I have 4 foot 2 bulb lights in a basement and shop. Some are not working some are slow if its cold some seem to be dim even with new bulbs. Need to fix them this winter when things calm down a bit. Any advice on what to do or what to use? In the basement I would go with the old round bulbs but the darn things hurt my eyes. I am not crazy over the cfl or diod type. In defense of what I have they are old and probably the ballist is weak.
- Thread starter JOCCO
- Start date
They make 4' bulbs that go in a fluorescent fixture that are actually LED. They are brighter and while some require rewiring the lights, they are probably the easiest option. Otherwise convert them to the t-8 bulbs and electronic ballasts. The t-8 are supposed to cold start down to 0?
I have almost the same identical problem in my garage which is used more like a shop. Some dim some flicker and a few don't work. Mine are also 4 footers. It seems like it would just be cheaper to buy new fixtures like I have now than buying bulbs and rewiring but I never looked into it.
Yes I was going to add that you should visit a for real electrical supply and talk to them. At work we have several typs of bulbs and they go from cheep to pretty darn expensive. Hear chatt on the radio about the T8 bulbs and they also use the LED tubes for outside. There are Way too many cheep fixtures out there and most local stuff is chheep! I would go LED if you can afford them cost. ALSO you want Daylight and not cool white or soft white. Daylight will make everything in your shop crystal clear and bright!
Geo-TH,In
Well-known Member
I bought 4 LED off amazon. If you want bright white get 5000K. I put 2 bulbs horizontally on wall in pole barn 9 ft off floor. Put another two on end wall. Almost need sun glasses. I'm very pleased.
You will have to remove old ballast. They send you all the parts you need with instructions. Piece of cake to rewire.
geo
LED 500K
You will have to remove old ballast. They send you all the parts you need with instructions. Piece of cake to rewire.
geo
LED 500K
They have 4 foot direct replacement LED's that you don't have to remove ballast. I have cold start T8's over my work bench and if temperature gets below 17 degrees they come on but are not as bright as they are if temperature is above freezing. I replaced all the Halogen light fixtures in my shop. The Halogens gave off plenty of light but use a lot of electric and run hot and can explode.
Aaron Ford
Well-known Member
Converting to T8 bulbs only requires a ballast change. The fixtures are reused. It's pretty afffordable. Two light conversions would be dead simple. Not as efficient as the other options but easier on the wallet up front. I select the 3500K bulbs for warm light and 4200-4700 for shop lights.
Aaron
Aaron
i bought some 4' led bulbs from menards for the flourescent fixtures on my shop ceiling, they are noticably brighter, no change ballast. 2 bulbs for $14 on sale. went back to get more to do the rest, discontinued. i put a watt meter on the fixture where it plugs in, at 17watts for the fixture, seems low for 2 bulbs
Got sick and tired of fluorescent, the tubes, the ballasts, the fuses, the starters, trying to guess what's wrong with the stupid things this time???? Just sit there and buzz in the winter, flicker.... hate the d%$# things. Bought some ordinary plastic screw-in lamp bases, bought some plastic 6x6 fence posts, sawed them, installed 6 or 8 of the bases in each fence post, wired them, installed whatever I can come up with, incandescent, LED, whatever.... they come on instantly, have never burned one out yet, cheap, bright. Put some white metal siding pieces over so it reflects light. Works great.
farmallsandcoops
Member
I replaced 3 8ft high output fluorescents in my shop (10 ft high ceilings -- an old corn crib) with 6 four foot LED shop lights from Costco ($25 per unit) and mounted them at roughly 45 degree angle where walls meet ceiling. Much brighter and no shadows now. Also replaced 3 four foot HO FL's with these over work bench and shelves and they are incredibly nice. No issues over the winter in a shop that is not heated.
They have a "new" version now at Costco that can be "chained" together -- plugged in one to another. Up to 4 can be put together. They are rated at 45,000 hours.
Friends have liked them so much that I purchased 20 for them. AND, I got a bill credit from county REC for the LED lights.
They have a "new" version now at Costco that can be "chained" together -- plugged in one to another. Up to 4 can be put together. They are rated at 45,000 hours.
Friends have liked them so much that I purchased 20 for them. AND, I got a bill credit from county REC for the LED lights.
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