Shop lights

[ultrarunner]

Traditional magnetic ballasts or are they electronic?

They are all electronic and Advance is the OEM... GE Bulbs and Ballasts is what I have under contract pricing.

Just look at what I used in 2016... 37 two bulb 3 three bulb 1 one bulb and 4 four bulb.

The halls, lobbies, corridors, break rooms, etc are on 24/7 with no off switch.

Only once in 21 years did one go in a cloud of smoke... all the others just quit.

 

[dragoneggs]

I was interested in replacing my old T12 8' florescent fixtures with something better and was thinking LED when I stumbled on this video by a "geek" kind of person. Shop lighting upgrade: T5 vs T8 fluorescent vs LED - YouTube In it he calculates "lumens per dollar installation cost" and "lumens per watt operating cost" and with this compared LED bulb and fixture with a modern T8 florescent fixture driven by electronic ballasts. Surprisingly factoring lumens into the cost of installation, cost of operation, not to mention the quality of the light, T8's came out on top. I will say my 6 new 4' electronic ballast, T8 fixtures are a *lot* brighter than the 3, 8' fixtures with T12 bulbs.

I haven't watched the entire video posted here but note that it is 5 and half years old. I will say my own side by side testing of T8 vs. LED 4ft er's is a no brainer. LED wins and it's not close.

 

[RNeumann]

If you want the latest and greatest then it LED all the way.
Bright light they use low power,
View attachment 493450

This style would be great for my application- just 1 attachment point. What brand is that- I did an internet search and it's all over the map with features, quality and cost.

 

[Fossil Farm]

The new Hospital was finished in 1995 and is all T8 with a few accent compact fluorescents...

I have no complaints with the T8 and have resisted "Upgrading"

They did a LED "Upgrade" to a medical center down the street from T12 and the LED is harsh and brash... if that makes sense... NO ONE LIKES them except they use less electricity.

About the only beef with T8 is the special handling for disposal.

I replace about 5 ballasts a month Hospital wide... new GE ballasts are $12 last case I bought.

LED's do come in different color saturations. Sounds like they chose the wrong color for the medical center. Too bad.

 

[GaryM]

The COSTCO LED shop lights are supposed to be back in at the end of this week, January 5th. I need three more and when I was there Friday past all they had was a unit with motion detection and made for outdoor installation. Fellow up front looked in the computer and said "Come back Friday", so I will.

 

[Sawyer Rob]

I'm thinking of trying the LED's from this place,

Petersen Parts

SR

 

[mike69440]

Anyone have any experience or recommendations for picking out shop lights?

40 x 40 area with 14 ft ceiling.

This is what I would do, but then I a cheapskate!
General Lighting
At least 1 dozen of:
Amazon.com: Halo H7ICAT, 6" Housing IC Air-Tite 12V Line Voltage Incandescent: Home Improvement

Fill With LED Floods, They make 100 Watt equivalents.
Hyperikon BR4 LED Bulb, 15.5W (1W equivalent), 13lm, 27K (Warm White), CRI 9+, Wide Flood Light, 11deg Beam Angle, Medium Base (E26), Dimmable, UL and ENERGY STAR - (Pack of 4) - - Amazon.com

Then Use Nice soft white 4' Fluorescent fixtures over your workbenches. (LED Glare is tough on eyes.)
Low initial cost and then Low electric usage.

 

[FELMOW2320]

Friday I went to our local electrical supply and bought a retrofit kit for the one 8ft floresent light I had out.Replaced the 2 8ft bulbs with 4 4ft LEDs.It's a lot brighter.When the ballast go out in the other lights I will replace them with this kit.The bulbs and kit cost less than $57 dollars.

 

[ultrarunner]

I think you are going to like them...

Only time will tell if they last as long as advertised which will be a bonus...

I hated to turn on the 8' fluorescents in Washington... they would hum and flicker and blink on in cold weather and cold being anything below 60F

Put in two of the double 4' Costco fixtures and it is a pleasure to turn on the lights!

 

[jcummins]

The COSTCO LED shop lights are supposed to be back in at the end of this week, January 5th. I need three more and when I was there Friday past all they had was a unit with motion detection and made for outdoor installation. Fellow up front looked in the computer and said "Come back Friday", so I will.

No Costco close...but had a St. Louis trip yesterday, and checked on these. Same story, just the motion detection units. Was disappointed, since I needed some.