Topic: LED shop lights

[scottly]

I got an LED "Hyper Tough" shop light from WallyWorld yesterday for $16.87, with a rated 30 watt draw and 3200 lumens, "daylight". I compared it today to a conventional 2x40 watt "cool white" florescent shop light, and I was pleasantly surprised. The LED had a whiter looking light, which was brighter to the eye than the camera. I took some pics with the flash turned off, in an otherwise dark corner of the shop. The camera did pick up a bit of color shift; the florescent is more yellow. I bought two more this afternoon to place on either side of the mill.

[jgger]

I have been eye balling those babies at Sam's Club fur awhile, haven't pulled the trigger yet because I have too much other crap before I start changing out garage lights. I liked how white and bright the display ones look.

It will be interesting to see how they hold up in real life.

[70CB750]

I have spotlights on the ceiling in my shop and because Costco had a good deal, i replaced them all with LEDs.

I hate the fact, that the regular light bulb is banned, but I will adapt

[Stev-o]

I installed an LED shoplight above my workbench and am also pleased with it.

FYI - if you arent ready to jump into new LED fixtures for your garage or shop, the fluorescent lamps ["bulbs"] are available in different "colors".  See this Kelvin chart for the type of light , 3100K - 4500K lamps produce that nice bright white light.


http://lyzawilson.com/light-bulb-color-chart/light-bulb-color-chart-color-temperature-kelvin-in/

[honda_dog]

I have LED shop lights in my garage, $30/each at Menards. Best thing I could do. I think mine are 5000 lumen.

https://www.menards.com/main/lighting-ceiling-fans/indoor-lighting/work-shop-lights/smart-electrician-reg-5000-lumens-46-x-6-led-tread-plate-shop-light/pes120led-st1-s-4800/p-1493360352403-c-1446215532061.htm?tid=7126347027746319800&ipos=5

[Don R]

 I bought three of those lights at Menards and love the light. They do mess up my FM radio reception on distant stations that I like to listen to though. I'm trying to move they far enough away so the radio works. Or I may change to a better radio further away and wire up my remote speakers. 

[bill440cars]

    Question, has anyone bought LED bulbs, that are supposed to be able to be installed in fluorescent lights? I have heard claims, that they work well, but I am skeptical, until I get some verification. So, anyone tried this way yet?

[calj737]

    Question, has anyone bought LED bulbs, that are supposed to be able to be installed in fluorescent lights? I have heard claims, that they work well, but I am skeptical, until I get some verification. So, anyone tried this way yet?

Yep. Changed all the bulbs in my home where there were previously fluorescent tubes bulbs. Work just fine. You need to get the proper “type” end connector for your fixture. It should be labeled on the end cap or bulb at the end.

[Gordon]

    Question, has anyone bought LED bulbs, that are supposed to be able to be installed in fluorescent lights? I have heard claims, that they work well, but I am skeptical, until I get some verification. So, anyone tried this way yet?

If you're going to go that route I'd suggest removing the ballasts from the fixtures so you can use LED tubes that are not ballast-compatible.  They'll be less expensive and more efficient. 

[bill440cars]

    Question, has anyone bought LED bulbs, that are supposed to be able to be installed in fluorescent lights? I have heard claims, that they work well, but I am skeptical, until I get some verification. So, anyone tried this way yet?

Yep. Changed all the bulbs in my home where there were previously fluorescent tubes bulbs. Work just fine. You need to get the proper “type” end connector for your fixture. It should be labeled on the end cap or bulb at the end.

I appreciate the response and it is good to know, as I could not manage to change over, complete units, unless I did them, a few at a time.

Kinda tight, on a fixed income.  Thanks again, Cal.

[bill440cars]

If you're going to go that route I'd suggest removing the ballasts from the fixtures so you can use LED tubes that are not ballast-compatible.  They'll be less expensive and more efficient.

   Thanks for that, Gordon. I'll have to check into that. Sure would be nice tohave this place lit up better, especially with my "aging" eyesight. 

[Bailgang]

    Question, has anyone bought LED bulbs, that are supposed to be able to be installed in fluorescent lights? I have heard claims, that they work well, but I am skeptical, until I get some verification. So, anyone tried this way yet?

If you're going to go that route I'd suggest removing the ballasts from the fixtures so you can use LED tubes that are not ballast-compatible.  They'll be less expensive and more efficient.

The LED shop light bulbs I bought are supposed to be able to be used with or without the ballast, I chose to remove the ballast and so far I'm pleased with them. I just need to replace the rest of them now.

