The new ones are linkable. It states that 4 units are linkable. What is the limitation with linking more? Amp draw?
COSTCO LED shop lights question
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The new ones are linkable. It states that 4 units are linkable. What is the limitation with linking more? Amp draw?
I can only guess the limit is in the units themselves to pass the current. The 1st light in the chain will have to pass the current needed by all the other lights. But we're talking a very small current. 42 watts equates to .35 amps. All house circuits can handle at least 15 amps, so that's not the problem. Seems like they could easily have designed these to be more robust than that.
Coincidentally I bought 8 shop lights from Sam's last night for $25 each. They are linkable up to 10 units and have 3 brightness settings up to 5000 lumens. I bought them to replace the unopened lights that I will return to Costco.
Coincidentally I bought 8 shop lights from Sam's last night for $25 each. They are linkable up to 10 units and have 3 brightness settings up to 5000 lumens. I bought them to replace the unopened lights that I will return to Costco.
Do you have an item number? I’m not a member but could join. Thanks
The no frost lens in the SAM’s Honeywell ( Lights of America) is dealer killer...........that’s t how they are quoting 5000 lumens with little spots of light.
CJ7VFR
Well-known member
I bought the 10 pack of the Sams Club Multi-mode LED shop lights with the 3500-4000-5000 lumen output a few months ago when they were $18.90 each, or $189.00 for the 10 pack.
I can tell you that there are no "little spots of lights" when in use. Both frosted and unfrosted LED 4 foot shop light bulbs use small LED's in a long strip. The difference being the frosted lens helps to "soften" up the light a bit more, and also decreases the lumen output of the bulbs, making them look more like traditional fluorescent bulbs to me.
I have the lights mounted in several areas in my basement and garage. In the basement they are mounted just 4 feet above my workbench and there are no "little spots of light" on the bench. All the light from the LED's blend in with each other very nicely.
I also have 5 of the lights in my garage mounted up at ceiling level, and they spread the light out great all over the garage.
The only thing that the unfrosted LED bulbs seem to do is they are a bit "harsh" to look directly into versus an LED bulb with a frosted lens. Once you know not to do that, like you do with any light in your house, then they are a great cost to lumen output light.
I also have older "strip" LED lights that I use as under counter lights in my bar and counters in my basement pool room. These strips have an LED mounted about every inch or so and even though they are mounted up under the cabinets and shine down just 2 feet, there are no "little spots of light" that can be seen.
Just one continuous light, just like the old fluorescent light fixtures they replaced.
Jim
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There are multiple photos in the lighting section showing the hot spots created by the unfrosted lens. The same photos show the uneven beam spread created by the individual hot spot LED?
For some it’s a deal killer and goes directly to the quality of the light and tricks used to increase the lumens rating.
For some it’s a deal killer and goes directly to the quality of the light and tricks used to increase the lumens rating.
That's my experience as well, except 4 of them are above my gunsmithing work bench and reloader. No hot spots or "points of light" or whatever. Just bright, instant white light. Couldn't be happier.
Interesting. I only opened 1. There was no lens, just 2 strips of LEDs. Don't remember what the box showed lol. It's pretty bright, but I didn't have my luxmeter to compare it with my Costco FEITs (they're at a different house). The LEDs are spaced close together and aren't very directional, so the light seemed pretty even on the floor and walls, even with a 8' ceiling. I'll have to wait until I have them all installed before I make a judgement on them. They will certainly be much better than the fluorescents that were there before.
The cord is just over 5' long, which isn't quite long enough for me. I'll have to wire some outlets in the attic for them.
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Pretty sure this is it.
https://www.samsclub.com/sams/honey...hop-light/prod22050808.ip?xid=plp_product_1_3
CJ7VFR
Well-known member
What "tricks" to increase lumen output from a light source are you talking about? Aren't lumens measured by seeing how many hit a surface at a certain distance? I don't get what you are trying to imply here. Can you be more specific?
I can see if you are talking about a frosted lens bulb versus a non-frosted lens bulb.
I can tell you, as others have also said, that the Sams Club LED shop lights do not create any tiny points of light, or hot spots anywhere on the work surface you have them over.
