cast of daylight lamps. It’s a solid middle ground that keeps countertops and cutting boards looking clean without making the room feel clinical.

Color rendition is fine for everyday tasks. With a CRI of 81, produce and wood tones look natural enough, though you don’t get the saturated pop you’d see from 90+ CRI strips. If you’re sensitive about color accuracy for food styling or you have premium stone you want to showcase, you might wish for a higher-CRI option. For normal kitchen prep and cleanup, the balance of output and efficiency is excellent.

Beam quality surprised me in a good way. The bars cast smooth, even light with minimal scalloping, and I didn’t notice hot spots unless I placed a bar far forward on a shallow cabinet. Moving the bars 1–2 inches back from the front edge yielded uniform splash across the counter. There’s no visible flicker to the eye, even at lower brightness settings.

Controls and everyday use

Control is split among a physical button on one bar, the motion sensor, and the control box. In practice:
- The motion module is the star. A wave under the sensor reliably toggles power without hunting for a switch with wet or sticky hands. It’s sensitive enough to trigger on a deliberate pass but not so twitchy that it goes off every time you reach for a mug.
- The system gives you ten brightness levels. The steps are well spaced, with a meaningful difference between each click. The lowest setting is a little brighter than a “nightlight,” which I like for evening ambient light, but those seeking a barely-there glow might want one notch dimmer than the minimum.
- There’s an optional three-hour auto-off timer. I’ve come to rely on it during late-night cleanups; if I forget to turn the lights off, they take care of themselves. It’s unobtrusive and easy to enable on the control box.

The kit powers up to the last-used state, so you can dial in your preferred brightness once and then ignore the controls. After a few days, the system became muscle memory: wave to turn on, cook, wave to turn off.

Build, power, and efficiency

Each bar feels lightweight and rigid, without the creakiness you sometimes find in budget strips. The low profile helps them disappear visually; even at seated height across the room, they don’t call attention to themselves. Heat is a non-issue—after an hour on high, the housings are only mildly warm to the touch.

Power-wise, the kit draws up to about 15 W for all three bars. That’s a fraction of the power my ceiling cans use for similar perceived brightness on the work surface. Black & Decker claims roughly 85% lower energy use versus incandescent, which lines up with the output and wattage. With LEDs rated up to 50,000 hours and a 24 V system that’s easy on components, this feels like a set-and-forget upgrade.

One practical note: the AC adapter is a typical small brick. It’s not oversized, but think ahead about outlet placement so it doesn’t block a neighboring plug.

Modularity and expandability

The bars are linkable, and the kit includes more connectors than most people will need for a standard galley or L-shaped kitchen run. Swapping bar positions is simple—slide them out of the clips, move a jumper, done. While the kit is defined around 9-inch bars, the modular approach lends itself to customizing your layout and adjusting after living with the light for a few days. If you’re ambitious, you can route around range hoods or open shelf sections using the longer jumpers.

What could be better

No product is perfect, and a few things stood out:
- Cable invisibility takes effort. The system is tidy but not “no-wire.” Plan to use adhesive clips, raceways, or a few screws to keep lines tight to the underside.
- The motion sensor’s placement matters. Tuck it too far back and it misses your wave; mount it near shiny tile and you may get the occasional false trigger from reflections.
- CRI is adequate, not premium. If color fidelity is a top priority, you might want higher-CRI bars.
- The color temperature is fixed at 4000 K. It’s a versatile neutral-cool, but kitchens with warm pendants (2700–3000 K) may show a mismatch unless you’re okay with layered color temperatures.

None of these are deal-breakers; they’re just considerations to address during install.

Use cases beyond the kitchen

I tested the kit under cabinets, but it’s equally at home in a pantry, laundry room, or workshop bench. The combination of low-voltage wiring, motion control, and ten-step dimming makes it a good pick anywhere hands-free operation and targeted light are welcome. The slim form factor also works inside deeper cabinets or display cases, provided you route cables neatly.