[bill440cars]

    Question, has anyone bought LED bulbs, that are supposed to be able to be installed in fluorescent lights? I have heard claims, that they work well, but I am skeptical, until I get some verification. So, anyone tried this way yet?

If you're going to go that route I'd suggest removing the ballasts from the fixtures so you can use LED tubes that are not ballast-compatible.  They'll be less expensive and more efficient.

The LED shop light bulbs I bought are supposed to be able to be used with or without the ballast, I chose to remove the ballast and so far I'm pleased with them. I just need to replace the rest of them now.

          This is looking better and better, all the time, folks.

[Gordon]

The LED shop light bulbs I bought are supposed to be able to be used with or without the ballast, I chose to remove the ballast and so far I'm pleased with them. I just need to replace the rest of them now.

You can get them either way.  I'm just saying the ones that can be put directly into an existing fluorescent fixture with the ballast still installed tend to cost more and are less efficient than the ones that are not ballast-compatible. 

For easiest installation, go with ballast-compatible LEDs.  For least expensive and most efficient, remove the ballasts and go with non ballast-compatible. 

[scottly]

I saw "ballast compatible" LED tubes, but I didn't see the point of retaining the ballast. IIRC, the older 2x40 watt fixtures consumed 96 watts, so 16 watts in the ballast; some of the newer fixtures I have may be more efficient? The plug-and-play tubes were in packages of 8 or 10 tubes. I don't recall the price, but it seemed like it was not that high, and much less than the three LED fixtures I bought.

[dave500]

I was slow to take up modern lighting,i bought a cheap cree flashlight,#$%*ing boy is it bright!the old faithfull ever ready dolphin flashlight is in the bin!

[Don R]

And you may leave the ballast there, just wire around it.

[Bailgang]

The LED shop light bulbs I bought are supposed to be able to be used with or without the ballast, I chose to remove the ballast and so far I'm pleased with them. I just need to replace the rest of them now.

You can get them either way.  I'm just saying the ones that can be put directly into an existing fluorescent fixture with the ballast still installed tend to cost more and are less efficient than the ones that are not ballast-compatible. 

For easiest installation, go with ballast-compatible LEDs.  For least expensive and most efficient, remove the ballasts and go with non ballast-compatible.

I understood what you were saying Gordon and you are correct, I was just sharing my experience with them. When I got mine I wasn't sure which ones to get so I probably ended up paying more than I had to being mine are ballast compatible even though I had no plans on using the ballast.

[Tracksnblades1]

Old School not LED.
For the full light spectrum the old shop fluorescent 40w bulbs can be changed to GE Chroma 50 (best) or Sylvania Design 50 (good). Both work good in paint booths. You'll only find the the Chroma 50 in older Surgery rooms. When colors have to be right indoors. Or that may have been the pitch for their price tag.

[Don R]

 If I buy the single end powered bulbs can I just unwire the unused end or does it need to be changed?   I'm looking at buying a case of 48 4' bulbs, my race trailer has 12 and there are way more in the shop. Maybe I should start small as a test.

[Jerry Rxman Griffin aka MuthaF'er]

Well just, damn, boys. Glad I looked in. I have a few unused LED bulbs that wouldn't work on my older ceiling fixtures but do work in the newer fixture over my bench. Like everyone else I like the LED lighting better.

So I take it to open one up and just disconnect/bypass the ballast and I'm good to go?!

[Don R]

 Jerry, some of the fixtures have shunted ends which I guess is just a jumper between the pins in the end so it feeds power from end to end on the bulb, other ones aren't shunted. So they have made some LED bulbs to feed from one end only and others may be connected on both ends. I think. But yes the better, more efficient ones work with no ballast.
 Your mileage may vary. Consult owners manual.   
 

[scottly]

I have no idea how to bypass the ballast and use the ballast compatible LED tubes??
I saw today that WallyWorld now has a 5000 lumen, 45 watt daylight fixture for about $22, same brand as the three 3200 lumen fixtures I already bought.

[scottly]

I bought three of those lights at Menards and love the light. They do mess up my FM radio reception on distant stations that I like to listen to though. I'm trying to move they far enough away so the radio works. Or I may change to a better radio further away and wire up my remote speakers.

Don, my new LED lights don't cause any FM interference, even with the two lights next to the mill, which are 6 feet from the receiver. I tested this by tuning in a weak station, then turning the lights on.

[Don R]

 I'm just lucky I guess. I tried plugging them into a different circuit which helped a little.