LEDs

[Gregor 4,847]

After 12 years, one of my 8' fluorescent T-12 High Output ballast, went out. I think I am going to switch to LEDs as they go. The ones that are wired 110V and require no ballast. Anyone have experience with these?  Good / Bad?

[Handy Don 14,063]

Over the past year I've switched over to LED "fluorescents" in my shop and elsewhere--probably have 20 or so dual-tube 48" units. I even mounted one in a corner of the garage that I'm using as a temporary workspace. Did over my friend's garage where he works on his boats. And my wife still thinks there's a hole in the roof when she opens the door to the attic when the lights are already on.

 

The light output is somewhat on the "cool" side (compared to the tubes I was using before) and they don't have the full spectrum of output of the lamps they replaced, so I wouldn't do any critical color matching under them.

 

That said, they were low priced ($15 per), don't buzz, use LOTS less electricity, and will last longer (30,000 hours?) I like 'em a lot.

My son found them at Habitat for Humanity "Restore" near Boston and they have had a lot of them.

[ebinmaine 72,699]

@OldWorkHorse Steve got me pointed towards some four footers on the jungle site that were about 12% below dirt cheap.

I could dig a little and get you a link. Seems as though I paid 65 or $70 for either four or six of them.

 

. I got whiter ones.

My workshop downstairs is all kinds of bright and excellent vision is readily available. 

[Gregor 4,847]

6 minutes ago, Handy Don said:

 Habitat for Humanity "Restore"

I love those stores

[WHX?? 51,763]

I converted all my fixtures at my shop and at home and ain't lookin back. Best thing I ever did. Like EB says jungle site crawls with them for fairly cheap. Biggest decision was frosted or clear lens. 

[Gregor 4,847]

I think I am going to go with T-8, 34W, Daylight, 5000 Kelvin(whatever that is), 4400 Lumen. I have high output bulbs now, so the sockets have to be changed anyway.

 

Speaking of Lights........... I have 3, 500W floods mounted on the ceiling of my garage at the front. Now when I raise the hood, I am not left in the dark.

[953 nut 60,027]

I have been replacing my old fluorescent shop lights with the 4' LEDs at Walmart, less than $ 20.00 each and brighter too.  

[OldWorkHorse 3,095]

I run about 4 of these in my shop there cheap and bright as heck! 

[DennisThornton 4,771]

I'm done with replacing bulbs!  Anything new and anything that needs replacing gets LEDs.

[Gregor 4,847]

21 minutes ago, 953 nut said:

I have been replacing my old fluorescent shop lights with the 4' LEDs at Walmart, less than $ 20.00 each and brighter too.  

8' LED T-8 2 pack at Menards, $32. But being from NC, you probably never heard of Menards, unless you watch Nascar. Yep, same Menard.

[Jeff-C175 7,206]

I couldn't resist the under $20 sale that HF ran a few months ago for a four foot fixture.  I bought ONE to try over my workbench, liked it so much went back and bought 3 more.

 

They are VERY light and I use one as a worklight when I'm under the car.  I also found that there were two holes in the leading edge of the hood on the Monte Carlo that were almost exactly 48" apart.  These hook right on there and light up under the hood like nobody's bidness.  It was REALLY nice being able to do all the engine work recently and actually be able to SEE!

 

These are NOT 'linkable' and regular price is $24.99, watch for a sale, there always is one!

https://www.harborfreight.com/5000-lumen-4-ft-led-hanging-shop-light-64410.html

 

They also have the linkable ones with TWO tubes but not much more light output (5500) for $31.99, same lamp with a plug at the end so you can 'pull a train' of eight.

https://www.harborfreight.com/5500-lumen-4-ft-linkable-led-hanging-shop-light-56781.html

 

I don't know how long they'll last but I've dropped the one that I use as a portable work light a few times now and it keeps on ticking.

 

Edited March 26, 2021 by Jeff-C175

[Handy Don 14,063]

58 minutes ago, OldWorkHorse said:

I run about 4 of these in my shop there cheap and bright as heck! 

I went nuts and put up 8 of these. I left the chain pulls on most of them so I only light them up when working in that area. Switch near the door shuts them all off so I don't have to go around pulling chains when I leave.

[Gregor 4,847]

My wife commented today about how our electricity bill has gone up so much in the last year. I have been in my garage almost constantly. I have 8, 8', high output florescent bulbs burning all day. Maybe it would be wise to switch them all out to LEDs.

[OldWorkHorse 3,095]

14 minutes ago, Handy Don said:

I went nuts and put up 8 of these. I left the chain pulls on most of them so I only light them up when working in that area. Switch near the door shuts them all off so I don't have to go around pulling chains when I leave.

That's exactly how mine are set up I have 7 hooked up use 4 the others r on the deep end up the shop where tractors are stored so pull them on when need to see 4 everyday use ones and the important radio come on with the wall switch! 

