The Best Light Fixture Ever!

[kimokalihi]

Here's the wiring where the lights and door motor used to be before I bought the house.





Here's another pic I dug up from my phone. I can take better ones if it helps.



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[kimokalihi]

This LED fixture is great for large garages, hangars, shops, etc. We will do lighting layouts for you also.

http://primelights.com/LED-6-Lamp-T8-Highbay-Fixture-120-Watts-PL-6HBLD120.htm

Would one of those light up the entire garage? I'd rather have at least two to spread the light out better when I have a car in the garage working on it.

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[Platonic Solid]

Would one of those light up the entire garage? I'd rather have at least two to spread the light out better when I have a car in the garage working on it.

That post is spam and the completely wrong fixture for you application. If I had to guess, I'd say your ceiling is 9ft. You do not need fixtures with reflectors, nor do you want high lumen high bay fixtures. sailah did it right. Please take the time and review the Light Fixture Layout thread in my sig below. If you have specific fixture questions, please start your own thread. This thread is intended to provide up-to-date info on the best bang for the buck technology.

 

[sailah]

As a follow up to the best light fixture. .. I was tempted by some $20 fixtures both Lowe's and home depot had. When I took them out of the box they were to flimsy for words. Plus they had no knockout to gang them end to end. The wrap lithonia sb232 are pretty decent considering the price. And easy to install.

I'm glad I read both of the light fixture threads or I would have bought regular shop lights with bare bulbs.

 

[sailah]

An interesting note, a number of my SB232 fixtures came with 120-277v ballasts, others were marked 120v only



Here's the remaining shots of the garage





And I added another under the door

 

[scheu]

Updated Spread Sheet: Lighting System Comparison
Add James Industry LED Retrofit
Rem Obsolete Cree LED
Rem Obsolete Osram LED
Verify-update all links

I've been waiting for this particular James Industry lamp to be available for online purchase without the insane China shipping charges and now it is. Available at Shineretrofits for $12.99 ea. I've been testing their 18W version for the last 6 months without any issues. This is the beginning of the transition where LED becomes more cost effective than Fluorescent. If you factor in the Lumen per Watt efficacy, this lamp actually beats everything on the spreadsheet.

As discussed in other threads, avoid sharp point LED light source with the frosted lens option.

Platonic Solid- Have you found a supplier of the james industry bulbs that doesn't have a minimum order of 30? Am I understanding correctly that these don't require a ballast? Lastly, can you recommend a well built but affordable 4' fixture (with knock outs, surface mounted) that I could use with these bulbs (if I can get them w/o buying 30+)? Thanks, scheu

 

[Platonic Solid]

Platonic Solid- Have you found a supplier of the james industry bulbs that doesn't have a minimum order of 30?

Not yet.

Am I understanding correctly that these don't require a ballast?

You are correct.

Lastly, can you recommend a well built but affordable 4' fixture (with knock outs, surface mounted) that I could use with these bulbs?

I'd welcome any assistance in finding these as well. I can get enclosures quite cheap, but only in large 200-500 piece quantities.

Here's the short list so far:

Cooper SSF 2 lamp strip light FleetFarm $16.85 (toss ballast and rewire)

 

[BruceMc]

I'd welcome any assistance in finding these as well. I can get enclosures quite cheap, but only in large 200-500 piece quantities.

Browsing around the supplier you linked to, I was looking at these -

http://www.shineretrofits.com/shop-...icient-light-fixtures/led-ready-fixtures.html

Nothing stands out to you there?

 

[Platonic Solid]

Browsing around the supplier you linked to, I was looking at these -

http://www.shineretrofits.com/shop-...icient-light-fixtures/led-ready-fixtures.html

Nothing stands out to you there?

All viable. That $15.96 Maxlite works after you rewire it (the picture doesn't match the advertised product), though the PLT @ $12.52 is still the price winner. I can't vouch for the quality of any of these things.

 

[turtl631]

All viable. That $15.96 Maxlite works after you rewire it (the picture doesn't match the advertised product), though the PLT @ $12.52 is still the price winner. I can't vouch for the quality of any of these things.

Why would you need to rewire these LED ready fixtures? I read through the spec sheets for the fixtures and the lamps, but didn't find much about the wiring.

 

[Platonic Solid]

Why would you need to rewire these LED ready fixtures? I read through the spec sheets for the fixtures and the lamps, but didn't find much about the wiring.

