I’m gradually converting my lighting to LEDs. Most of my recessed lighting is already filled with LED bulbs. I have two 4’ two-tube fluorescent shop lights in the garage, and one of them has a ballast that’s going bad. These lights are surface-mounted–not hanging by chains–and I’d like to get something reasonably close as replacements. I’d also consider integrated recessed fixtures, but I already know what’s out there for those.
Has anyone purchased any 4’ LED fixtures that they like? Thanks in advance…
I picked up some T8 LED tubes on eBay when I converted my shop lights. I bypassed the ballasts, leaving them in place. Several of my old magnetic ballasts were nearing their end-of-life. Lights have been in use about 1.5 yrs. now with no issues. Video on the conversion process on YouTube:
That’s a very good option I hadn’t considered. I have no problem with removing the ballasts.
I have Hyperikon LEDs in use elsewhere, and found these on Amazon.
I think I’m just going to pull the trigger on these. I’d really rather yank out the ballasts than change the whole fixture. And the current fixtures look great, as shop lights go.
EDIT: I bought them… I’ll post a comparison photo with the existing fluorescent fixture that’s still working.
[quote=“Z-Waver, post:3, topic:192002”]Any idea what the color rendering index(CRI) on those bulbs is?
Poor CRI and strobing are my biggest issues with LEDs.[/quote]
I don’t think these tubes had a CRI rating marked on them. No strobing that I can see by eye. I did notice a bit of banding in the video image but far less than the T12 tubes. I went with a 4000K tube and that seems to work fairly well and matches the color temp of the 12V LED strip lights I use in the shop on sunny days, as these are powered off my solar battery bank.
You can shop around for a high CRI tube, I did that same for some Edison bulbs and found Philips makes a nice high CRI bulb. About twice the cost of the normal bulbs but a noticeable difference.
84 is not bad. It’s a bit less than Cool white fluorescents average a CRI of 89.
Even the Home Depot Cree bulbs are only rated at 80CRI(blue TW bulbs are 93). Although, I can definitely see a difference. Or more accurately, I can definitely notice and be annoyed by the absence of some colors under those lower CRIs.
I’ll give the Hyperikons a try on the next fluorescent replacement. I’m not yet willing to risk it on eBay ones with no stated CRI.
OK, I installed two of the Amazon tubes. They’re bright, and they’ll work well.
A couple of notes:
[ul][li]The instructions are… lacking. One printed step states clearly that all wires to one tombstone should be left disconnected, but the diagram below the instructions shows one end shunted. It should be shunted.[/li]
[li]It seems to matter which way you put the bulbs in, but that’s not in the instructions.[/li]
[li]My fixtures have two bulbs each. The tombstones are in mounts on either end that place the LEDs outward at a 45 degree angle from vertical. Fluorescent tubes are omnidirectional; LEDs are monodirectional. This isn’t that big a deal for me, and it’s probably actually better than both being 0 degrees from vertical.[/li][/ul]
Looks pretty good. The LEDs are clearly a higher color temperature, though there’s not enough colored objects to give any hint about CRI. The LEDs also appear to be brighter, but that may be the a false estimate caused by the color temperature.
Yeah, the garage is pretty plain. I notice a more uniform brightness from end-to-end with the LEDs… it’s sort of visible in the photos. I usually go for warmer lights, but in the garage, I don’t mind the cooler temperature. I bought 5000K and there is a 4300K (I think?) available.
Heh - they were simple in theory, just I-beams made from 2x4s… however, it meant first hanging the top beam to find studs, then removing it, then building the I-beam. I made three, to hang 8 bins. Spacing is absolutely critical! 1" one way or the other makes them useless.
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