2 car garage LED lighting

[USRobo]

I want to upgrade the fluorescent lights in my garage to LED. A lot of posts on this forum suggest to stay away from retro fitting LED tubes into the flouresent fixtures.

I have 4 fixtures with 2 lights in each, even though it will be more work I am willing to swap out the old fixtures and put in new if it makes sense cost and better light. Used mostly to clean my car.

Been looking at the Sam’s Club LED shop lights and Hyperion? on Amazon.

Need recommendations on what and best value to buy.

Thanks

 

[cybrdyke]

A lot of posts on this forum suggest to stay away from retro fitting LED tubes into the flouresent fixtures.

They're wrong.
You can to either run them on the ballast or bypass the ballast. That decision would be made based on the condition and type of ballast you have. They need to be electronic instant start ballasts. Even if they are, you should verify that the ballasts are compatible with the LED lamps. If so, go ahead and swap them for the fluorescents.
If the ballasts are not compatible, or if they're more than 7 or 8 years old, then you should consider bypassing them. Very simple operation. Then install LED tubes.
LED tubes are being sold by the millions to retrofit fluorescent tubes. Solid product.
Good luck,
CD

 

[USRobo]

My current fluorescent lights are instant on. Not sure about the ballasts but I believe they take F40 light bulbs.

Certainly would be easier to just change the bulbs. Any recommendations on which bulb to buy?

 

[cybrdyke]

If you have F40 bulbs, you'll need to bypass the ballasts. But it's really easy. They sell these at the big box stores and at local electrical supply houses. Look for ones that are around 2000 lumens and 5000k in color. Those are the most popular. If you can get a brand name, Philips, GE, Sylvania, etc...great. If not, dont sweat it.
Good luck,
CD

 

[USRobo]

I saw on this forum instructions on how to bypass the ballast. Does anyone know what thread to find it? “Best light fixture Ever”? (55 pages)

If you have F40 bulbs, you'll need to bypass the ballasts. But it's really easy. They sell these at the big box stores and at local electrical supply houses. Look for ones that are around 2000 lumens and 5000k in color. Those are the most popular. If you can get a brand name, Philips, GE, Sylvania, etc...great. If not, dont sweat it.
Good luck,
CD

 

[pgray007]

I got Philips at Home Depot that run great with electronic fast start ballasts I have. They run sales on them pretty regularly, making it very affordable and they provide significant, high quality light (eg no more “pukey blue/green” light).


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[USRobo]

Is this the bulb you used?
Philips
4 ft. 17-Watt Cool White T8 Linear LED Light Bulb
Philips
https://www.homedepot.com/p/Philips...590/206278131?keyword=Phillips+led+shop+light

Thanks

I got Philips at Home Depot that run great with electronic fast start ballasts I have. They run sales on them pretty regularly, making it very affordable and they provide significant, high quality light (eg no more “pukey blue/green” light).


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[cybrdyke]

Is this the bulb you used?
Philips
4 ft. 17-Watt Cool White T8 Linear LED Light Bulb
Philips
https://www.homedepot.com/p/Philips...590/206278131?keyword=Phillips+led+shop+light

Thanks

Those wont work with your ballasts, Robo.

If you're saying that you have F40T12 lamps and ballasts, then you need to bypass the ballasts.

CD

 

[pgray007]

Is this the bulb you used?

Philips

4 ft. 17-Watt Cool White T8 Linear LED Light Bulb

Philips

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Philips...590/206278131?keyword=Phillips+led+shop+light



Thanks

That’s it. If you watch you can usually find them in the low $5 range. Just make sure you have the right ballast. I believe you can find info on the Phillips website where they list specific tested and validated ballasts by mode number.


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[USRobo]

When I get home I will have to pull my bulbs and check the ballasts then report back before I buy LED bulbs.
Thanks

That’s it. If you watch you can usually find them in the low $5 range. Just make sure you have the right ballast. I believe you can find info on the Phillips website where they list specific tested and validated ballasts by mode number.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[cybrdyke]

When I get home I will have to pull my bulbs and check the ballasts then report back before I buy LED bulbs.
Thanks

Yep. Get the ballast number and I'll check it for you.
(or a pic)
CD

 

[Falcon67]

Nothing wrong with retrofits, as noted depends on the ballast. If you have tombstones in the fixtures that are "non-shunted" you can use the no ballast type LEDs. Non-shunted means the bulb contacts can be wired separately. A lot of cheaper T8 fixtures use shunted tombstones. I did one light in the trailer with bypass LEDs and had to buy a bag of 10 non-shunts off Amazon to get it done. But worked fine. When I find cheaper bypass bulbs I'll do the other 5 fixtures. Weight out of the trailer is weight. The drop in bulbs are cheaper, more or less, depending on where you buy them.