Note the features state: "Designed for LED Single Ended lamps". The James lamp is double ended.

 

[turtl631]

I see. Which setup is more common?

I feel like this would be easier if I were in the market either one year in the past or future. It sounds like LED options will be significantly better soon, but I hate to buy a bunch of fluorescents now and toss them in a year or two. It's an annoying place to be on the development curve.

 

[Platonic Solid]

No idea which is truly more common. Seems like a 50/50 mix to me.

You're absolutely right about now being a painful time to be making this decision. Soon you won't be asking LED or Fluorescent, but which LED. The choice will still be difficult.

 

[soj]

Updated Spread Sheet: Lighting System Comparison
Add James Industry LED Retrofit
Rem Obsolete Cree LED
Rem Obsolete Osram LED
Verify-update all links

I've been waiting for this particular James Industry lamp to be available for online purchase without the insane China shipping charges and now it is. Available at Shineretrofits for $12.99 ea. I've been testing their 18W version for the last 6 months without any issues. This is the beginning of the transition where LED becomes more cost effective than Fluorescent. If you factor in the Lumen per Watt efficacy, this lamp actually beats everything on the spreadsheet.

As discussed in other threads, avoid sharp point LED light source with the frosted lens option.

Platonic Solid, I see no difference in the specs for the lamp you listed and this one. Seems to be the same lamp with plastic instead of aluminum housing, and $2.49 less money. That adds up when you have to buy 30. Any advantages/disadvantages to plastic or alum. housing?

Thanks for all the detailed info on lighting. It is timely for me as my 8' fixture ballasts are starting to die, and my supply of 8' lamps is dwindling.

 

[Platonic Solid]

Since I haven't tested their plastic housing version, I'm reluctant to recommend it.
There is a spec difference in lumen output:
Aluminum hsg = 2640 lm, 203 lm / $1, 120 L/W
Plastic hsg = 2450 lm, 233 lm / $1, 111 L/W

I would expect the aluminum hsg version to last longer due to improved heat dissipation.
Other than that, I can certainly understand the desire to $ave and they'll probably work just fine. If you do buy the plastic ones, please report back on your experience with them.

 

[C2 Turbo]

What about these bulbs?

 

[Platonic Solid]

MaxLite L18T8SE450 1,950 lm $16.90 = 115 LM / $1, 108 L/W.
Requires non-shunted lamp holders as both hot and neutral are connected to the same lamp holder.

 

[C2 Turbo]

MaxLite L18T8SE450 1,950 lm $16.90 = 115 LM / $1, 108 L/W.
Requires non-shunted lamp holders as both hot and neutral are connected to the same lamp holder.

Feedback on this bulb please? I was told by him today that he can get these locally in 8' fixtures (4 bulbs) for $115+ tax + 5 year warranty, OK?

Dealing with a local warranty isn't bad either.

Thanks

 

[Platonic Solid]

C2 Turbo - You want Qty 12 tandem 8ft 4 lamp LED. Thus 48 LED bulbs.
If you must have tandem fixture This @ $37.86 ea. (picture doesn't match add).
I think going the plastic housing James route is worth the risk @ $10.50 ea. even though you have to buy 60.
Total cost = $1084.32 (leaves you with 12 extra bulbs)
If you were willing to use the $12.52 4ft enclosure linked farther up, thus 24 2-lamp fixtures, total cost = $930.48.
Total lumen output of 48 plastic housing James lamps = 117,600
vs $1380 and 93,600 lm for the Maxlite.

 

[cybrdyke]

Fully plastic LED tubes are an indication that the manufacturer has progressed to using newer technology drivers and diodes, rather than the older products which required full aluminum heat sinks to survive. It's something that's easy to spot and holds true for screw-in LED bulbs as well.
CD

 

[turtl631]

No idea which is truly more common. Seems like a 50/50 mix to me.

You're absolutely right about now being a painful time to be making this decision. Soon you won't be asking LED or Fluorescent, but which LED. The choice will still be difficult.

Indeed.

Would this be a reasonable "easy button" choice ordered prewired for double ended operation for the James Industry lamps?

http://www.shineretrofits.com/us-en...-foot-2-lamp-strip-light-fixture-housing.html

$25.70, but its surface mount and I wouldn't have to rewire anything. Or I could save $10 each with the Maxlites and just rewire them. I'm planning for 24 fixtures so that would be a substantial savings. I've also never done any home electrical work and I'm hesitant to start going crazy with things based on prior 12V DC experience.

