Shop lights

[enjenjo]

Here  http://www.amazon.com/Foot-neiLite-Replacement-Fluorescent-Fixtures/dp/B00DY8IAH0  is an option for 8 ft fixtures. They also bypass the ballast.

[Crosley.In.AZ]

Here  http://www.amazon.com/Foot-neiLite-Replacement-Fluorescent-Fixtures/dp/B00DY8IAH0  is an option for 8 ft fixtures. They also bypass the ballast.

Looks interesting.  A bit pricey , but the price is better than when I was checking 2 yr ago.  seems like the price was in mid 80 dollar range then

At Hughes Perf, we had a company come in 8 yrs ago , convert our dual  8 foot  T12  lights to dual sets of 4 foot HO T8 bulbs.

They had light meters, walking around measuring light at the benches, lathes, mills.. So when they were finished and I told them I could not see well at my bench with the changes.  Out came the light meters, out came  their notes on light levels in my area before & after, yada , yada.

I said : Fine, I  still cant see as well with lights in old location, old light tubes.

They installed some High Kelvin rated tubes and it was much better for my eyes

[jaybee]

I've noticed the same thing, quality of light is now as important to me as brightness. i really like the pure, white light of the LEDs.

[Charlie Chops 1940]

Charlie, How much were they? You guys have me thinking about doing mine now.

Tom,
T$36.87 each + tax. And, they are bright! They are an extruded canopy shape with two embedded strips of LEDSs. 40 watts, 4200 lumens,
50,00 rated hours. Nothing to service

I've go two up so far and I'm impressed.

[Charlie Chops 1940]

Here  http://www.amazon.com/Foot-neiLite-Replacement-Fluorescent-Fixtures/dp/B00DY8IAH0  is an option for 8 ft fixtures. They also bypass the ballast.

Those look interesting BUT they do not show what the end pins look like.

[Charlie Chops 1940]

I finished hanging the lights and putting up a couple power strips to plug them into. Basically I ran two across the the front (18' width) about 5' out from the wall with 2'  between them, then the same at the opposite end of the room, then 1 on each side about 5' out from the walls -roughly centered.

They provide exceptionally bright light in the center work area, but not so bright further up the walls. I think it will be very pleasant to work in there now.

I think that when the 8' units start to fail in the main shop I will refit with the 8' LED pairs that Frank pointed out. That will probably be this winter if things run true to normal.

Charlie

[Bruce Dorsi]

Here  http://www.amazon.com/Foot-neiLite-Replacement-Fluorescent-Fixtures/dp/B00DY8IAH0  is an option for 8 ft fixtures. They also bypass the ballast.

Those look interesting BUT they do not show what the end pins look like.

If you click on the small pics at the left margin, you will see that these tubes have the round pin ends.

[Uncle Bob]

Looking further down in the replacement tube that Frank referenced there is an alternative supplier, http://www.amazon.com/WYZM-4-Pack-Double-end-Fluorescent-Replacement/dp/B00ZTU1SW0/ref=pd_cp_60_3?ie=UTF8&refRID=1N49FX46QX5E8WC5EBM8

This works out to $37.50 ish each in the four pack, $35 and $30 ish in the 10 and 20 pack.  Makes it competitive with the fixture replacement.  As time goes bye the prices will probably continue to drop.  Now I wish I hadn't bought all those NOS magnetic ballasts.......

[enjenjo]

The last ones I bought from Amazon, I paid $70.80 for a four pack with Prime free shipping. I received one bulb. I called and complained, they said they would send four more. When I received that package there was only one bulb too. Again I called and complained. They determined that the bulbs were packaged with the wrong SKU on the box, so they said they would correct it for free. They sent four bulbs, for a total of six, and I paid $70.80. My final price was about $12 each.

[Crosley.In.AZ]

I looked at a shop light 4 footer,  LED dual bulbs

Rated at 4100K  light.  DOnt remember the lumens rating.

Not as bright light  as I want

[Crosley.In.AZ]

I found these 8 foot LED tubes recently.  Require re-wire to direct 110v , remove the ballast.

High k rating 6,000K white light.  The specs show good numbers on light output.

http://greenlightdepot.com/products/8ft-t8-led-tube?variant=16550011716

27 dollars each. A pair of tubes  with 11 dollars UPS shipping out of Georgia , about 65 dollars per fixture to retro fit to 8 foot long  LED from T12.. My shop has 15 fixtures.

may give them a try.  I have a few T12 bulbs going out.

[Mikej]

You can use an 8' t-8 ballast and follow the picture on the ballast to rewire the fixture. and use 8' t-8 bulbs. Or use a tandem 8' fixture ( 4 t-8 bulb fixture) that uses t-8 ballast and install 4' LED bulbs. I would not recommend converting to straight 110 volt at the pins. Don't know how dependable the bulbs with the drive built in are, plus a greater shock hazard when rewiring the fixtures to 110volt at the pins. Or you could buy the LED 8' light at $300.

[Crosley.In.AZ]

The drop in replacement LED tubes and rewire to 110 volts at the pins seems to be growing in popularity.  Durability complaints dont seem out of hand

I dont see any increased problem with 110v at the tombstone pins.  It is all electric which needs to be handled with care.

My shop ceiling is 13 feet high. I need better light.  Perhaps I need to suspend the fixtures to a lower height?  Currently the fixtures are mounted to the ceiling

[Mikej]

I think the makers of the fixture have a problem with it. They will no longer meet electrical code because they have been altered.

[Crosley.In.AZ]

I think the makers of the fixture have a problem with it. They will no longer meet electrical code because they have been altered.

I have read some concerns over the UL rating is gone with altered fixture.  My fixtures , been on the ceiling for 10+ yrs.

I bought 2 new 8 foot T12 bulbs this morning. I needed the lights operational for now.

Decided what I will try:

I will install a few T8 fixtures. 8 foot fixture, 4 foot bulbs, total of 4 bulbs per fixture. Regular design florescent type bulbs.

LED prices are a bit higher than I want to spend.  Likely I willl only live here for another 3 - 5 yrs.  Retire and sell this place.

Plan is to suspend the fixtures down to 10 feet high, see how the light works.

My ceiling is 13 feet high, because of the car hoist. It was less construction  money for single interior height, than having one area 13 feet, other areas 10 foot high