Shop Lights - Replace fluorescent bulbs with LED or replace entire fixture?

Tim

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I have 4 x 4ft fluorescent fixtures in my shop. 3 of the 8 bulbs need need to be replaced. Should I retrofit the existing fixtures for LED bulbs or just go ahead with new LED fixtures? Any reliability or longevity issues to deal with when using the retrofit bulbs?

I'm a buy once cry once kinda guy, so a few extra bucks one way or the other isn't gonna be part of the decision.

This room will also serve as my office for work. I'll be in here a bunch. So having decent light is a priority.

FWIW, the single bulb in the pic is getting replaced with one of those 4 way adjustable LEDs.

Forgive the mess...I'm still getting settled from the move.

bulbs.jpg
 
I looked into this a few years ago and the LED conversions for fluorescent lights cost more than the LED fixtures. They weren't as bright either. That may have changes in the intervening years with the new invention curve but LED fixtures are da bomb!

That's right I'm bringing da bomb back.
 
I installed the leds designed for the electronic ballast florescent fixtures, they're used ~ 1/2 hour a day. 8 of the 16 failed within a year.
I'd either remove the ballasts, or get new fixtures.
 
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Just replaced my 4 ft flourescents with 8ft LED fixtures. It made a HUGE difference in lighting in my workshop. Get the new fixtures.
 
I replaced 16, 8' lamps and did the "wire around" to eliminate the ballast and haven't had any issues. I will say one thing, I eliminated 1 bulb in a couple of the fixtures due to being too bright.... no need to change the entire fixture to get there....
 
I have 4 of these in my garage. The only reason I need four is I have one over my bench and two over my table where I make holsters. I wanted a lot of light. Then I have a single over by the door. Been running these 2-3 years with no problems. I took out the fluorescents and installed outlets in the ceiling in place of the direct wiring. That way I can plug and play this style of light if there is ever and issue.

https://www.samsclub.com/p/2pack-led-shop-light-sh445505b299/prod21228695?xid=plp_product_1_22
 
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Thanks all. Looks like I'll be swapping out the fixtures.
 
When I did my workshop area in my basement few years ago I did it with the led bulbs that can be used with or without ballast. But since i had to have fixtures anyway just bought the led ready fixtures which was nothing but a fixture without a ballast straight wired. Been working fine and very bright. Will say if your fixtures are old and yellow you will get some improvement with new fixtures since the reflectors have probably gotten yellow or dirty over time. I did like someone else mentioned though instead of hard wiring each fixture in series I just wired outlets there and wired a cord onto each fixture that way i could swap out anything or have a plug there in future if need be to make change out easier:
 
Thanks all. Looks like I'll be swapping out the fixtures.
For the amount they cost, it's not worth the labor to retrofit them, unless it's say for example, built in somehow. The house we bought that was built in 1973 had fluorescent fixtures, some of which had become a fire hazard. We had them changed out or retrofitted.

For new fixtures, consider something like this: https://www.1000bulbs.com/product/212068/TCP-10403.html Takes 2, four foot LED tubes. No ballasts as the tubes are for 120Vac. Cost about $12.
 
I recently bought a 1940's farm hours. The basement had 10 fluorescent bulbs. Replaced them with the no ballast LED's from Lowe's, was around $75 for an 8 pack.
Much brighter. Almost too bright. This was 4 months ago, no issues, and true plug and play.
 
Fwiw, I replaced fixtures in the garage and replaced just bulbs in the house. A year later I replaced the fixtures in the house because there were lots of issues with the bulbs and who saves the packaging and receipt to get replacements under warranty.
 
I agree with the crowd on buying from Costco. Replaced 10 - 4 foot florescent fixtures with led fixtures, now 90% of the time I only operate 5 of them, even with these old eyes my shop is lit better than with all of 10 of the florescent.
 
My dual 8 foot strip went dim the other day. Just one lamp out. Its been in the garage for 30 yrs. Ive replaced the original magnetic ballast twice. The last time I think the only choice I had was electronic and it required rewiring the lamp holders. I like the big T12 lamps. If and when this ballast goes out, I'll go LED.
 
The new LED 'bulbs' are directional downward so the lumen rating is less vs fluorescent bulb that is omnidirectional.
 
I bought a four foot strip LED fixture for my new shop light and was really pleased.

forty bucks maybe?
 
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My dual 8 foot strip went dim the other day. Just one lamp out. Its been in the garage for 30 yrs. Ive replaced the original magnetic ballast twice. The last time I think the only choice I had was electronic and it required rewiring the lamp holders. I like the big T12 lamps. If and when this ballast goes out, I'll go LED.
T12 bulbs gave way to T8’s (1.5” versus smaller diameter 1”) which was a smaller light source to control and easier and more efficient to put the light where you want it with a proper reflector, but those T-8’s came out over 30 years ago when I was with Sylvania. They did have electronic ballasts.

I have some old T12 4” fixtures with magnetic ballasts in some older office properties, and have discovered that Lyme Energy in co-operation with Duke Energy Progress will come in and retrofit those old fixtures,(or change the fixtures entirely, I think) at a highly subsidized price due to the energy savings. The next office that I have that becomes vacant I am doing that.
 
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I have 4 of these in my garage. The only reason I need four is I have one over my bench and two over my table where I make holsters. I wanted a lot of light. Then I have a single over by the door. Been running these 2-3 years with no problems. I took out the fluorescents and installed outlets in the ceiling in place of the direct wiring. That way I can plug and play this style of light if there is ever and issue.

https://www.samsclub.com/p/2pack-led-shop-light-sh445505b299/prod21228695?xid=plp_product_1_22
I have 4 of those in my garage and it's so bright I can't see my phone screen in there.

Sent from my moto g power using Tapatalk
 
Replace ‘em all and while your up there why not do a little ceiling work ... it will help with lighting also plus cut dust and such from falling from exposed insulation and other stuff up there.
 
Replace ‘em all and while your up there why not do a little ceiling work ... it will help with lighting also plus cut dust and such from falling from exposed insulation and other stuff up there.

1 thing at a time...the wallet is a bit light until I sell the old place!
 
Don't have a shop... However, I put these on my front and side porch and they are super bright. Have a work buddy who was building a shop and turned him onto them. It's like daylight in there.
Screenshot_20200709-174124.png
 
Don't have a shop... However, I put these on my front and side porch and they are super bright. Have a work buddy who was building a shop and turned him onto them. It's like daylight in there.
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Put one in my carport and they work great outdoors but think it would be over kill or harsh if you tried to use it in a office environment like mentioned. Might need sun glasses or create a bad glare on a monitor.
 
Just recently replaced 4 8’ Two bulb flourecent with 8 4’ led and it was like the sun rose in my shop. Very bright but not glarry. Worth the $160 I paid on amazon.
 
Just recently replaced 4 8’ Two bulb flourecent with 8 4’ led and it was like the sun rose in my shop. Very bright but not glarry. Worth the $160 I paid on amazon.
Link for ID, please?
 
Never turn all mine on together....a strange BRIGHT!!!!


I found it to help to pay attention to the color of the bulbs to be sure you do not end up with the blue looking led color light(learned the hard way). I personally prefer more of 4000-3000k color bulb when trying to work on things seems easier on the eyes and more natural, didn’t seem to get the two bright issue as much either.
 
What ...


Someone’s gonna say that’s racist ... you know the Black Lights Matter card will be played :cool:.


Ok. Black lights matter.

iu



Or was this more what you were thinking?


iu
 
Was checking out HF coupons and saw this...

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