 

[Platonic Solid]

turtl631 - PLT 55027 2 lamp strip light 1000bulbs dot com $12.52. These bulbs are really easy to wire. Just follow the diagram that is on the lamp.

This Housing is no longer recommended due to excessive shipping charges.

 

[Platonic Solid]

Updated Spread Sheet: Lighting System Comparison

Add James Industry LED Retrofit Plastic tube
Update Philips Instantfit LED info

 

[ShadowRuleZ]

Thanks for all of the information and the spreadsheet! It's convinced me I can wait until next year, I'm sort of working from the floor up

 

[Chadddada]

I just picked up 16 of the Feit 4' LEDs at Costco. I am building a 30'x24' garage with 12' ceilings. Should 4 rows of 4 be sufficient lighting with these? These are the 3700 Lumens, 4Ks.

 

[Platonic Solid]

Chadddada - Unknown. Feit does not provide IES files. Best guess is aim for 80,000 Lumens = 22 lights.

 

[Chadddada]

Chadddada - Unknown. Feit does not provide IES files. Best guess is aim for 80,000 Lumens = 22 lights.

Cool, thanks for the input. I looked up what an IES file is and that led me to a lumens calculator also. According to this http://www.charlstonlights.com/led-light-requirement-calculator , assuming it's accurate, that should put my lighting between hospital and showroom - good stuff.

Not that it will provide too much light but I got enough color change LED stripping also to go around the whole inside perimeter.

 

[Winmon]

I am at a lighting crossroads with my 40' x 40' shop (1/2 of the shop has 14' ceilings the other 1/2 has 9'). It was built in '06 and I installed (13) 2 bulb 8' T12/HO's. I also have 2 HID (400w IIRC) in the 14' ceiling side (although the buzzing they produce drives me nuts). I am happy with the light the T12's are putting out.

I keep hearing the T12's are obsolete but yet they seem to be still producing the parts for them. Ballasts are still available as are the bulbs. I was at Home Depot last night and 90% of their bulb inventory was still T12's.

I am debating whether I should stock up on the T12 ballasts and bulbs since they still are readily available??? The ballasts I have been using are Phillips Advance ICN-25110-SC http://www.prolighting.com/icn-2s110-sc.html ). I will say I am not real satisfied with the light output of the last T12 bulbs I bought from Home Depot (Philips Alto F96T12/CW/HO https://www.1000bulbs.com/product/4672/FHO-096CW.html ) vs. the original bulbs I used ( http://www.gordonelectricsupply.com/index~text~27032~path~product~part~27032~ds~dept~process~search?gclid=CKP1ipeNmMgCFZKBfgodauYFxw ), though the specs are close.

Or should I start replacing the T12/HO fixtures (as the ballast go out) to T8/HO (although I did see in this thread the HO version of the T8 will be obsolete??) ballast/bulbs??

These are the ends my fixtures are using http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003GIS20S?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s01

Also I hear that the T5/HO produce even more light but I do not think my T12 fixtures will convert to T5's??

 

[Platonic Solid]

Winmon - Recommed updating all fixtures and getting a few more.

Total Qty.15, 8ft 4-Lamp F32T8 strip lights (thus Qty.60 F32T8 Bulbs)

Cost = $500 to $1000 depending on whether you go fluorescent or LED

Take a look at each of these links and weigh your options:

8ft 4-Lamp F32T8 strip light kits without ballasts
(use with LED lamps or buy your own fluorescent ballasts)

8ft 4-Lamp F32T8 strip light kits with ballasts

8ft 4-Lamp F32T8 strip light complete fixture

 

[Winmon]

Thanks SO much Platonic, appreciate it. Looks like my lamp holders are making it financially non-feasible to use my housings. Was not aware that they are specific to HO's until I did some research tonight.

Which sockets would you recommend, shunted or non-shunted?

 

[Platonic Solid]

Winmon -
Non-shunted for LED or Programmed Start Fluorescent.
Shunted for Instant Start Fluorescent.

Note: The James LED lamp will work with either shunted or non-shunted.

 

[scheu]

turtl631 - PLT 55027 2 lamp strip light 1000bulbs.com $12.52. These bulbs are really easy to wire. Just follow the diagram that is on the lamp.

