Fluorescent to LED

[pmsmechanic]

I was going to convert my T-12 4' bulbs to direct hookup led's. Then I started thinking about it. It's very little extra money to just buy a complete 4' led light especially if you buy a package of 10 or more. So I'm not going to convert any of my fluorescent lights.

 

[Sonny580]

I use led's because of the light quality,---like daylight!---Don't care if they used more juice than the old flour.,or bulb type!---It's worth it to be able to see!!! LOL!!! thanks; sonny

 

[teejk]

I was going to convert my T-12 4' bulbs to direct hookup led's. Then I started thinking about it. It's very little extra money to just buy a complete 4' led light especially if you buy a package of 10 or more. So I'm not going to convert any of my fluorescent lights.

I always found that it wasn't much more to replace the fluorescent fixtures than to try to replace the ballasts (kinda sad when you think about it but a fact). But you got me thinking about just replacing with new LED. I still have enough T8 fixtures that will use the bulbs (some of which look brand new).

 

[turnkey4099]

I guess it depends on what you mean by "worth it".
I have been slowly changing out my 4' fluorescents to LED. Every time one of the big box stores has a good sale on them I pick up a couple of fixtures and when the next fluorescent bulb dies I replace the whole fixture. I like the LEDs because they are brighter and don't have the cold weather startup problems.

At around $18-20 per 4' fixture with led, how can one lose? Just put one over my workbench. Lights up like I had never seen before.

 

[ovrszd]

At around $18-20 per 4' fixture with led, how can one lose? Just put one over my workbench. Lights up like I had never seen before.

I agree, if you need an additional fixture, buy LED.

 

[dragoneggs]

My Costco 4ft LED fixtures are much brighter than my T12s. Got rid of all of my fluorescents in my garage/shop. Lots happier with the whiter color too.

 

[BukitCase]

Same here Mark; when they had 'em on sale for $20 a couple weeks ago I bought another 10, those should let me finish up all 3 containers. Shop (and "mini-shop") is already changed over. I LOVE being able to go into the parts storage and get what I need, instead of turning on the lights and coming back LATER ...Steve

 

[turnkey4099]

I just bought new 4 footer LED's, at $16 and change ea. from Menards, 3300 ? lumens...

They are plug n play and are working out very nicely...

Buy them, plug them in and enjoy....seemed like the best way to go to me.

SR

I bought 1 4' from Wal Mart $19 and change. I was stunned to find it is 'plug in to light up'. No switch!

 

[lostcreekranch]

I bought 1 4' from Wal Mart $19 and change. I was stunned to find it is 'plug in to light up'. No switch!

Maybe you could post a link to your light so others will be aware and warned?

 

[ultrarunner]

Here's 8 - 4ft - 4 bulb T8s in a 42x50.

I'll add, the more "junk" you have in a shop, the more light it takes. Everything absorbs light.



View attachment 534533

Nice shop space... can you share the dimensions?

I have all T8 at the Hospital... well... 98%

Running the numbers it just didn't make sense at the time to convert.

I have to replace ballasts... a good one was about $11 through my National Account... seen the same one for $26 at the Hardware Store.

When we converted a space for the MRI I got about a dozen T8 Troffer fixtures for hauling them off... by the time I put them up they will be antique...

In WA I hated the 8' T12 florescent lights in the shop and garage... always a problem.. noisy and flickered a lot in cold weather... sometimes I turn on the Costco LED that replaced them just to see how nice the light is bring a smile to my face.

 

[dragoneggs]

Maybe you could post a link to your light so others will be aware and warned?

The Costco version (highly recommend) is plug in but also a chain switch. I put my garage units on cheap remote on/off switches. 3 zones, two fixtures per.

Amazon.com: Etekcity Wireless Remote Control Electrical Outlet Switch for Household Appliances，Wireless Remote Light Switch, White (3Rx-1Tx): Home Improvement

 

[tcreeley]

I like incandescents- best for everything!


Health & Science
Some cities are taking another look at LED lighting after AMA warning
Some cities are taking another look at LED lighting after AMA warning - The Washington Post

 

[dragoneggs]

I like incandescents- best for everything!


Health & Science
Some cities are taking another look at LED lighting after AMA warning
Some cities are taking another look at LED lighting after AMA warning - The Washington Post

Great article... but I think I have bigger problems if I am sleeping under a street light. LED street light disturbing sleep rhythms? I would be awake watching my six under an incandescent street lamp as well.

 

[kenmac]

Not quite sure of your point? I paid $110 for 4 bulb, 4ft, T8 fixtures with bulbs. In today's market I think I could buy equivalent LEDs for the same money???

