8' 4 bulb T8 light strips

[Rosco]

I have read most post on here about flourescent lighting....very awesome information!

I am going to light my garage (26X30, 10 ft cieling) with the T8 4 bulb 8' strip lights from Lowe's. I have a separate 200 amp feed to my garage so power is not a problem

How many of these lights can I run on one circuit? I have roughed in 12/2 on a cutler hammer 20A breaker. The lights will be wired to 2 3-way switches.

Any advice will be very helpful.

 

[rocco]

don't buy the big box store fixtures, get some commercial grade product from a local wholesale electrical distributor. better quality ballast with less THD and little to no RFI noise.

 

[tfi racing]

I agree with Rocco,you have to watch out on some of the ballasts at the big box stores.You can load your 20A ckt to 16A,divide 16 by the amps marked on the ballast to find out how many can be put on your ckt.A common number is .49A,your ballast may vary,each fixture has two ballasts so you should be good for 16 fixtures.

 

[Rosco]

awesome thanks! right now I plan on 8 fixtures with room to expand. Based on your advice I called a local electrical warehouse dealer and found 8' lithonia T8 strips, 56.00 a piece with bulbs. The ones at lowes are metalux.

How will I know that the lithonia do not have weak ballast?

Your advice is greatly appreciated!

 

[rocco]

awesome thanks! right now I plan on 8 fixtures with room to expand. Based on your advice I called a local electrical warehouse dealer and found 8' lithonia T8 strips, 56.00 a piece with bulbs. The ones at lowes are metalux.

How will I know that the lithonia do not have weak ballast?

Your advice is greatly appreciated!

Make sure the Part number includes either GEB10IS (instant <10%thd) or GEB10RS (rapid start<10%thd). Those are the Generic part numbers for the commercial grade ballasts.

 

[ScaldedDog]

OK, I'm now sitting on $1200 worth of these - 14 fixtures - but I'm not optimistic. The ballasts are Sylvania, and are labeled "non-consumer" and "outdoor", neither of which appear on the Spec sheet. I feel lied to.

Mark

 

[Marcusr13]

OK, I'm now sitting on $1200 worth of these - 14 fixtures - but I'm not optimistic.

Mark

Sylvania make a good ballast. Hope this cheers you up.

 

[Stargeezer]

The nine commercially purchased twin 8 foot T-8's I just installed came with a USA GE ballast in them. I specified USA made electronic ballasts. Paid similar price..

 

[dstryr]

Make sure the Part number includes either GEB10IS (instant <10%thd) or GEB10RS (rapid start<10%thd). Those are the Generic part numbers for the commercial grade ballasts.

The GEB10IS is Lithonia Lighting's suffix for the <10%THD instant start ballast, as in the spec sheet linked:

http://www.acuitybrandslighting.com/library/LL/documents/psg/L.pdf


Daybrite's ballast suffix for the equivalent is EB10I

http://www.daybrite.com/pdfspecs/1405-IF.pdf

Cooper Lighting (Metalux) is EB8
http://www.cooperlighting.com/specfiles/pdf/metalux/MX_IND_DIVM240_232_ADF020744_SS.pdf


However, GEB10IS(or other manufacturer's designaion) does not tell you if the ballast is from one of the 4 major commercial manufacturers. GE & Sylvania mfg lamps and ballasts, Philips mfgs lamps and owns Advance Ballast, and Magnetek manufactures ballasts. All are good brands. There are other less-known companies manufacturing ballasts that show up in commercial fixtures I have sold on commercial projects.


The big lighting manufacturers-Cooper Lighting, Daybrite, Lithonia, all buy ballasts from all the ballast companies. What ballast you get this month may not be the same ballast you get next month in the same fixture.


Stargeezer, I just checked the GE magnetic and electronic ballasts I have on the shelf- all assembled in China. I don't keep up with where all the manufacturers make their stuff but to keep on a level playing field cost-wise I suspect most are imported.

ScaldedDog,
Can you post a pic of the ballast label?


Hope this helps.

 

[1968rsss]

I just installed 12used 4 foot, 4 bulb, t8 fixtures in my 24 x 48 with 10 foot ceilings. Two rows of 5 8 feet apart and 2 in the center for additional light in the work area.

I am very happy with the results. I used to have 8 300 watt halogen shop lights and the lighting was poor and now I use about half the energy.

Thanks to the board for helping me decide what to do. I have about 100.00 into my relighting project with EMT, lights and some bulbs that didn't work after installation. Alot of people report RFI with T8's but I haven't experienced that with my install.

Mark

 

[Marcusr13]

Hey everyone. I have been told that commercial ballasts should not be used in residential applications, something to do with the total harmonic distribution? Would using these commercial fixtures be better for home use? It probably doesn't fit too well here, but I am just curious if anyone can shed light on this topic. A lot of people mention commercial grade, but don't company's have residential and commercial for a reason?