Platonic Solid - Can these be surface mounted? Thanks, scheu

 

[Platonic Solid]

Platonic Solid - Can these be surface mounted? Thanks, scheu

Please see response #34 (linked) in Kevin54's lighting recommendation thread.

 

[cybrdyke]

I am at a lighting crossroads with my 40' x 40' shop (1/2 of the shop has 14' ceilings the other 1/2 has 9'). It was built in '06 and I installed (13) 2 bulb 8' T12/HO's. I also have 2 HID (400w IIRC) in the 14' ceiling side (although the buzzing they produce drives me nuts). I am happy with the light the T12's are putting out.

I keep hearing the T12's are obsolete but yet they seem to be still producing the parts for them. Ballasts are still available as are the bulbs. I was at Home Depot last night and 90% of their bulb inventory was still T12's.

I am debating whether I should stock up on the T12 ballasts and bulbs since they still are readily available??? The ballasts I have been using are Phillips Advance ICN-25110-SC http://www.prolighting.com/icn-2s110-sc.html ). I will say I am not real satisfied with the light output of the last T12 bulbs I bought from Home Depot (Philips Alto F96T12/CW/HO https://www.1000bulbs.com/product/4672/FHO-096CW.html ) vs. the original bulbs I used ( http://www.gordonelectricsupply.com/index~text~27032~path~product~part~27032~ds~dept~process~search?gclid=CKP1ipeNmMgCFZKBfgodauYFxw ), though the specs are close.

Or should I start replacing the T12/HO fixtures (as the ballast go out) to T8/HO (although I did see in this thread the HO version of the T8 will be obsolete??) ballast/bulbs??


These are the ends my fixtures are using http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003GIS20S?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s01

Also I hear that the T5/HO produce even more light but I do not think my T12 fixtures will convert to T5's??

Hey Winmon,
You can relax for at least a while. While the gov'ment has set out to kill off T12 lamps, your T12-HO lamps are not going away anytime soon. Nor are the ballasts that operate them. Semantics are important here.
Regular T12 lamps that HD and others carry are not the same lamps that folks used to buy. They are severly reduced in lumen output, but still use the same amount of watts. Your T12-HO lamps should be the same as always.
Please dont consider changing to the T8HO version, although it's an easy retrofit. T8HO is a real uncommon system and so parts are more expensive than T12HO. You are correct that T5HO will not retrofit into your fixtures.
Unless you burn your lamps more than a few thousand hours per year, I would continue to use them until you feel like you're ready for LED.
Good luck
CD

 

[Winmon]

Thank you very much for the info Platonic Solid and cybrdyke! Really appreciate it!!

 

[Brad J.]

Thanks for the great post.
I purchased a few of the 49455 ballasts with my current 8000K Octron bulbs and it's a nice upgrade over the ballasts that are in my lithonia 8 year old fixtures.

I bought 3 ballasts just to see if I like the light in a some 4 light paint booth lights I purchased years ago. I wasn't happy with the low ballast factor ballasts in them. Now they are bright enough to put up in the shop I'm converting from storage to work space.

But.. I can get the James led cheaper than going the ballast route with 8000k bulbs which are $7 bucks a piece. If I knew the light was even close I might convert them.

Thanks for the options and great advice in this post. I've learned a lot.

 

[Platonic Solid]

Updated Spread Sheet: Lighting System Comparison

Removed James Industry LED Retrofit Plastic tube - taken off market due to heat issues.
Aluminum tube $13 lamp still available.

 

[scheu]

PS -
Any thoughts on this bulb? https://www.1000bulbs.com/product/113268/LED-T8F4235041NB.html
I can't find anyone to sell me the James Ind. ones in a quantity of less than 30.
Thanks again, scheu

 

[cybrdyke]

Scheu--call your local electrical supply house. They'll probably have them in stock from a reputable manufacturer and will sell you however many you need. I hate to see people buy no-name brands from a mysterious website.
CD

 

[gpflepsen]

I've got a 24x36 shop that I now need to light. Leaning towards James Ind. ZY-T8-22W1200 and the PQL-55027. It pains me to see the much recommended PQL-55027 ( https://www.1000bulbs.com/product/154480/PQL-55027.html ) price for shipping standard ground. I've priced 16 @ $12.52ea and shipping @ $8ea. Seems excessive.

Thanks for all the info sprinkled everywhere on lighting and recommended products.