[OldWorkHorse 3,095]

2 minutes ago, Gregor said:

My wife commented today about how our electricity bill has gone up so much in the last year. I have been in my garage almost constantly. I have 8, 8', high output florescent bulbs burning all day. Maybe it would be wise to switch them all out to LEDs.

Set them up so can use only what you need as need them I'm cheap rather buy tractor parts then pay the electric company more then I have to, so thats what I do lol

[Gregor 4,847]

All of my fixtures are on the light switch, plus a pull chain on each fixture. I have to turn off the one by the TV, or the remote won't work. Doesn't matter though, as I never have the TV on, except at 5:00 AM, for the weather

[Gregor 4,847]

Well my luck continues to hold out as usual. Seems you can't simply switch an 8', T-12 light fixture, to T-8. The light socket, (or dome as they call them) is not as wide for a T-8  as for a T-12. The socket will not fit the socket holder. Now I have 8 bulbs and 16 sockets that have to go back. Never mind that this store is 45 miles away! My wife is going to be sooooo happy.

On the upside. When she gets the credit card bill for this month, I may not live long enough to have to install them. Every cloud has a silver lining,

[ebinmaine 72,699]

35 minutes ago, Gregor said:

silver lining

It's good to keep an upbeat positive attitude

 

[Gregor 4,847]

7 minutes ago, ebinmaine said:

It's good to keep an upbeat positive attitude

 

It's getting harder. I just found out I have to switch 4 entire fixtures, if I want to go LED. I presently have 4, 8', 2 lamp, High Output, fixtures. Maybe I need to get another credit card.

[WHX?? 51,763]

Somethin ain't right here Gregor - Should have almost been plug & play. I already have the correct single button tombstone socket  as they are called. You can also get the single button sockets or two pin tombstones  fairly cheap. It's odd they didn't fit ... pretty much universal. 

(12-Pairs) JESLED Single Pin FA8 Tombstone - Non-Shunted T8/T10/T12 LED Socket Lampholder Base Holder for 8FT Fluorescent Tube Light, Retrofiting Bulbs Fixtures, Flameresistant Plunger, UL Listed - - Amazon.com

 

These are what I ordered  between my sheet metal shop, warehouse and home shop I ordered at least 50 with no issues. Well I did have a few bad ones but they sent replacements right out no questions asked. 

CNSUNWAY LIGHTING 8FT LED Bulbs, 45 Watts, 5000K Daylight, Ballast Bypass, 4800LM, Frosted Cover, Replace Old Fluorescent Light Fixture -12 Pack - - Amazon.com

Edited March 26, 2021 by WHX24

[Gregor 4,847]

3 minutes ago, WHX24 said:

Somethin ain't right here Gregor - Should have almost been plug & play. 

I have been told thisarea is wider on a High Output fixture, and domes are not interchangeable. I don't know if it's true or not. I don't even have another florescent fixture around here to compare to. I am going to the store myself, and see what's what. I'm just sitting here waiting on parts anyway.

[The Tuul Crib 7,339]

I picked up 6. 8ft LED lighting strips for my shop for 100 bucks off of Amazon!

Not sure how I did without them!!

[WHX?? 51,763]

If you have those sockets they are antique.... these won't work?  

[Gregor 4,847]

Who you calling antique?  The fixtures I have are 10 - 12 years old, I think. But us antique guys don't remember well.  This could get cashy.

[Gregor 4,847]

As usual, this just got more complicated as I went. I found single pin sockets, to fit my present fixtures, and 8' LED bulbs to match. I thought I was doing good. I thought wrong !

 

Checking the box.  Two, 8', 34W, LED bulbs is a total of 8800 lumen

 

                                Two, 8', 110W, High Output, Fluorescent bulbs, 16200 lumen

I have a total of 8, 96", High Output, Fluorescent bulbs in  my garage. If I have done my math right, I would drop, 29600 lumen of light by switching to LED. I'm not willing to do that, if I don't have to.

As things are, with my lights, and my hearing aids, I can both hear AND watch 2 gnats making out on the ceiling. (as you might imagine, that's not necessarily a good thing.) 

 

Now maybe LED light is somehow different, brighter, better, than fluorescent light, I don't know. Never had any. SOOOOO I bought an 8' LED integrated, (no bulbs) 8800 lumen light fixture, just to check it out. I can always use more light in my storage area anyway.

 

I honestly did not think you could buy a ballast and high output bulbs any more. I was told years ago that ALL fluorescent bulbs were being fazed out, and would no longer be available. Obviously a salesman wanting to make a sale. You have any idea how many 8' fluorescent bulb are in a 48 lane bowling alley? A LOT !

Edited March 26, 2021 by Gregor