Also, I would shop Lowes before Sams. The bulbs in Sams seem to all be 4000K and rather orange to may taste for a 4K color. Lowes has a good selection up to 6500K. At least here, Lowes also has a better LED bulb selection than HD, and better pricing.

 

[USRobo]

Looks like I have an electronic ballast with 2 each T8 32 watt bulbs.

Do I need to bypass the ballast?

I will also check into the Lowes LED bulbs. I've been looking at these bulbs. but they are expensive.

Hyperikon T8/T10/T12 LED 4FT Light Tube, 6000K (Super Bright White), 2260 lumens, Dual-End Powered, Ballast Compatible, 18W (40W equivalent) Frosted Cover, UL (Not sure if it anyone has tried these and if they are worth the extra money?)

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01C9CMAQI/?tag=atomicindus08-20

Yep. Get the ballast number and I'll check it for you.
(or a pic)
CD

 

[cybrdyke]

Looks like I have an electronic ballast with 2 each T8 32 watt bulbs.

Do I need to bypass the ballast?

I will also check into the Lowes LED bulbs. I've been looking at these bulbs. but they are expensive.

Hyperikon T8/T10/T12 LED 4FT Light Tube, 6000K (Super Bright White), 2260 lumens, Dual-End Powered, Ballast Compatible, 18W (40W equivalent) Frosted Cover, UL (Not sure if it anyone has tried these and if they are worth the extra money?)

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01C9CMAQI/?tag=atomicindus08-20

You'll definitely need to bypass that ballast. It wont run any LED tubes safely. The next step is to see what kind of sockets you have. I suspect that you have the right kind, but to be sure, can you get a pic of the front and the back, including where the wires go into it?
I'm not a fan of 6000k color. It seems very blue to me.
CD

 

[USRobo]

Here are pictures of the sockets. The back is solid no wires. I forgot to take pictures of the wires. Can you tell what I need from these pictures?





I've got to learn how to remove the cover on the fixture without breaking it!!

Thanks in advance for all your help.




The next step is to see what kind of sockets you have. I suspect that you have the right kind, but to be sure, can you get a pic of the front and the back, including where the wires go into it?

 

[USRobo]

Here are pictures of the sockets. The back is solid no wires. I forgot to take pictures of the wires. Can you tell what I need from these pictures?





I've got to learn how to remove the cover on the fixture without breaking it!!

Thanks in advance for all your help.

The next step is to see what kind of sockets you have. I suspect that you have the right kind, but to be sure, can you get a pic of the front and the back, including where the wires go into it?

I went back and took pictures of the wires. They are definitely not shunted. So do I need to bypass ballast? If so how?
Thanks again.

 

[cybrdyke]

Yes. You'll need to bypass the ballast. You have non-shunted sockets, so that's good. You wont need to replace them.
There are two kinds of bypass tubes, single end or double end, either will work for you.
IMO, double end are easier to wire. Just cut the wires off the ballast, leaving long enough length on the sockets to work with. You can pitch the ballast or just leave in there, abandoned. Wire nut the socket wires on one end to the incoming black, and the other end to the incoming white. Done.
Single end is easy, too. Wire one wire from each socket on one end to black and the other wire to white. Done. (careful, some brands require a specific side of the socket to be black and white)
You will probably receive some stickers with your tubes warning folks not to put fluorescent tubes into the sockets. Use the stickers!
Good luck,
CD

 

[Lelandwelds]

What about these?

http://www.e-conolight.com/e-htf20a-hk50uk-p3.html

I am happier than I expected with high CRI LED recessed cans in new house. Probably go with those.

 

[USRobo]

Thank you very much! I will probably install over the Thanksgiving holiday weekend.

 

[dneiding]

Been looking at the Sam’s Club LED shop lights and Hyperion? on Amazon.

Highly, highly, highly recommend Hyperikon on Amazon. I bought $2400 worth of LED bulbs for our church. Super stand up company. Bulbs have a no questions asked 5 year warranty. We had a few go out after a few months and they sent replacements immediately.

 

[cybrdyke]

What about these?

http://www.e-conolight.com/e-htf20a-hk50uk-p3.html

I am happier than I expected with high CRI LED recessed cans in new house. Probably go with those.

If you're ceiling is 20' or higher, those would work.
CD

 

[Lelandwelds]

If you're ceiling is 20' or higher, those would work.
CD

25 ft ceilings. 2 fixtures 40k lumens (planned 24 x 40 garage)

OR

12. Ea 13 watt led recessed cans. Almost 12k lumen ( existing 24 x 50 living room. 16 ft sidewalls)

My "great room" is lit OK. Tempted to just throw up 18 ea 13 wat LED cans and be done with garage general lighting.