Now, to beam spread, well, yes, the LED's do have a narrower beam spread by design. Due to the way LED's are shaped and manufactured they shine their light in a very narrow beam spread. So in the case of any LED shop lights, the higher up you install them the wider the spread of light is going to be.
Now compare that to a round fluorescent T8 bulb that puts out light all the way around it. This creates a 360 degree beam spread. Unfortunately this wide of a beam spread wastes the light that is shining up and directly into the light fixture. Even with a good deflector the light shining up is still wasted and not totally being reflected back down onto your work surface.
That is why the lumen output of the LED may be higher measured on an actual work surface versus the same lumen rated fluorescent bulb. The LED bulb is concentrating most of its lumen output downward.
How is that a "trick"? I must be missing something.
Jim
Lumens are a measurement of the light emitted from the source, not where they fall.
Manufacturers use clear lenses because frosted lenses block some of the light (obviously), so when they need to inflate their lumen figures, they use clear lenses. This leaves the bare LEDs exposed to the eye in the form of "little dots" referred to above. One glance into the exposed diodes and you'll be seeing "little dots" for a long time. Bare diodes are extremely glarey.
The diodes are very close together on the boards of these products. The delivered light from them all meshes together. I dont think anyone is saying that the light on the target is "little dots". It's the visual pain that is a problem.
CD
When I go outside, I don't sit there and stare directly at the sun.
Same thing when I go into my shop, I don't sit there and stare at my 10 5k lumen SC/Honeywell and 6 4500 lumen SC/Honeywell lights. I just go about my work. Hence, I don't "see" the problem.
I didn't buy these lights to solve some imaginary problem (little dots or whatever): I bought them for light. Which is what they provide - in spades. My shop is so much better illuminated since I bought and installed all those SC/Honeywell lights. I hardly use the original four 400 watt MID/MHD/whatever the fork they are lights. Useless POSs they are.
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This is the example Sam’s light published prior in another post on the light pattern best illustrated on the back wall:
That's it?
No offense, much ado about (less than) nothing.
No offense.
I would hope not.
Maybe I wasn't clear. I'll try again.
When bare LEDs are in your field of view, they can produce alot of glare and visual pain. The residual spots in your vision can last a long time. There are solutions to mitigate this, like mounting them high enough so that they aren't in your line of sight when you're in the space. Or, they can be recessed in a fixture, which also blocks them from being seen directly. There is no problem with the light that they produce.
If it doesn't bother you, then that's good. Everyone is a little more or less sensitive to these kinds of things. But imagine a mechanic or some other worker that is sometimes on his back or has to, for whatever reason, look up alot more than you. It can be really bad. And those residual spots might stop his work for a little while.
It's the reason that nearly every legitimate lighting manufacturer uses frosted covers over the diodes.
I'm not here criticizing your choice of product. Just trying to explain the difference.
CD
Platonic Solid
Well-known member
FTG-05 - Depending on the size and height of your shop and the mounting height of the fixtures, you may not have the option of not looking at them. Any light fixture in your field of view will affect your pupil dilation. This effect ranges from completely unnoticeable - to a minor annoyance - to actually damaging to your vision. Sharp point light sources, such as undiffused LEDs exacerbate the issue.
Telling someone that certain lights could damage their vision is like telling a teenager that loud concerts can damage their hearing. Most people dismiss the warning until they have trouble hearing or, in the case of lighting, suffering from macular degeneration. In both cases the long term damaging effects are cumulative.
Just something to be aware of when selecting light fixtures and bulbs. Given the option I'd opt for the healthier choice.
Telling someone that certain lights could damage their vision is like telling a teenager that loud concerts can damage their hearing. Most people dismiss the warning until they have trouble hearing or, in the case of lighting, suffering from macular degeneration. In both cases the long term damaging effects are cumulative.
Just something to be aware of when selecting light fixtures and bulbs. Given the option I'd opt for the healthier choice.
CJ7VFR
Well-known member
This is the example Sam’s light published prior in another post on the light pattern best illustrated on the back wall:
I guess I can see what you are referring to now. But I can assure you that you don't get that effect on an actual work surface under the light.
