LED T8 Shop Lights. Retrofit. Replace. Plug 'n Play?

[Spike Strip]

Tired of replacing the Fluorescent lights in the garage workshop and want more light so would like to swap up to LEDs. I currently have 4 fixtures with 2 x 4' T8 standard 32W fluorescent bulbs in each. There are so many T8 LED replacement options out there, makes my head hurt ...

What have you all done that you're very happy with. I can bypass the ballast if that's a better approach, and not adverse to just replacing the entire fixture.

Yes, there are threads on this already, but they're dated as there seems to be a constant introduction of new (and cheaper) LED lighting over the last year and many of the posted links no longer work ...

@65swb45

Are these the ones you installed in your shop ? LINK

TIA

 

[65swb45]

Tired of replacing the Fluorescent lights in the garage workshop and want more light so would like to swap up to LEDs. I currently have 4 fixtures with 2 x 4' T8 standard 32W fluorescent bulbs in each. There are so many T8 LED replacement options out there, makes my head hurt ...

What have you all done that you're very happy with. I can bypass the ballast if that's a better approach, and not adverse to just replacing the entire fixture.

Yes, there are threads on this already, but they're dated as there seems to be a constant introduction of new (and cheaper) LED lighting over the last year and many of the posted links no longer work ...

@65swb45

Are these the ones you installed in your shop ? LINK

TIA

I don’t remember Alf, but I think so. Need to order a couple more. Been meaning to do it for months. Thanks for the poke.

 

[Waorani]

I just put 12 of these (5000k) in my shop and wish I'd done it years ago. Did the ballast bypass - wasn't a big deal. Looks like they're no longer available so not sure what's up with that.

Amazon product ASIN B00SUMEGSC

 

[e9999]

Not sure about differences in cost, but if similar prices, I'd rather go with a direct LED plug in without reusing the ballasts. One less thing to fail. Although admittedly you can find used ballasts very cheap or even free nowadays since everybody is converting...

 

[Music Man]

The problem with balasts is that they use about 35 watts!

 

[e9999]

another advantage, IIRC, of the ballastless LED lights is that you can daisychain some of them just by plugging in from one to the next.

 

[65swb45]

Tired of replacing the Fluorescent lights in the garage workshop and want more light so would like to swap up to LEDs. I currently have 4 fixtures with 2 x 4' T8 standard 32W fluorescent bulbs in each. There are so many T8 LED replacement options out there, makes my head hurt ...

What have you all done that you're very happy with. I can bypass the ballast if that's a better approach, and not adverse to just replacing the entire fixture.

Yes, there are threads on this already, but they're dated as there seems to be a constant introduction of new (and cheaper) LED lighting over the last year and many of the posted links no longer work ...

@65swb45

Are these the ones you installed in your shop ? LINK

TIA

I will have an answer for you in 3 days.

 

[Spike Strip]

I was actually thinking about you and those lights yesterday because I bought 6 more of these LED lights at Harbor Freight and was so impressed with quality and brightness I immediately thought they would be a great directly-overhead-work-lamp for your carb work bench and the additional benches you were thinking of building, and perhaps, some of the darker recesses of the Cruiser Bat Cave to help you find those long-forgotten nuggets ....

Every time I go to HF I see people walking out with arm-loads of these things. The secrets out.

Hey, after 30 years we all need more light!

But I still need to replace those old T8 ceiling-florescents so it will be timely info! LEDs really make a huge difference. Lemme know.

Thanks!

$19 with coupon.

Harbor Freight Tools – Quality Tools at Discount Prices Since 1977

Harbor Freight buys their top quality tools from the same factories that supply our competitors. We cut out the middleman and pass the savings to you!

www.harborfreight.com

 

[65swb45]

From what I understand, @Coolerman workshop has NO shadows!

FWIW, even with the 4’ LED over my carb workbench, I still have to use a handheld LED to check the passages in the carbs.