 

[SethB]

Highly, highly, highly recommend Hyperikon on Amazon. I bought $2400 worth of LED bulbs for our church. Super stand up company. Bulbs have a no questions asked 5 year warranty. We had a few go out after a few months and they sent replacements immediately.

Same here. Did ballast bypass with these 4' LED's (4 twin bulb fixtures) Took less than an hour and enough light now that I'm holding off adding more fixtures in the garage.

 

[Falcon67]

I bought 6500K bypass bulbs from HD, about $16 ea. No problems so far and they are riding in a trailer, not a static building LOL. I buy local and save the receipts - if anything blows, back it goes. Hey, a rhyme.

 

[USRobo]

The good news is I bought these lights from Lowes and they worked out of the box. No modifications required. 2000 lumens 4K. They are warm and put out just a little more light than my old fluorescent lights but the old lights are cooler.
I think I prefer just a bit cooler and more lumens. I want to try the Hyperikons but they are much more expensive.
Lowes $10.58 for 2
Hyperikons $11.45 each 6000K (Super Bright White), 2260 lumens
(I'm not sure the Hyperikons will be compatible or not?)
Not sure what to do?





NOte: The LED tube is on the top (Warmer and the old tube is on the bottom cooler)

Yes. You'll need to bypass the ballast. You have non-shunted sockets, so that's good. You wont need to replace them.
There are two kinds of bypass tubes, single end or double end, either will work for you.
IMO, double end are easier to wire. Just cut the wires off the ballast, leaving long enough length on the sockets to work with. You can pitch the ballast or just leave in there, abandoned. Wire nut the socket wires on one end to the incoming black, and the other end to the incoming white. Done.
Single end is easy, too. Wire one wire from each socket on one end to black and the other wire to white. Done. (careful, some brands require a specific side of the socket to be black and white)
You will probably receive some stickers with your tubes warning folks not to put fluorescent tubes into the sockets. Use the stickers!
Good luck,
CD

 

[Platonic Solid]

Lowes $10.58 for 2
Hyperikons $11.45 each 6000K (Super Bright White), 2260 lumens
(I'm not sure the Hyperikons will be compatible or not?)
Not sure what to do?

None of the above. Go for option #3 here:

GLL 48" 18W LED T8
2,664 Lumens per bulb
Universal Ballast Compatible / Ballast Bypass via Single End or Opposing End Wired
5000K - 120-277V - 148 Lumens/Watt
$8.99 ea. (link) - 10% off first order (save/copy code given when providing email) = $8.09 ea.
(bulbs do not qualify for free shipping)

 

[USRobo]

I like the specs on these LED bulbs. I signed up for coupons but it gave me $10 off not 10%. I will call them tomorrow to see how long it will take to ship and cost.
Thanks

None of the above. Go for option #3 here:

GLL 48" 18W LED T8
2,664 Lumens per bulb
Universal Ballast Compatible / Ballast Bypass via Single End or Opposing End Wired
5000K - 120-277V - 148 Lumens/Watt
$8.99 ea. (link) - 10% off first order (save/copy code given when providing email) = $8.09 ea.
(bulbs do not qualify for free shipping)

 

[Platonic Solid]

Yeah, I'm wrong. Sorry about that. It's only $10, but still an excellent lamp at a great price. I've already confirmed that they have plenty of stock.

 

[USRobo]

No problem. Helps pay for the shipping. Did you buy these. If so how did you like the 5000k color? I will be using them in my garage to wash and wax my car and I want to be able to see it clearly. The 2000 lumen 4000k seemed slightly warm but very nice.
Thanks

Yeah, I'm wrong. Sorry about that. It's only $10, but still an excellent lamp at a great price. I've already confirmed that they have plenty of stock.

 

[Platonic Solid]

I did not buy these. I have more lamps and fixtures than I know what to do with. I just did the research as a community service since everything I've posted is now out of stock. I can live with either 4000K or 5000K CCT as long as they're all the same CCT I'm happy.

 

[cybrdyke]

I think I prefer just a bit cooler





NOte: The LED tube is on the top (Warmer and the old tube is on the bottom cooler)

4000k and 5000k are the two most popular CCT's, so whichever you choose is going to be OK.
Try not having them on side by side. This fools your eyes into thinking that one is very blue and the other is very yellow, which of course isn't true. The real way to determine which color is best for you is to put them on the ceiling and then look around the area at things that are important to you...workbenches, projects, your car, etc. Look at the walls. Try not to evaluate the lights by looking at them, but rather at the light that they put onto things.