My point ? Led's vs the T8's. I saved around $840.00 going with T8's.
I paid $12.00 per 2 bulb fixture

Had I bought the $40.00 LED's, I would have to keep all the lights in my garage on for a long time to reap any electrical savings.
Doubt I would even be around by then ! LOL


The only 4 ft LED lights I found were $40.00 ea...
Is the $40.00 LED fixture brighter /better than the $20.00 fixture ?

 

[Sawyer Rob]

I bought 1 4' from Wal Mart $19 and change. I was stunned to find it is 'plug in to light up'. No switch!

The ones I bought from Menards DO have a switch, or you can leave the switch on and wire them to come on with a wall switch.

SR

 

[LD1]

I bought 1 4' from Wal Mart $19 and change. I was stunned to find it is 'plug in to light up'. No switch!

Most shop lights are the same way. Most dont have a pull cord or switch

 

[ovrszd]

My point ? Led's vs the T8's. I saved around $840.00 going with T8's.
I paid $12.00 per 2 bulb fixture

Had I bought the $40.00 LED's, I would have to keep all the lights in my garage on for a long time to reap any electrical savings.
Doubt I would even be around by then ! LOL


The only 4 ft LED lights I found were $40.00 ea...
Is the $40.00 LED fixture brighter /better than the $20.00 fixture ?

This comparison is missing the lumen part of the equation.

For example, posters are buying $15 LED fixtures. So, only considering price, LEDs are definitely the cheapest.

 

[kenmac]

This comparison is missing the lumen part of the equation.

For example, posters are buying $15 LED fixtures. So, only considering price, LEDs are definitely the cheapest.

I haven't seen any $15.00 LED's. I have seen people post $20.00 LED's . All I have seen are $40.00 LED's at walmart same place I got the T8's for $12.00 tax included

How many more lumens are $40.00 LED's vs $20.00 LED's vs $15.00 LEDs' vs my T8's ?

The way my 40 x 80 pole barn is split up, I may have had to install the same amount of LED lights.

I could have bought LED's, but I didn't see the cost savings. If my $12.00 T8 fixture goes south after 6 mo, a year, ect,. I can buy another $12.00 fixture vs a $40.00 LED fixture

Again, I will be dead and gone before anyone sees any savings.
How many LED fixtures fail and has to be replaced also has to be added to the savings equation

 

[pmsmechanic]

I haven't seen any $15.00 LED's. I have seen people post $20.00 LED's . All I have seen are $40.00 LED's at walmart same place I got the T8's for $12.00 tax included

How many more lumens are $40.00 LED's vs $20.00 LED's vs $15.00 LEDs' vs my T8's ?

The way my 40 x 80 pole barn is split up, I may have had to install the same amount of LED lights.

I could have bought LED's, but I didn't see the cost savings. If my $12.00 T8 fixture goes south after 6 mo, a year, ect,. I can buy another $12.00 fixture vs a $40.00 LED fixture

Again, I will be dead and gone before anyone sees any savings.
How many LED fixtures fail and has to be replaced also has to be added to the savings equation

I am so fed up with having to fix ballasts every few years that I couldn't care less what the price difference is or the possible savings etc. I just want a light that turns on when I flick the switch. I also want the lights to turn on in -20C weather as that's what I live in during the winter.

It's a bonus that they are brighter too. A fluorescent slowly gets dimmer over the years so you are getting less than the initial 1200 lumens out a 4' light. As I'm getting older I need more light to see. Most 4' led's are around 1600 lumens. Gee and they don't get dimmer over time. Looks like a win to me. And yes I'm getting sarcastic!

 

[KennyG]

I've bought a number of LED lights. On Amazon or Ebay you can find complete 4 foot fixtures for $20 to $40. I haven't had a problem with the cheapest ones. A T8 fixture will use about 64 watts. An LED fixture will use 36 watts at the most. Maybe less (Some are 28 watts). With $0.10 KWh electricity, you will save about $1.00 for every 350 hours of operation. If your lights are on an average of 4 hours a day, you will save $4.00 per year and the $20 light will pay for itself in 5 years even if the T8 was free or you already own it.

If you have fixtures that you can bypass the ballast, you can buy LED tubes for $5.00 to $8.00. These will pay back faster.

As an additional advantage, the LEDs start out slightly brighter and stay constant where the conventional tubes lose brightness. No one really knows how long the LEDs will last but the rated life tends to be 50,000 hours. In the 4 hour a day example above, that's almost a lifetime.

If you have conventional lights and only use them a few hundred hours a year or so, go ahead and keep them. If you have to replace lights I can't see any sense in buying anything but LEDs.