LED Garage Lights

[schmism]

I just installed a LED 4' "shoplight" from sams. I thought how much brighter could it be than my old 4' T-12 lights.

HOLY COW! its like 2-3 times as much light as the old 2 bulb T-12 lights. But it was $40

 

[nikdfish]

I'll +1 the 4' LED shop lights. Replaced the old fluorescents in the basement shop on a "2 for 3" basis and still have more light. FWIW, Sams did have LED replacement bulbs at their web site that worked in the old fixtures and were selling for $25 a pair. Bought a half dozen for use in the kitchen and laundry. The 5000k color version put out a nice light.

Nick

 

[newbury]

Many of the LED lights run at a "cooler" light than the fluorescent. It would help if people spoke in lumens at a distance.

For example:

With one of the Feit lights about a foot below my 12' ceiling I measured 450 Lux at waist level.
With one of my old 8 foot tube dual 60 watt bulb fluorescent fixtures about 6 inches below the ceiling I measured 230 Lux at waist level.
With one of the tubes in my "deballasted" fixture about 6 inches below the ceiling I measured 420 Lux at waist level.
With TWO of the tubes in my "deballasted" fixture about 6 inches below the ceiling I measured 700 Lux at waist level.

And like I've written there are numerous free apps to measure light level with a smart phone.

Although the numbers may not be accurate they show the relatively brighter light.

 

[dragoneggs]

Just installed one Costco bought Feit 4ft LEDs. Advertised as 4000K, 3700lumen, 50,000hr. Flush mounted to ceiling next to hanging T-12s. Big difference! Besides being much brighter I like the flush mount giving me more room to wield around 8ft pieces of stuff. Going to swap out the others and flush mount them too. Someday I will mud and tape drywall ceiling and paint it white. Should really brighten things up! Oh and they don't give me any issue with RF inference with my old radio!

 

[k0ua]

Oh and they don't give me any issue with RF inference with my old radio!

Look good:thumbsup:

 

[dragoneggs]

Oh and they don't give me any issue with RF inference with my old radio!

Look good:thumbsup:

Thanks James... I know, messy miscellaneous wall needs some attention. Now just waiting for my old kerosene heater to heat and dry up the shop a little before I install the rest. It's 28degF outside and dropping. My poor detached garage/shop and tools do not like this weather and dampness. I need to insulate my shop and figure a better heat source... oops... going off topic. I'll shut up now.

 

[k0ua]

Thanks James... I know, messy miscellaneous wall needs some attention. Now just waiting for my old kerosene heater to heat and dry up the shop a little before I install the rest. It's 28degF outside and dropping. My poor detached garage/shop and tools do not like this weather and dampness. I need to insulate my shop and figure a better heat source... oops... going off topic. I'll shut up now.

Do you have much sun exposure? Maybe one of those pop can solar heaters? Most have a small solar voltaic panel also to run a muffin fan to circulate the heat.. Course they don't work at night!

https://www.google.com/search?q=pop...5yYKHalwAmAQ_AUICSgD&biw=1483&bih=635&dpr=0.9

 

[dragoneggs]

Wow just downloaded a light meter app and the new LEDs measured 208 vs 53 for the two T12s! I will post the distance shortly. Running half the wattage too.

 

[dragoneggs]

Oops just realized there is some clear protective tape on each bulb. Since they were already installed in the fixture, I didn't notice. Removed that and the Lumens went up to 240 measured at 4ft distance.

 

[dragoneggs]

Okay this thread got me motivated so I will share some of my install details... bear with me, it's a slow night. The better half is down with a cold and I am trying to clean the garage/shop so she can park her car inside. It's been awhile. Feeling guilty. Especially since we are now in the high 20s at night. :cold:

First, here is the tape to remove on the bulbs.



I like using larger pan headed screws so it meant opening up the holes for flush mounting. Got out the dremel and an aggressive bit.



Also made a simple jig to locate the matched holes. Just score a line on either end and you have a consistent length mark to locate the two screws. If you are going to mount more than one fixture you will like this approach. Sink the screws leaving a little gap for the thickness of the fixture and you pop them in and slide using their keyhole slots.



Got four installed... love them... headed to Costco very soon to get a couple more at least to finish off the far end of the garage. Big improvement! Significantly brighter than the old T-12s. I'm sold.

 

[JerryK]

Just installed one Costco bought Feit 4ft LEDs. Advertised as 4000K, 3700lumen, 50,000hr. Flush mounted to ceiling next to hanging T-12s. Big difference! Besides being much brighter I like the flush mount giving me more room to wield around 8ft pieces of stuff. Going to swap out the others and flush mount them too. Someday I will mud and tape drywall ceiling and paint it white. Should really brighten things up! Oh and they don't give me any issue with RF inference with my old radio!

View attachment 452250

+1 on the 4000 to 6000 Kelvin lighting. How can you tell what month it is....... ???? [[[ ]]]

 

[LD1]

So based on what you guys are saying it appears that lumens is not an accurate way of comparing light output?

Switching to LED's that have only 60% of the lumens puts out more light.

 

[JerryK]

5000 Kelvin is more like daylight than the 2700K [ warm white ] that older lights put out. Older eyes like mine like the brighter light. Florescent fixtures loose a lot of their lumens if you don't clean the bulbs all the time, about a third of the top of the bulb is covered with crud/dust. Plus the reflector is not entirely efficient. A lot of the LED fixtures point the entire lumen output downwards... where most folks want the light. Different strokes for different folks... I like the 5000-6000 K bulbs, don't care much about color rendering, or warm cozy light... I need to see to putter on stuff.