I saw Calico for dinner last night; he’s in town for a week. I offered him my old fluorescents to take with him back to OR.

OR is big on recycling, right?

 

[gungriffin]

I was actually thinking about you and those lights yesterday because I bought 6 more of these LED lights at Harbor Freight and was so impressed with quality and brightness I immediately thought they would be a great directly-overhead-work-lamp for your carb work bench and the additional benches you were thinking of building, and perhaps, some of the darker recesses of the Cruiser Bat Cave to help you find those long-forgotten nuggets ....

Every time I go to HF I see people walking out with arm-loads of these things. The secrets out.

Hey, after 30 years we all need more light!

But I still need to replace those old T8 ceiling-florescents so it will be timely info! LEDs really make a huge difference. Lemme know.

Thanks!

$19 with coupon.

Harbor Freight Tools – Quality Tools at Discount Prices Since 1977

Harbor Freight buys their top quality tools from the same factories that supply our competitors. We cut out the middleman and pass the savings to you!

www.harborfreight.com

These are what I have in my garage and they put out a ton of light. For $20 with the coupon, they are about as good as it seems you can get right now.

From what I understand, @Coolerman workshop has NO shadows!

FWIW, even with the 4’ LED over my carb workbench, I still have to use a handheld LED to check the passages in the carbs.

I saw Calico for dinner last night; he’s in town for a week. I offered him my old fluorescents to take with him back to OR.

OR is big on recycling, right?

For $20, just toss a few more lights up!

 

[65swb45]

So I put up the new light yesterday. Nice and bright, as expected. BUT...I put it up directly over the service bay, as opposed to the two eight footers, one on each side. Now I have shadows I didn’t before.

The good news is that the electrician wired the service bay with an overhead outlet, as opposed to conduit. So I just put a plug on the new light (leftover cord from a dead HF drill!). Can be easily adjusted to a new spot.

And I ordered another light 5 minutes ago.

 

[Krondor]

I ordered a 12 pack of these:
Sunco Lighting 12 Pack LED Utility Shop Light, 4 FT, Linkable Integrated Fixture

5000k off amazon. It isn't letting me post the link for some reason.

Turned my dungeon of a garage into a space where I could see the bolts I dropped!

Right after installation. Still needs to have the pull lines trimmed and zip tie the wires.

It was really easy to daisy chain a few outlets to the beginning rungs then daisy chain the lights together.

 

[KLF]

My garage has a pair of regular 2x4 troffer fixtures hanging in the main work area, but the ballasts weren't low temp rated, so they wouldn't start when it was cold out. I finally had enough a couple years ago and bought these:

Amazon product ASIN B00SSNPI80
Super easy conversion. Instructions included that show you how to wire up, definitely you want to get rid of the ballasts. Sooo much more light, they turn on no matter how cold it is, and use a lot less energy.

I put all the old bulbs (and a box of unused spares) on craigslist for free, guy stopped by was happy to get them. I was happy to not have to figure out a way to get rid of them, there is no place to recycle them around here.

 

[65swb45]

Which brings up a good point: anyone want my old fluorescents before I put them on freecycle?

 

[65swb45]

Well, the verdict is in: HF light=wow! Put one in the back room of my shop yesterday and...found parts ai didn’t know I had. Paid for itself instantly.

I bought the 4 that was the coupon limit, thinking they would be ‘good enough’. Now I’m contemplating changing one of the overhead junction boxes to a double outlet to see what happens with three of these over some other dark shelves I have.

 

[gungriffin]

Well, the verdict is in: HF light=wow! Put one in the back room of my shop yesterday and...found parts ai didn’t know I had. Paid for itself instantly.

I bought the 4 that was the coupon limit, thinking they would be ‘good enough’. Now I’m contemplating changing one of the overhead junction boxes to a double outlet to see what happens with three of these over some other dark shelves I have.

The only issue that I have found with the lights so far- they are so bright that at 1am, my body still thinks it is 1pm. They don't make sense how good they are for a 20 bill.