LED shop lights

dragoneggs · Sep 30, 2020

Oaktree said:
I would love to have an insulated, heated shop (other than a small-ish woodstove), but can't really justify the expense on something I don't use that much in the winter (A/C not needed here). Still, what I have now is waay better than what I had at my last house.

For me, the biggest reason I installed a heater in my shop this spring is for my tools (condensation). That was a big problem. I set the thermostat to 50degF and turn it up only when I am out there for a decent amount of time. I am looking forward to working out there this winter in short sleeves. :cool2:

grsthegreat · Sep 30, 2020

I turn my heat on about 15 minutes prior to working in shop in winter, other than that its left off. I never know when i will be working out there, and our winters are pretty dang cold.

ultrarunner · Sep 30, 2020

dragoneggs said:
For me, the biggest reason I installed a heater in my shop this spring is for my tools (condensation). That was a big problem. I set the thermostat to 50degF and turn it up only when I am out there for a decent amount of time. I am looking forward to working out there this winter in short sleeves. :cool2:

Condensation is something I failed to take into account and my collector car has suffered in Olympia...

It may end up being a deal breaker primarily due to mold in the shop... never a problem in the home.

ovrszd · Sep 30, 2020

Periodic use versus continuous use changes everything.

Popgadget · Sep 30, 2020

ovrszd said:
For comments like these your location would be greatly appreciated.

Southeast PA, about 40 degrees north latitude.

ctgoldwing · Oct 8, 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 did exactly the same thing in my basement workshop. A couple of years ago I replaced 12 4-tube 4' fixtures with these bulbs.
Not a single failure and as they are right next to my ham radio station, no rfi interfetence.

HAR · Oct 8, 2020

I bought the v-shaped 4' LED's from Amazon, and replaced all in my basement and garage. In the garage, the first thing I noticed wast the instant on vs old CFL slow dim starts. Second nice thing, is when and as the weather is cold. the instant on full bright is a major plus. It will be interesting to see what if any change there is in electric bill. Sure wish LED's had been around years ago.

k0ua · Oct 8, 2020

ctgoldwing said:
I did exactly the same thing in my basement workshop. A couple of years ago I replaced 12 4-tube 4' fixtures with these bulbs.
Not a single failure and as they are right next to my ham radio station, no rfi interfetence.

Yep, first thing I do with anything electrical that comes into the home is start checking the spectrum scope from "DC to Daylight" to see if I can hear anything emitted by the devices(s). I was pleasantly surprised to find nothing out of these tubes in the RF spectrum. Lots of light output though.

dragoneggs · Oct 8, 2020

k0ua said:
Yep, first thing I do with anything electrical that comes into the home is start checking the spectrum scope from "DC to Daylight" to see if I can hear anything emitted by the devices(s). I was pleasantly surprised to find nothing out of these tubes in the RF spectrum. Lots of light output though.

Why does this behavior not surprise me? :laughing:

Cougsfan · Oct 8, 2020

I just had a new 40' x 40' by 14' eave shop built. I had 4 of these LED Fixtures installed (LED High Bay - 15W - 21,75 Lumens - Hook Mount - Tempered Glass - UF – Green Light Depot) to light a 40X30 segment of the shop. They lit the area up just fine but I replaced them immediately. It felt as if there were 4 people constantly arc welding in the ceiling area! The extreme glare from the fixtures was always there in my peripheral vision. Oddly enough a carpenter working there didn't notice the glare. We discovered why. He was wearing a baseball hat and I wasn't. When I put a hat on the glare went away. When he took his hat off he immediately noticed the glare.
I replaced them with 12 florescent style LED's (each with dual 4 foot led bulbs) Even though the total lumens has been slightly reduced, the new ones are so much better! Also the shadows created by the new setup is significantly reduced.