LED shop lights

Bullwinkle123 · Sep 21, 2020

My problem isn't with cheap lights and radio interference they may cause. My problem is my very fancy and expensive DELL XPS 15 9560 laptop which I loathe beyond all other purchases.

The screen generates massive RF activity. Not only will it cause my stereo to make ugly sounds, it will make the old oil space heater in my officem squeal! Sometimes I also hear the screen itself making noise, but lately I don't notice it.

So ... if my cheap Chinese <$20/lamp led lights make some noise in the garage I'm okay with it. I just wish my super expensive crapomatic Dell would stop making multiple things in my office squeal.

Maybe that helps put things in perspective

Oaktree · Sep 22, 2020

Bullwinkle123 said:
The screen generates massive RF activity. Not only will it cause my stereo to make ugly sounds, it will make the old oil space heater in my officem squeal! Sometimes I also hear the screen itself making noise, but lately I don't notice it.

Pray tell, how can a laptop interfere with a space heater? Makes no sense to me.

Bullwinkle123 · Sep 22, 2020

Oaktree said:
Pray tell, how can a laptop interfere with a space heater? Makes no sense to me.

Yes, imagine my surprise. Clearly there's some circuitry in the oil heater (thermostat?) that responds in some way that generates audible noise in response to the RF noise caused by my screen. The range of audible responses from my stereo and oil heater vary based on what my screen is doing. I've never seen anything quite like it.

I would think all those metal radiator fins would be like a catchers' mitt for RF noise, but hard to imagine what is generating the audibles in response. The radiator is generally only several feet away from the RF noisy laptop.

grsthegreat · Sep 22, 2020

poltergeist.......

Bullwinkle123 · Sep 25, 2020

Rewired the lamp socket for grounded plugs and install two of the six "8 foot" Barrina led strip lights in my garage. Barrina LED Shop Light Fixture 8ft, T8, 72W 9lm 5K, Clear Cover, V Shape, Daylight White, Tube Light, Hight Output, Bulbs for Garage, Warehouse, Plug and Play (Pack of 6) - - Amazon.com
(I'm quoting the "8 foot" because the lights aren't quite 8' long, they're several inches short of that if you're making plans with a measuring tape).

So far so good. My first response on turning them on is "wow" and "awesome" because there is so much more light than my old CFL's, even with just one strip (though I've installed two so far in the center bay).

I have an FM radio playing in there, no RF interference, though maybe it takes AM channels to notice. I don't know how long these will last, I think the warranty said 3 years. But for now, the brightness is wonderful.
Photos really don't do it justice because the camera adjusts to the additional light. But the eyes notice it. For old eyes it now means I can read manuals without a flashlight.

kenmac · Sep 26, 2020

KennyG said:
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

just ordered these and will try them out for my garage. I have some dark spots.
Ceilings are 16ft.

On Amazon. there is a $20.00 gift card. So I paid about 116.00 with tax

5030 · Sep 26, 2020

I installed a number of LED shop lights about a year and a half ago and 2 have already expired. Not overly happy about that. The expired ones will be replaced with my old standby T8 fixtures. At least the tubes are replaceable. The LED's aren't. One thin about the LED fixtures, when the expire, they just go out. When a T8 gets some run time, they expire slowly.

I'm not impressed at all

GeneV · Sep 26, 2020

Bullwinkle123 said:
Rewired the lamp socket for grounded plugs and install two of the six "8 foot" Barrina led strip lights in my garage. Barrina LED Shop Light Fixture 8ft, T8, 72W 9lm 5K, Clear Cover, V Shape, Daylight White, Tube Light, Hight Output, Bulbs for Garage, Warehouse, Plug and Play (Pack of 6) - - Amazon.com
(I'm quoting the "8 foot" because the lights aren't quite 8' long, they're several inches short of that if you're making plans with a measuring tape).

So far so good. My first response on turning them on is "wow" and "awesome" because there is so much more light than my old CFL's, even with just one strip (though I've installed two so far in the center bay).

I have an FM radio playing in there, no RF interference, though maybe it takes AM channels to notice. I don't know how long these will last, I think the warranty said 3 years. But for now, the brightness is wonderful.
Photos really don't do it justice because the camera adjusts to the additional light. But the eyes notice it. For old eyes it now means I can read manuals without a flashlight.

Comes out to $13 per light, that's a great deal!

ultrarunner · Sep 26, 2020

5030 said:
I installed a number of LED shop lights about a year and a half ago and 2 have already expired. Not overly happy about that. The expired ones will be replaced with my old standby T8 fixtures. At least the tubes are replaceable. The LED's aren't. One thin about the LED fixtures, when the expire, they just go out. When a T8 gets some run time, they expire slowly.

I'm not impressed at all

Are these from Costco?

Reason I ask is bought both fixtures and LED 4' bulbs and no issues yet.

I have had some Edison Base bulbs go out... one last night that was from when I did Mom's house when they first came out... the reduction in electricity was dramatic... her home had many 3 bulb and 4 bulb fixtures ranging from 60 to 100 Watt bulbs... so 400 Watts replaced by 30 Watts... (In a 4 bulb fixture)

Installed in 2012-13