The bottom line

This kit strikes an appealing balance: bright, neutral light where you need it; sensible controls that fade into the background; and a form factor that doesn’t complicate your cabinetry. The hardware feels thought through, the included connectors cover most layouts, and the day-to-day experience—wave on, get to work, forget about it—is exactly what under-cabinet lighting should be.

Recommendation: I recommend the Black & Decker under-cabinet kit for anyone who wants fast, clean task lighting without hardwiring. It’s especially good if you value hands-free control, need multiple brightness levels, and want a neutral 4000 K tone. If you’re chasing gallery-grade color rendering or absolute wire invisibility without any planning, you may want a higher-CRI system or a custom hardwired install. For most kitchens and workspaces, though, this kit delivers more than enough light, straightforward installation, and a daily-use experience that just works.



Project Ideas

Business

Airbnb and Rental Upgrade Package

Offer a flat-rate install service adding under-cabinet lighting in kitchens and baths. Pitch safety, modern aesthetics, and energy savings. Include before/after photos in listings, a simple welcome placard (motion-activated lights), and a 6–12 month check-in upsell for repeat revenue.


Pop-Up and Craft Fair Display Lighting

Rent pre-wired, portable lighting kits to makers and vendors. Provide clamp-on shelves or folding backdrops with integrated bars and a single power feed. 4000K light renders products accurately, improving sales. Charge a weekend rental fee plus optional on-site setup.


Retail Merchandising and Back-Bar Retrofits

Install linkable bars under shelves in boutiques, cafes, and bars to highlight merchandise and menus. Package includes layout design, tidy wire management, and after-hours installation. Lead with energy savings versus halogen and a quick ROI calculator; offer quarterly maintenance and re-layout services.


Product Photography Starter Kit for Sellers

Bundle the light bars with a fold-flat photo box, backdrops, and a simple how-to guide. Sell as a kit to Etsy/eBay/Amazon sellers and local shops needing consistent photos. Offer an add-on mini course or paid consultation for lighting setups and listing optimization.


Senior Home Safety Lighting Service

Provide motion-activated toe-kick, hallway cabinet, and closet lighting to reduce nighttime falls in private homes and assisted living units. Offer standardized packages (Kitchen + Bath, Whole-Home Pathways), quick installs with tool-free mounting, and a yearly inspection plan.

Creative

Motion-Sensing Pantry and Closet Lights

Mount the slim bars under each pantry shelf or along closet door frames using the included clips. Link bars with the 4–30 in jumpers to follow shelf spacing. The motion sensor wakes lights as you open the door, and the auto-off timer prevents battery anxiety. Set to lower brightness for night raids and full brightness for daytime restocks.


Backlit Floating Shelf or Wall Art

Hide one or two bars behind the lip of a floating shelf or inside a shadow-frame to create a clean halo effect. Cool white 4000K makes décor pop without harsh blue. Dim for ambiance, brighten for accent. Use wire clips to route cords cleanly down the wall to the control box.


Workbench or Craft Bench Task Light

Install all three bars under upper cabinets or a shelf above your bench for shadow-free task lighting. Wave to toggle via the motion sensor with messy hands, then set brightness for soldering, carving, or sewing. The low-profile bars won’t snag tools, and the timer can prevent accidental all-night burn.


DIY Product Photography Light Box

Build a simple foam-board or plywood box with a diffusion panel (tracing paper or acrylic) on top. Mount the bars inside along the top edges and sides to create even, neutral 4000K illumination. Adjustable brightness helps you avoid glare on glossy items, producing clean photos for listings or portfolios.


Toe-Kick and Stair Glow Nightlights

Tuck bars under kitchen toe-kicks or along stair risers for discrete pathway lighting. The motion sensor turns lights on as you enter, improving nighttime safety without blinding brightness. Use the three-hour timer in busy households or dim for a softer, hotel-like glow.