Replace fluorescent with led-- shop lights

crane operator · Nov 21, 2017

Has anyone here replaced their shop lights with led. I see where they have 8' led replacements for fluorescents, you have to pull the ballast and do a little rewiring.

I've got 8' fluorescents for my whole shop, and I'm tired of dealing with the ballasts going out (lights are quite old). Amazon shows a 20-25 packs, and I've thought about changing mine out.

https://www.amazon.com/Light-6000K-...ie=UTF8&reviewerType=all_reviews&pageNumber=2

hosspuller · Nov 21, 2017

Before you buy, compare the lumen output & color temperature of the various LED retrofits.
They are not all equal.

Camshawn · Nov 21, 2017

Look at the cost of refixtureing the shop with different lighting. 8' fixtures may be more money to retrofit with Led than changing to led highbay or more common 4' tube fixtures. At work a few years ago, we got rid of 400w HID lights with high output fluorescent 6 tube fixtures. When we next relamp, we will install an LED tube.
I am going to install led tubes in my shop at home. Most of the fixtures I have have electronic ballasts already. I have a 2 boxes of led tubes that are just plug and play( and I can't break them).
My rambling point is that you need to look at the costs (locally) to replace vs to to upgrade. 4' tubes are common and now cheap. Consult with a local electrical wholesaler Most should have a lighting specialist that can make some recommendations as to what way to go. There may be government rebates the could offset the costs making farming out the work cheaper than doing it yourself. The wholesaler may be able to advise you on that as well.
Good luck with your project, Cam

Greatwestcam · Nov 21, 2017

When I worked at the dealership they changed all the lighting in all their stores and shops from sodium halide type to LED, said it cost them about 2 mil to do but pay back would be 3 to 4 years. Was nice and bright and didn't have to wait for the lights to warm up and come on.

Delmer · Nov 21, 2017

That seems like a good solution for you. I've used the 4' direct replacements that work with existing t8 fixtures. I like them so far but it's too early to tell, and I probably don't have enough to really know how they do anyway. There were cheap, (around $2) but they only work with electronic ballasts, and then you're still depending on the ballast.

Hobbytime · Nov 21, 2017

I have replaced a bunch of 4ft florescent bulbs with led, your only cost is the bulb, you throw out the ballast, its not needed and a simple rewire( instructions come with the new bulbs), you dont need new fixtures, they are just metal, what could go wrong with them, nothing, just clean up the reflector maybe some new bright white paint, but the leds are also directional so you can aim them too...

Crummy · Nov 22, 2017

I replaced mine a few years back & they are just great. I got them at home Depot, around $200/ea at the time. One of the pictures shows the motion detector I installed at the peak- walk in the door & blink! they are on. Hard to get pictures, those dudes are really bright.

Stickboat1 · Nov 22, 2017

hosspuller said:
Before you buy, compare the lumen output & color temperature of the various LED retrofits.
They are not all equal.

I understand the lumen output but whats the color tempurature all about??

Tinkerer · Nov 22, 2017

Stickboat1 said:
I understand the lumen output but whats the color temperature all about??

Kinda like a pale yellow light to a very bright white/ blueish light.

ol'stonebreaker · Nov 22, 2017

I recently bought and installed eight 4' 2 tube LED shop lites in my 2 car garage/shop. 4100 lumen, 5k color temp. What a difference compared to the CFL's I had!!
Mike

hosspuller · Nov 22, 2017

Color temperature is the color of the light from the lamps/led. It's measured in degrees Kelvin or just "K" If you heat up a metal object, the object appears to glow. Depending on the Kelvin temperature that the metal object is being heated at, the glow will be various colors, such as orange, yellow or blue. The color temperature of light bulbs (lamps) is meant to replicate the Kelvin temperature of the metal object.

For example... 3000k is warm white like a regular filament bulb. 4000 k is a cool white fluorescent bulb. 6000K is Sunlight at noon. 10,000 K is a purple light from a HID auto headlight

kenh · Nov 22, 2017

Anyone try this brand? I prefer the 5K ones.
https://www.amazon.com/Hyperikon-Du...id=1511365715&sr=8-4&keywords=led+4+foot+tube

Old Doug · Nov 23, 2017

The power company had a crew that came around and switched the shops 6 footers over. They also did the store by the shop and the school in town.

alskdjfhg · Nov 23, 2017

I put some LED's in my building. Bought them off Ebay, advertised as made in USA (Asutin TX to be exact), about 150-200 each for 4 bulb 4'ers with fixture and bulbs.

But I've already had one bulb go bad totally, and another one getting ready to go. Probably only have maybe a few hundred hours on them, so very premature.

I've been finishing the rest of the shop with T8's.

Delmer · Nov 23, 2017

You can usually find cheap t8 fixtures around. Most commercial fixtures will be an instant start electronic ballast that will drive a direct replacement bulb like these for $5 each: https://www.menards.com/main/electr...062-c-7482.htm?tid=2892021016604278224&ipos=1 These won't work in super cheap shop light style fixtures.

I have about 40 four bulb fixtures to update, but they're original t12 so these bulbs won't work without new ballasts, and I might as well rewire for direct wire 120V leds if I'm gonna rewire, except the cost vs is it better to have the ballast in the bulb or a t8 ballast driving an led lamp it wasn't designed for?

Ronsii · Nov 23, 2017

Would be interesting to do a side by side comparison with wattmeters to see if the ballast in between takes more light or any other differences there are.... If only I had more time and money

In one of my shop rooms I run 5 of the single row LED 4 foot integral 'fluorescents' I'll have to look up the lumens but I think they were rated at 12 watts/ea. and I gotta say they light up a 12' x 12' area pretty good

thepumpguysc · Nov 23, 2017

I've been shopping this morning online & found 4' LED shop lites at RURAL KING for 18.88, 4500 lumens.
Gotta figure the shipping tho..

JS300 · Nov 25, 2017

I did this last year in our store. Think I replaced 26 8’ bulbs. I just wired around the ballast and left it in place. The new lights are so bright the girls complaned about them for the first couple months, said they hurt their eyes when they turned them on in the morning. These stay on a minimum of 16 hrs a day and we haven’t had an issue. We replaced our canopy lights with LED fixtures about 5 years ago and still haven’t had a problem. The LEDs are high but definitely pay for themselves fairly quick. Not sure if it matters or not but I bought the more expensive bulbs. Think they were around $25 each. I always get the “daylight” bulbs.

thepumpguysc · Nov 25, 2017

I went to order the Rural King lites & they're outta stock online.. 4500 AND 5000 lumens..

JS300 · Nov 25, 2017

I reviewed my Amazon order and the ones I bought were Hyperikon 5000k, 2240 lumens, in “crystal white glow”. Been very happy with them. It’s hard to say how much you really save when you figure these put off no measurable heat, no ballast, and seem to last forever.

We are going through close to a million dollar LED lighting upgrade at the plant right now. Thats just for parts. Doing it as the budget allows. I sure hope we get it done before the next best thing comes out

Replace fluorescent with led-- shop lights

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