Another shop light question

[Bayou]

I have a few questions in regards to switching over my shop lights to LED and being able to see lol. My shop is 40x70 with 12' to the trusses with pre existing lights 16 total. They are situated in two rows, every 4th truss. I'm assuming the height of the lights/fixture makes a difference on what style. Everything is already wired so it won't be hard at all and I'm trying to decide or figure out my lighting options. I'm not wanting to put up gold fixtures but I also don't want the cheapest either. I just don't have any idea when it comes to this besides the fact that I want plenty of light. I will also put in a couple extra around the main bench/work area. For those that have did went to LED, please share your experience with different light set ups and what you would do differently if you started over. Also I'm just starting to figure this out so any links or pictures would greatly help. Thanks

1. High loft vs rectangular vs strips---would rather go high loft or rectangular
2. Is a high loft what is called a UFO style
2. Best to hang or fix to the truss
3. When it comes to lumens or watts, what should I be looking at or for

Any other suggestions are welcomed.

 

[duffer]

Friend of mine has a shop about the size of yours, maybe 5' shorter in length. He has (12) LED rectangular fixtures (24-30" in length). Trusses are about same height as yours as well. Lights the interior WAY better than incandescents/flourescents. And no heat generated either.

He hung his from the trusses. They are high enough where you won't bump them, unless you're trying to...

Don't have the specs on lumens or equivalent wattage, but they were significant. He bought them on line.

 

[arcadelt]

Any other suggestions are welcomed.

Here in Australia in my 23 x 40 foot shed I put up four of these from Philips, and they do me well. I hang them from the trusses, but they can be mounted in different ways. I don't recall what beam width I chose, our four covers almost all of the floor. You'd obviously need more.

I've linked to the US website, where you can see they come in a range of lumens, colour temperatures and beam widths.

GreenPerform Highbay G3 High-bay - Philips

 

[kthompson]

If you have fluorescent lights, 4 or 8 feet long, you may find you can use those fixtures with led bulbs made for that but you must remove the ballast and do some simple rewiring.

 

[Bayou]

We just moved in a year and a half ago and the previous owner has plain light sockets with regular house bulbs. You can imagine what that was like. I changed the bulbs out to LED but it's not much better. It's almost laughable.

 

[Industrial Toys]

I just found some 4 foot GE LED T8 tubes at the RESTORE. Two Bucks CDN per. I bought all they had. I'm surprised (and impressed) that I cannot tell the difference from adjacent flourescent tubes. I am a little annoyed that I still have to address some defective Ballast issues in my shop. One, I only use low RFI ballasts which can be misrepresented and always cost more. Ballasts seem foolish for LED tubes if there are ones in the market that you throw the ballast away and put line voltage on the tomb stone connectors.

As far as lighting goes. I am not a fan of spending money on LED fixtures. I think too many fail. I like to keep my options open. So regular screw bases and replacement tubes and bulbs make sense to me, at this time.

Has anyone bought the replacement LED bulbs for those hellishly high temp quartz spot/flood lamps?

 

[Topzide]

Check outLight Bulbs from the Web's #1 Lighting Retailer | 1000Bulbs.com
They have lots of options. At least if prices aren't good then you'll have info to look elsewhere.

 

[TMGT]

I have a 40x40 section of my shop lit with the UFO style 150w 19,500k versions from Adiding. I used 8 lights in a grid pattern (didn't put a light above the garage door).

Even with a 16.5" ceiling it is fantastic and very bright, i could have probably gotten by with less but I wanted it like working outside.

I did have an early failure the other day, (little over 2 years old) and after a couple emails they sent out a replacement in a couple days, very good service.

 

[grsthegreat]

I simply converted my 8 existing 8 foot fixtures into non ballast tandem led fixtures with a retrofit kit. The kit contained the tombstones and center plate. Than i swapped out the High Output 110 watt lamps for 5,000k led lamps. Super bright in my 30x40 shop with 12 foot height.

 

[newbury]

If you have fluorescent lights, 4 or 8 feet long, you may find you can use those fixtures with led bulbs made for that but you must remove the ballast and do some simple rewiring.

Nah, they've got them both ways - use the old ballast or remove it.

I've got about 6,000 sq feet of shops and basements which were primarily lit with Fluorescent tube lights, a mix of 4' and 8'.


Probably over 50 fixtures all put in about 30 years ago.

My prime purpose of going to LED was because of failing ballasts.

The purpose of the fixtures is to get lumens on surfaces as economically as possible.

I've posted here frequently about my efforts and have been pretty happy with 4 foot fixtures sold by costco and the like for about $20@. Until this year.
Amazon has started selling AmazonCommercial 4' LED Shop Light in sets of 8 for prices from about $45 to $200 per 8 pack. Amazon's pricing on these is crazy and like a roller coaster.

I've been buying them when they dip down near $48 a pack. So far I've bought 24 and had 1 light fail to turn on. When I get an 8 pack I test each one.

I'm not replacing my Fluorescents that work yet. These are linkable with standard 2 prong plugs. I was hoping they would drop down to $24 for an 8 pack but it hasn't happened yet.