Shop lights

Charlie Chops 1940 · August 23, 2015, 07:48:28 PM

I've had a number of double 8 foot fluorescent fixtures die lately and as luck would have it they are so old/obsolete that I haven't been able to find ballasts for them. And, believe me I have used up a lot of google minutes...

Have any of you guys made the switch to 48" LED fixtures? I want to refit an 18x20 work area with 8 foot ceilings and wonder how many fixtures it would take to replace four of the the double 8-foot units.

It's a cold room until the doors are opened to my normally heated part of the shop. LED's may be the answer.

What say you guys?

WZ JUNK · August 23, 2015, 08:56:35 PM

I bought 3, 4' LED fixtures for my back room at Sam's Club just last week. They make a lot of light and their life is probably longer than mine.

John

Bruce Dorsi · August 23, 2015, 11:48:31 PM

As far as I know, Home Depot still sells electronic ballasts for the 2-tube 8' fluorescent fixtures.

They have ballasts for the F96T12 75 watt tubes that have round pin ends.

I buy the ballasts for the F96T12-HO 110 watt tubes that have oval pin ends.

The ballasts that I have been buying require the socket wiring to be modified (easy to do) if replacing the old-style ballasts.

We use these ballasts in an outdoor installation, and do not have any problems in our NJ winters.

I have not priced 4' LED fixtures, but the 8' LED fixtures which we considered were not cost-effective at the time.

enjenjo · August 24, 2015, 12:33:52 AM

I am using these http://www.feit.com/led-lamps/led_linear_tubes/t4819-ledif-41k and these http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00IACG84C?refRID=J5M4YW1GZ09120EBE0N9&ref_=pd_ys_sf_s_rp_a1_1_p And both have worked good. You remove the ballast and wire them direct to 110 volts.

The second type is slightly brighter than the first. both are available at Amazon, the first type is also stocked by Menards.

Charlie Chops 1940 · August 24, 2015, 05:22:59 AM

Thanks guys.

Frank, - I don't currently have any 4' fixtures so I don't think it would be cost effective to buy fluorescent fixtures to refit with LED's but I will look at it.

John - do you happen to have an item number on the Sam's units?

Bruce - I will look at Home Depot but so far I haven't had any luck finding a rapid start ballast that isn't more than a new fixture. I combed Lowes with no luck but I will look at HD's site.

348tripower · August 24, 2015, 06:36:14 AM

I changed all of my 8 foot fixtures to 4 foot LED last year. To me they are brighter. I had previously changed to T8 bulbs. They seemed to be turning black in the ends as fast as the T12 lights did. I bought the bulbs from 1000bulbs.com.
They electric bill has been better too. I did have to change the tombstones in the center to non shunted units to wire to 110 volts.

Uncle Bob · August 24, 2015, 09:02:29 AM

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.

enjenjo · August 24, 2015, 02:36:15 PM

Quote from: "Charlie Chops 1940"Thanks guys.

Frank, - I don't currently have any 4' fixtures so I don't think it would be cost effective to buy fluorescent fixtures to refit with LED's but I will look at it.

John - do you happen to have an item number on the Sam's units?

Bruce - I will look at Home Depot but so far I haven't had any luck finding a rapid start ballast that isn't more than a new fixture. I combed Lowes with no luck but I will look at HD's site.

Most signs are being converted to LED as they are replaced. If you have a sign company around the old signs with Florescent bulbs can be had for little or nothing, and many of them used 4 ft bulbs.

Beck · August 24, 2015, 03:23:00 PM

We have been swaping out our 4" fluorescent lights at work. We have tried just bulbs and complete fixtures. Either way the lighting is much better with the LEDs. We don't budget shop at work. We have been paying about $130 for a new LED fixture and $25 each for the LED bulbs to upgrade the old fixtures.

Charlie, That doesn't help you much with your 8' units.

enjengo, Have you had any problems with those Amazon bulbs? I would like to do the conversion at home. I need my full garage and basement upgraded.

Fat Cat · August 24, 2015, 04:31:53 PM

I work for a sign company and I can tell you that magnetic ballasts are a thing of the past. We have not been able to purchase any for almost 2 years. When we were told that they were being phased out our purchasing agent went out and bought everything he could find. We have about a 6 month supply of magnetic ballasts, and when they are gone they are gone.

enjenjo · August 24, 2015, 10:56:57 PM

Quote from: "Beck"We have been swaping out our 4" fluorescent lights at work. We have tried just bulbs and complete fixtures. Either way the lighting is much better with the LEDs. We don't budget shop at work. We have been paying about $130 for a new LED fixture and $25 each for the LED bulbs to upgrade the old fixtures.

Charlie, That doesn't help you much with your 8' units.

enjengo, Have you had any problems with those Amazon bulbs? I would like to do the conversion at home. I need my full garage and basement upgraded.

No problems so far, the oldest ones I have are over a year old.

Crosley.In.AZ · August 24, 2015, 11:28:02 PM

I have 8 foot , dual tube fixtures in my shop. A ballast is going bad in one. I can smell it sometimes after the lights have been on for half a day.

I have the bad one narrowed down to one circuit. There are 3

Need to update fixtures if I stay in this house past 2016

WZ JUNK · August 25, 2015, 08:38:24 AM

Quote from: "Charlie Chops 1940"Thanks guys.

Frank, - I don't currently have any 4' fixtures so I don't think it would be cost effective to buy fluorescent fixtures to refit with LED's but I will look at it.

John - do you happen to have an item number on the Sam's units?

Bruce - I will look at Home Depot but so far I haven't had any luck finding a rapid start ballast that isn't more than a new fixture. I combed Lowes with no luck but I will look at HD's site.

The lights I bought were on a pallet at Sam's Club. I am north of you on the U P this week. I will get you more info when I return home.

John

Charlie Chops 1940 · August 25, 2015, 01:48:34 PM

Quote from: "WZ JUNK"
Quote from: "Charlie Chops 1940"Thanks guys.

Frank, - I don't currently have any 4' fixtures so I don't think it would be cost effective to buy fluorescent fixtures to refit with LED's but I will look at it.

John - do you happen to have an item number on the Sam's units?

Bruce - I will look at Home Depot but so far I haven't had any luck finding a rapid start ballast that isn't more than a new fixture. I combed Lowes with no luck but I will look at HD's site.

The lights I bought were on a pallet at Sam's Club. I am north of you on the U P this week. I will get you more info when I return home.

I found them - same pallet.
John

Beck · August 25, 2015, 03:20:35 PM

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