Hardwire Under Cabinet Power Strip

Installing a hardwired under cabinet power strip is a great way to add convenient power access to your kitchen, workshop, or other areas where you need it most. Hardwiring the power strip directly into your home's electrical system means you won't have to worry about unsightly cords or tripping hazards. Plus, it's a relatively easy project that can be completed in a few hours.

Here's what you'll need:

Under cabinet power strip
Electrical wire (14-gauge or 12-gauge)
Electrical tape
Wire nuts
Screwdriver
Drill
Safety glasses

Step 1: Choose a location

The first step is to choose a location for your under cabinet power strip. It should be in an area where you'll have easy access to it, but out of the way of your work area. Once you've chosen a location, mark it with a pencil.

Step 2: Turn off the power

Before you start any electrical work, it's important to turn off the power to the circuit that you'll be working on. You can do this by flipping the breaker or removing the fuse for that circuit.

Step 3: Drill a hole for the wire

Next, you'll need to drill a hole for the electrical wire. The hole should be large enough to fit the wire without pinching it. Drill the hole in the center of the mark you made in Step 1.

Step 4: Feed the wire through the hole

Once you've drilled the hole, feed the electrical wire through it. Leave about 6 inches of wire on either side of the hole.

Step 5: Strip the insulation off the wire

Next, you'll need to strip the insulation off the ends of the wire. Use a wire stripper to remove about 1 inch of insulation from each end of the wire.

Step 6: Connect the wires

Now, it's time to connect the wires to the power strip. The wires on the power strip will be labeled with either a black or white stripe. The black wire should be connected to the black terminals on the power strip, and the white wire should be connected to the white terminals. Use a screwdriver to tighten the screws on the terminals.

Step 7: Secure the power strip

Once the wires are connected, you can secure the power strip to the cabinet. Most under cabinet power strips come with mounting brackets that can be screwed into the cabinet. Once the power strip is secure, you can turn the power back on.

Step 8: Test the power strip

Once the power is back on, you can test the power strip by plugging in a device. If the device turns on, then the power strip is working properly.