LED shop lights

Kernopelli · Sep 16, 2020

I had been putting off replacing my old 4' florescent shop fixtures with 4' LED's. I had long assumed I would go with Harbor Freight, they carry the 5000 lumen Braun brand and with coupon can be purchased for $19. 99 each. I was at Rural King yesterday and saw they too carry LED fixtures. They had 5500 lumen for $29.98 and 5000 lumen for $14.98.5 Lumen LED Shop Light 4 Foot SB2 - SL-13MF-55 . That is by far they cheapest price Ive seen on LED's so I bought 3 of them, went home and swapped out some old florescent fixtures and was so pleased I went back and got 23 more. They come with the hardware to hang them, are aluminum bodied (w/plastic end caps) and have 5' cords. The only thing that is "cheap" is the pull cord extension is twine instead of chain ( didn't matter to me I wont be using the pull chain, my outlets are on a wall switchs). One thing to mention is they aren't linkable- they dont have an outlet to plug another fixture into but the $20 HF/ Braun's don't either.

dodge man · Sep 16, 2020

I have put up a couple and they are nice. I got mine off of Amazon.

radios1 · Sep 16, 2020

you have a total of 26 4' led fixtures now?. Yipes!. Big Shop!..

cjoffutt · Sep 16, 2020

Make sure to keep at least (1) box and the receipt. I put the RK ones in my basement and have to replace at least (1) every 3-5 months. And they do NOT get used a lot. Usually starts with a few dead LED on the strip, then the entire light just gives out. RK has been really good about just letting me walk on back grab another and go about my day, so props there at least. Just wish they were a bit more robust and long lasting.

KennyG · Sep 16, 2020

I've added a number of different LED lights over the years as I've replaced my fluorescent lights. I've found the Harbor Freight ones to be of questionable quality and the box store ones marginal in light output. The best I've found are the "V-shaped" ones from Amazon.

Barrina LED Shop Light, 4FT 4W 5LM 5K, Daylight White, V Shape, Clear Cover, Hight Output, Linkable Shop Lights, T8 LED Tube Lights, LED Shop Lights for Garage 4 Foot with Plug (Pack of 1) - - Amazon.com

John0829 · Sep 16, 2020

I purchased some of the led disposable 4' fixtures from Menards, they were cheap enough and I figured why not. Where I placed them in the tractor shed they have worked out better than expected. I then started to replace the fluorescent fixtures in the garage with the cheap led's as they failed, the fluorescent fixtures were used when I got them. Good so far and the light output is better than the fluorescents. I have not started to use them in the shop yet but intend to in time.

grsthegreat · Sep 16, 2020

Honestly its cheaper to buy the led 4 foot bulb and simply bypass the old ballast while retaining the old fixture. Thats what i did in my shop. And i bought name brand lamps, not chinese junk. I have retrofitted many industrial buildings going back over 5 years, and have not received a single complaint on failed light fixture. I went back to one building where i retrofitted over 600 lamps about 4 years ago, and a few months back i went to fix a problem they were having with a motor starter. All the led lights were still operational. All.

k0ua · Sep 16, 2020

grsthegreat said:
Honestly its cheaper to buy the led 4 foot bulb and simply bypass the old ballast while retaining the old fixture. Thats what i did in my shop. And i bought name brand lamps, not chinese junk. I have retrofitted many industrial buildings going back over 5 years, and have not received a single complaint on failed light fixture. I went back to one building where i retrofitted over 600 lamps about 4 years ago, and a few months back i went to fix a problem they were having with a motor starter. All the led lights were still operational. All.

That is what I did with the Hyperikon bulbs and bypassed the ballasts. Not a single LED has went out, and the ones in the garage are about 2 years old and are used a lot.
They are also RFI clean. About 10 minutes to install and bypass and throw away the ballast.

Hyperikon 4 Foot LED Tube, T8 T1 T12 4 Watt Replacement (18W), Single End Ballast Bypass, Clear Lens, UL, DLC, Crystal White, 4 Pack - - Amazon.com

grsthegreat · Sep 16, 2020

k0ua said:
That is what I did with the Hyperikon bulbs and bypassed the ballasts. Not a single LED has went out, and the ones in the garage are about 2 years old and are used a lot.
They are also RFI clean. About 10 minutes to install and bypass and throw away the ballast.

Hyperikon 4 Foot LED Tube, T8 T1 T12 4 Watt Replacement (18W), Single End Ballast Bypass, Clear Lens, UL, DLC, Crystal White, 4 Pack - - Amazon.com

I actually leave the ballast in the light. The older lights have some toxic junk in ballast, so best left there and not in landfill.

Kernopelli · Sep 16, 2020

radios1 said:
you have a total of 26 4' led fixtures now?. Yipes!. Big Shop!..

14 were for me, 12 were for my son's shop

cjoffutt said:
Make sure to keep at least (1) box and the receipt. I put the RK ones in my basement and have to replace at least (1) every 3-5 months. And they do NOT get used a lot. Usually starts with a few dead LED on the strip, then the entire light just gives out. RK has been really good about just letting me walk on back grab another and go about my day, so props there at least. Just wish they were a bit more robust and long lasting.

Way ahead of you on the box and receipt, appreciate the info!