Shop lights

[Pete]

I went through similar exercise late last year.  The big box guys and the local hardware stores all only stock electronic ballasts rather than the older magnetic type.  I found a supplier in Florida on ebay and bought several of the magnetic type (NOS) that should get me through a few years more.  I contacted the manufacturer of the electronic ballasts (GE I think) and they said you can't mix electronic and magnetic ballasts on the same circuit, so eventually it's going to take a system change out when the supply of old stock magnetics runs out, if it hasn't already.

I have been mixing mag and electronic ballasts for years. Everybody I know has also.

[Charlie Chops 1940]

I thought I would give you all an 8 month user report on the Sam's Club LED lights. They are still performing up to my expectations and what I am particularly pleased with is the rapid start up in the cold.

The room I have them in gets closed off from the other heated ares when not in use....and makes no difference in start time.

I have a few of those free HF LED flashlights laying around in my shop and they come in handy for the nooks and crannies.

Like Tony says, we seem to need more and more light.  I've known for some time that I have cataracts and they have now reached the need for surgery. The first eye will be done next month and hopefully the other right soon after.

[Beck]

We have been installed several cases of the 4 ft LED replacement bulbs at work. The last they bought were for T8 fixtures. They allowed the ballast to stay in the fixture. According to the instructions they will NOT work in the T12 fixtures. In most we installed, the ballast is removed. We have also installed some of the new LED fixtures. All make better light than the old tubes. We have not had a failure yet.

I want to do my garage but am to cheap. All of my tubes are still working so I will wait for failures or the price to come down some more. Mine are T12 so will require removal of the ballast.

[enjenjo]

If you hunt around, you can get LED replacement bulbs for under $10 now. The last I bought were FIET brand for $17.50 each.I have been converting one at a time for about the last three years, and have yet to have a bulb malfunction.

[Mikej]

you need the t-8 instant start electronic ballast. If you have t-12 fixture you just wire in the t-8 ballast. I've been doing these and the power company give a $12.50 to $ 15.00 rebate per bulb. I have been taking out the 8' t-12 fixtures and installing tandem 8' fixtures.

[ONE37TUDOR]

I replaced my 8' tubes with LED's from Greenlightdepot.com. Had to rewire to bypass the ballast but it was easy. They also sell decals to put on the rewired fixtures so that someone will not put the wrong type bulbs in them again.

Scott...

[Crosley.In.AZ]

I bought 2 LED tubes.  8 foot long. Direct wire type.  You remove the ballast. Purchased from the Green Light Depot dot com sight mentioned earlier posts.

40 W rating, 6000K light color, 4400 Lumens in light output rating.  $25.99 each plus freight

2 words:  WOW.  What a difference in light with 2 tubes.

I changed my plans.  Will not lower the light fixture off the 13 foot high ceiling. No need to lower the fixture.

I wrote notes on the fixture in magic marker about the 110v & which end was line / load  and the other end is neutral.

[Beck]

I bought 2 LED tubes.  8 foot long. Direct wire type.  You remove the ballast. Purchased from the Green Light Depot dot com sight mentioned earlier posts.

40 W rating, 6000K light color

I bought a case of 4' bulbs from the same place a couple weeks ago and did my garage. They had a couple options. Naturally I went with the cheap ones. Mine do not work as well as the ones we have been installing at work. I guess there is a difference between the $7.50 Green Light ones and the $28 ones at work. The light is a lot whiter than the previous ones, but doesn't seem as bright. It's funny, in the daylight it looks like it makes less light. At night it appears brighter.

Our minds must be thinking on the same track. I labeled mine with a marker too.

[Crosley.In.AZ]

I bought 2 LED tubes.  8 foot long. Direct wire type.  You remove the ballast. Purchased from the Green Light Depot dot com sight mentioned earlier posts.

40 W rating, 6000K light color

I bought a case of 4' bulbs from the same place a couple weeks ago and did my garage. They had a couple options. Naturally I went with the cheap ones. Mine do not work as well as the ones we have been installing at work. I guess there is a difference between the $7.50 Green Light ones and the $28 ones at work. The light is a lot whiter than the previous ones, but doesn't seem as bright. It's funny, in the daylight it looks like it makes less light. At night it appears brighter.

Our minds must be thinking on the same track. I labeled mine with a marker too.

My research showed that lumens and color temp were important on the new lights (LED) and CFL ...

Also read  some tests results and ratings. It was noted the rating were for initial start and that light output could drop off a small percent after use.  Like 5% or something.

That was the reason I bought the tubes rated at 4400 lumens over the same design  tube rated at 4000 lumens.  I have no idea if stuff I read.  Was accurate fully or mostly.  LOL

Also : frosted cover on the LED stuff, reduces light out about 10% is what I read.  Tubes I bought are clear covers