That light effect on the wall is caused by one of the LED light fixtures being mounted really close to the wall. I don't get that effect in either my basement or my garage because I don't have the lights mounted that close to any wall. You can see proof of this in your picture. The same Sams Club light mounted just a few feet farther from the same wall shows that the effect is greatly reduced.
Those lines of light are caused more by the reflectors in the Sams Club lights than the LED bulbs. There are multiple angled surfaces on the face of the reflectors that are there to help direct the light downward instead of out to the sides.
I can get a similar effect from my Sams Club lights when I use my hand and tilt them sideways so that the light is facing the wall more. In that way, I can see slightly darker and lighter lines of light on the wall leading up to the dark line that is where the reflector shadow is. In your picture, you can sort of see this on the wall to the left of the lights. If you look closely, you can see the shadow of the reflector at about the same height as the shelf above the tool boxes.
But, I can also get a very similar effect from an old fluorescent shop light as well. Just not quite as pronounced. I wonder if that is because the reflector on the fluorescent shop light has no actual angled surfaces, but is more rounded and smooth.
But as FTG-05 said, I can also say that the amount of actual usable light that I get from the Sams Club lights is far superior to the old fluorescent lights they replaced. The LED light is cleaner, sharper, and I am getting more usable light down to my work surfaces and general work areas instead of it being wasted up inside the reflector.
That, and the fact that the LED lights come on right away, don't flicker, don't hum, and best of all, I don't have to turn the light switch on-off-on in order to get all the bulbs to light up like I did with the fluorescent ones.
I always hated that, and it seemed that at least one light fixture would do that all the time, even with new bulbs and new ballasts.
Jim
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CJ7VFR
Well-known member
Thanks for the much better explanation of how lumens are measured!!
And I do agree with you on the fact that if you stare right into the non-frosted lens of the Sams Club, or the Costco LED shop lights that you will see little dots of lights for awhile. But to be fair, that will happen to you if you stare directly into just about any light, not just the unfrosted LED lights.
I agree you, and it is always good advice to not look directly into any light source for any length of time because if you do it will cause spots in your vision for awhile. But as an adult even thought you know not to do that there are times when you do it by accident.
How many people have Halogen floor shop lights on a pedestal, or incandescent light bulbs in one of those caged fixtures with the hook on top to hang it where you want it, or any of the newer LED work lights that have the array of LED's in them, or an LED flashlight with the round LED's that are sticking out of it, or all the other types of lights we have, and we know not to stare directly into them because we will get blinded by them and see spots for awhile?
There are always going to be times that we can't avoid looking briefly into a light source, like when you are moving around and one of the lights comes into your field of view as you said. Then, no matter what light you have, you will see spots for a brief time after that.
I just try to avoid it as much as possible.
You have an excellent point, and it can be said for any and all light sources, not just the un-frosted Sams Club lights. I happens with all lights.
Jim
Platonic Solid
Well-known member
Bottom line - Frosted lenses provide more even light distribution than clear = fewer shadows and reduced sharp point light source glare = a healthier more comfortable environment to work in.
dkroth
Well-known member
Costco Feit LED shop light.
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CJ7VFR
Well-known member
No one is doubting you about the glare factor. Anyone who works on vehicles for a living for example, can verify that a well placed work light can not only make you see what you are doing better, but cuts down on the glare and the occasional "Ah, now I am blind" that happens when you look directly into the light.
Jim
Platonic Solid
Well-known member
Ah, now I am blind 
Ironically, since I play with this stuff every day I probably experience that more than most. It's even more fun when playing with high intensity color variants and it taking 10 minutes to regain normal color perception.
Ironically, since I play with this stuff every day I probably experience that more than most. It's even more fun when playing with high intensity color variants and it taking 10 minutes to regain normal color perception.
CJ7VFR
Well-known member
Is that something like what happens when you come inside from shoveling snow and your blinded for a few minutes?
I always wondered why it did that.