 

[k0ua]

I also noticed that the near 5000K "daylight" bulbs seem so much brighter than the "warm" colored bulbs. Even though both have the same lumen output. My eyes are older now too, and I don't know if this is a factor or not, but there is a huge difference in the apparent brightness of these "cooler" bulbs. Also the idea that the LED shop lights are putting all of their energy down and not half of it in an upward direction because of their physical configuration is something to consider also.

 

[RSKY]

I have skipped a lot of replies on this thread so forgive me......

I took down the three four-tube 4' fluorescent lights in our utility room and installed a round LED light fixture bought at Lowes. Instant change in room. No more looking for a flashlight to peer into drawers or on shelves. We liked the change so much that we put two more in the garage to replace two flourescents. Once again we suddenly had light. Put one in father-in-law's kitchen and one in my mother's kitchen. Both love them. Neighbors liked ours so much they bought two for their utility room, which I put up for them.

These are about 22" in diameter and have 96 separate LEDs. Had to take one back out of the nine we have installed and they said it was only the second since they started selling them. Clerk said it was their biggest seller in the lighting department. Can't keep them stocked. Light is bright and perfect to read by. They should last my lifetime. Anywhere else I install lighting these are what I'm going to buy if they are appropriate for the setting.

RSKY

 

[lostcreekranch]

I have a different situation in my shop which is a raised center aisle type building. Shop has 5 X 8 ft. fluorescent fixtures with two T12 bulbs per fixture, for general shop lighting. The lights are all hard wired to a single switch and hang on chains from ceiling. Problem is that the lights are 16 ft. above the shop floor and a big PIA to change tubes when they fail. I bought a used rolling ladder (like the ones in the aisles at big box stores) specifically for tube replacement. Unfortunately the top level, where you stand, is at 9 ft. so, I am still working above my head since I'm 6' tall. The fixtures are unwieldy being on long chains so holding the fixture and trying to stab far end of an 8' tube is not fun. I even tried putting the rolling ladder on my 6' X 12' utility trailer which raises the ladder another 16" or so but, have to do a lot of equipment moving to get trailer / ladder do center aisle.

The existing fixtures are about 15 years old and seem to be suffering from some corrosion in the tube electrical connection or just worn out ballasts. A couple take several minutes to come on when I hit the switch.

I have been looking at these 8' LED fixtures that should be a "plug & play" replacement for my existing fluorescent fixtures.

8 ft. Industrial Retail Flush Mount 4 Light T8 Fixture w/ 4X 24W LED Tubes 96W Total 6500k Equivalent to 256W Fluorescent Fixture 30% Brighter Than 18W LED Bulbs - - Amazon.com

Anyone have any experience with them? I am ok with their $125 price and seems seller might offer some discount for qty. purchase. The shipping cost of almost $30 per unit seems high but, think the seller might discount shipping for multiple unit purchase. They are 12,000 lumens per fixture and 6500 k so should create a lot of "daylight white" light and be a big improvement over present lights.

I have 4 more of the same 8 ft. fluorescent fixtures under a 40' X 60' covered parking for tractors, trailers, and implements that need to be replaced as well so, would be changing out total of 9 fixtures.

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[Rdr202]

I had three 8 ' fluorescent bulb fixtures in my garage and just replaced them with some led lights from Lowe's. I purchased six of them As they were on 4' long but they come with a connector to join them together so you wire in one and the second one plugs into the first. I'am now getting better light and no hum. My original fixtures had the cold weather ballasts but after a year humming got very loud.

Lowe's
Utilitech Pro Strip Item #: 595683 | Model #: 54291141

 

[Garandman]

The costco LED shop lights about $10 less than a yr ago.

Feit. Now on sale with rebate at checkout for $20.

They are noticeably brighter than the old fluorescents and don't flicker in the cold.

 

[lostcreekranch]

Feit. Now on sale with rebate at checkout for $20. They are noticeably brighter than the old fluorescents and don't flicker in the cold.

That a good price. I bought some of these from Rural King for shop task lighting and they work well. You can connect 2 lights together also.

4 Ft Integrated T8 LED Tube Light T8-18W12-5-A by Retail Factory Direct for $29.98 in Bulbs - Lighting - Electrical - Hardware : Rural King

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[turbo36]

So based on what you guys are saying it appears that lumens is not an accurate way of comparing light output?

Switching to LED's that have only 60% of the lumens puts out more light.

Lumen output is the most accurate way of measuring potential. Factors already mentioned such as the type of reflector, cleanliness, color temperature ( measured in Kelvins) can affect the perceived light value. IE: switching from a warm (yellow) light of 2,700K to a "whiter" 5,000K bulb can make it seems brighter. Most of those posting here posts are replacing an old T-12 light that is probably putting out 30-40% of it's original rating with a new, clean light and so less lumen rating seems brighter.

You previous post was absolutely spot on, it really comes down to "lumens per watt" a typical 100 watt incandescent bulb puts out 1,600 lumens (16 lumens per watt) a new Cree 18 watt daylight bulb will put out the same lumens (88/watt) as the old incandescent light at around 75% less power draw.

Recently I had to make a decision as to which lights to use for my new accessory building. After studying the light output and initial cost I belied that fluorescents was the best way to go. I installed 6 lamp T8-32 lights, the bulbs are rated at 3,400 initial / 3,100 mean lumens so the initial output is 106/watt whereas the mean is 96/watt. Only the most efficient and more expensive LEDs on the market can match or beat this. Now, one can argue that at some point down the road the LEDs will maintain more of their initial brightness than the fluorescents but I can't predict that outcome at this point.