I needed to replace a few 48" fluorescent tubes, or get new LED shop lights, and I thought of this thread. After doing some math, I bought fluorescent "premium" tubes, 4100k, 3000 lumens, for approximately $3 per bulb. Here are some of my thoughts:
- For $6 per fixture, I am getting 6000 lumens.
- LED fixtures from Costco would cost $24 per fixture and only provide 3700 lumens.
- Fluorescents provide me with 75 lumens per watt vs LEDs 88 Lumens per watt.
- LEDs provide a 'cost to use' savings of 15% but cost 300% more to purchase as replacements.
So I could have spent 4 times as much to get LED fixtures that provide only 61% of the light output. I think much of the perceived light improvement people are seeing is due to how most of us have bought the cheapest replacement fluorescent tubes in the past. I looked at those this time too, since they were much less expensive. But they also provide only 1800 - 2200 Lumens. After a couple years of use they lose efficiency and provide even less light, so when buying new LEDs and comparing to the old low output fluorescent tubes, LEDs ARE much brighter. For a dollar or so more per bulb, you can get 3000 lumens and they are much brighter than the LEDs.
I did buy 1 LED fixture a few months ago to try it in the barn over my bench. I knew then it was much brighter than some of my older "energy efficient" (aka low lumens) shop lights. But I also noticed it was no brighter than a newer T8 fixture I had out there. That's what encouraged me to me look into the lumen side of things more, review this thread, and do the math.
- For $6 per fixture, I am getting 6000 lumens.
- LED fixtures from Costco would cost $24 per fixture and only provide 3700 lumens.
- Fluorescents provide me with 75 lumens per watt vs LEDs 88 Lumens per watt.
- LEDs provide a 'cost to use' savings of 15% but cost 300% more to purchase as replacements.
So I could have spent 4 times as much to get LED fixtures that provide only 61% of the light output. I think much of the perceived light improvement people are seeing is due to how most of us have bought the cheapest replacement fluorescent tubes in the past. I looked at those this time too, since they were much less expensive. But they also provide only 1800 - 2200 Lumens. After a couple years of use they lose efficiency and provide even less light, so when buying new LEDs and comparing to the old low output fluorescent tubes, LEDs ARE much brighter. For a dollar or so more per bulb, you can get 3000 lumens and they are much brighter than the LEDs.
I did buy 1 LED fixture a few months ago to try it in the barn over my bench. I knew then it was much brighter than some of my older "energy efficient" (aka low lumens) shop lights. But I also noticed it was no brighter than a newer T8 fixture I had out there. That's what encouraged me to me look into the lumen side of things more, review this thread, and do the math.