Jim
Platonic Solid
Well-known member
CJ7VFR
Well-known member
driftpin
Well-known member
I was at the Ft. Lauderdale FL Habitat for Humanity & they were selling 4 ft "two bulb" LED lights for $160!!!! I know the manager, I was looking for him to show him the Costco LED lights for <$20. I didn't bother asking for him, 'next-time.'
The store has turned into a thrift store specializing in used furniture. They rarely have any good tools any more and fuhgeddaboutit if you think you're going to find any building materials.
The store has turned into a thrift store specializing in used furniture. They rarely have any good tools any more and fuhgeddaboutit if you think you're going to find any building materials.
Platonic Solid
Well-known member
For people in CT, Ocean State Job Lot is selling Maxlite shop lights for $15 - max 6 per visit.
Valid August 30, 2018 - September 05, 2018
Image linked to flyer.
Valid August 30, 2018 - September 05, 2018
Image linked to flyer.
I'm at my local Costco in utah and they are 19.99$ I want to add two more in my garage so I think I'll be picking two up.Are these the new replacement? Comes with motion sensor. Can only link up to 3. Same listed specs. $24 each.
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openwheelracing88
Well-known member
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these new ones use more power based on the specs, but you do gain motion sensor. Now sure why you need so many motion sensors in a shop though..
CJ7VFR
Well-known member
If you link the motion sensor lights together, do all the lights that are linked go on and off at the same time, using just one motion sensor from say the first light in the link?
If not, then it would be pretty funny walking thru the garage and watch all the lights going on and off at different times!
Jim
If not, then it would be pretty funny walking thru the garage and watch all the lights going on and off at different times!
Jim
kbuhagiar
Well-known member
Like under a car where the sensor cant see you.Not so funny when the light goes off mid-task and your stuck in the dark
CD
Costco is the master of gimmick impulse sales. These are going to be a problem for a lot of people.
Motion sensors are great if you use them in the right place and design with care. I use them to great advantage in an auto parts warehouse for extra light at the end of a dead end aisle. You might need to go all the way to the end 2-3 times a day for 5 minutes at a time so why run the last light 70 hours per week? Also the upstairs of one section is just bulky items and overstock. All the aisles have their own motion sensor since you are likely only going into ONE of the aisles so why run them all? There is some other light so if it goes off, you aren't dangerously left completely in the dark. Once a week or so you do have to do a little dance to turn the light back on. All said, any given lighting upstairs is now off 95% of the time.
Motion sensors are great if you use them in the right place and design with care. I use them to great advantage in an auto parts warehouse for extra light at the end of a dead end aisle. You might need to go all the way to the end 2-3 times a day for 5 minutes at a time so why run the last light 70 hours per week? Also the upstairs of one section is just bulky items and overstock. All the aisles have their own motion sensor since you are likely only going into ONE of the aisles so why run them all? There is some other light so if it goes off, you aren't dangerously left completely in the dark. Once a week or so you do have to do a little dance to turn the light back on. All said, any given lighting upstairs is now off 95% of the time.
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CJ7VFR
Well-known member
Not so funny when the light goes off mid-task and your stuck in the dark
Yeah, both of these are not good, which is why my response was sort of tongue-in-cheek.
You have to have lights that work best in your particular set of parameters. Motion sensor lights in a garage or work space are not really a great idea. Yes, a few here and there are good to give you just enough light to go into the garage/shop to get something, and then leave. But to have all the lights on a motion sensor is probably not going to work for the vast majority of people.
I remember at work when they first put in motion sensors for the lights in all the bathrooms.
They were put there, supposedly, to keep the electrical costs down because people would constantly leave the lights on when they left the bathroom. The downside to the motion sensors was that they were all set to about 3 minutes of no motion before they would shut off the lights.
That worked great if you were at a sink, or at a urinal *************. But if you went into one of the stalls to take a dump, and no one else came into the bathroom after 3 minutes, you would be there in the dark!
It was kind of creepy taking a dump in the pitch black. It was even creepier if you walked into the bathroom, the lights came on, and you heard voices coming from inside one of the stalls....
Jim
We picked up 5 of these from our local (Beaverton Oregon) Costco last week for $20 each. Each fixture has a switch that allows you to disable the motion sensor feature.