Fluorescent lights in Heat & Humidity

Every summer I have two fluorescent shop lights that either won't start or take 5 to 20 minutes to start, so the other day I received a $20. debit card from Home Depot didn't have a use for it that I could think of, went to the garage turned on the light and of course no light (the card) !! got looking and found LED conversion ( a best find ) Have to rewire fixture (easy) and install new bulbs, that takes the work when I feel like it ballast out of the fixture, and the new bulbs should last the rest of my lifetime. Highly recommended and brighter light.

Can you explain what it took to "re-wire the fixture"?
I've got an office full of fluorescents (13 of them! :shocked:), and it'd be nice to get rid of them.

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Originally Posted by Bob Denman

Can you explain what it took to "re-wire the fixture"?
I've got an office full of fluorescents (13 of them! :shocked:), and it'd be nice to get rid of them.

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What he asked
i've got a few in the shop that won't light in the winter

I know that they don't like cold weather... nojoke

Here's a couple quickie installs, but there are all kinds of video's on youtube and I'm sure you could find one just like your fixture and it's really not as hard as it may look.
A decent bulb starts at $20. ea but worth it I think instant start no hum or buzz, but I'm sure you would get a better bulk price.
http://www.toggled.com/installation-instructions.aspx


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2IOdfpvU8P8

Costco has LED replacement bulbs for any 4' florescent fixture that do not require any rewiring. They are around 40 for a pair. For 30.00 they will sell you a brand new 4' LED shop light fixture that you just hang and plug in. nothing else to buy. Of course you need a plug wired to near where the fixture will go.

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Originally Posted by AY4B

Costco has LED replacement bulbs for any 4' florescent fixture that do not require any rewiring. They are around 40 for a pair. For 30.00 they will sell you a brand new 4' LED shop light fixture that you just hang and plug in. nothing else to buy. Of course you need a plug wired to near where the fixture will go.

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I believe the lights that don't require rewiring need a fixture with an "electronic ballast" in them. Cheaper and / or older florescent fixtures will not work with them.

Read the instructions before you buy.

I didn't and had to update my fixture for those bulbs.

I bought this at SAMs Club, very pleased with it. It comes pre wired with a plug, so I simply pulled the light circuit wiring out of the old fixture and installed an outlet next to the light. I like that the new fixture comes with a pull chain, which is perfect for me in my laundry room.

Don't stare at the light when you turn it on. It will burn out your retinas.

http://www.samsclub.com/sams/4ft-led...art_view_87846

This is great! Soon, I'll be playing with the wiring in the office and house! :yes:

:shocked: Uh-Oh... :yikes:

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Originally Posted by Bob Denman

This is great! Soon, I'll be playing with the wiring in the office and house! :yes:

:shocked: Uh-Oh... :yikes:

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Stick to the plug and play types....:roflblack:

I recently did a job where I pulled all the sheet rock and put up a wood ceiling in a garage with 6 of those LED shop lights, and another one with 8 or 9 I think. They are pretty bright!

I'm hoping that they will come out with LED 8' tubes,i have 4 of them in my shop and 2 in front garage!

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Originally Posted by tobor9

I'm hoping that they will come out with LED 8' tubes,i have 4 of them in my shop and 2 in front garage!

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The 4 foot fixtures are linkable, meaning you can daisy chain them together.

I guess I just do not see the advantage to spending more money for less light. Don't get me wrong, I have LED lighting all over inside the house but use them where dimming and spot fixtures the LEDs have replaced halogen and incandescent lights.

There is very little energy efficiency difference between fluorescent and LED. Definitely not enough to cover the cost of replacement. This thread started off talking about fluorescent fixtures that would not start in heat or cold or humidity. Modern electronic ballasts have pretty much solved those problems and are included in even the cheapest of $15 shop light fixtures.

LED lighting makes lots of sense in many applications but replacement of fluorescent shop lighting is not really one of them. Just my opinion. Then again its not always about cost justification. Sometimes its more about desire. This is a Spyder forum so we all know about that.

I have some nice florescent fixtures in my shop. They have T8 bulbs but they are still dim and also take time to warm up to full brightness compared to the LED shop lights I got on my add on room.

I have fluorescent lamps in my garage. They don't work very well. I would have to spend $600 for a ladder just to work on them or change the bulbs. That's not going to happen.
So, I bought some hanging shop light LED units at Lowe's almost two years ago. I had to special order some for me as they were a new item that sold out nation wide when introduced! Each one has a pull chain so I can just use the one(s) I need when working in the garage.

My game plan is to disconnect the fluorescent lamps and have power cords hang down with a multi-plug, to plug the LED shop lights into. That way they will be on the light switch.
They are now plugged into the wall sockets.