4' & 8' Strip Fixtures LESS ballasts.

[Spudland_Dave]

Any source out there for HIGH QUALITY T8 Strip fixtures without ballasts? Just complete Pan & Trim kits? Still debating on my garage lighting...ran into an electrician yesterday and we were talking lighting, specifically my frustration finding "permanent Install" strip lighting. He was telling me the reason I'm not finding much is there are so many options in terms of colors, CRI, and other specs that everybody is just going with the Retrofit LED "T8" bulbs which allows for easy change and tuning of the light.

So now I'm kinda switching gears and looking go down that road...just seems silly to me to buy complete fixtures just to chuck the ballasts. And if I'm gonna do this, may as well install some nice quality stuff...

Also confusing to me is exactly what is a retrofit? Is this to retrofit an extisting strip? is this complete? Etc..
https://www.1000bulbs.com/product/113939/TF-4RB422T8L11.html?utm_source=SmartFeedGoogleBase&utm_medium=Shopping&utm_term=TF-4RB422T8L11&utm_content=Commercial+Retrofit+Kits&utm_campaign=SmartFeedGoogleBaseShopping&gclid=CLy6o9e41cUCFdCPHwodL7gAIQ

THX

 

[doolots]

Those retrofits are just the top of the fixture with the tombstone mounts located on them to retro from t12 to t8. So it is not a complete fixture.

I have not seen any empty shells for sale ever. We just tossed out about 25 old t12 8ft fixtures from my work to install new led lights. The led is so much better its not even funny.

 

[cybrdyke]

In order to get UL, the fixture has to have ballasts and sockets installed. That's why you are finding it difficult to find an empty chassis.
The kit you show is just a way to convert a fixture from one style of lamp to another.....T12>T8, for instance, but 90% of the time it's not necessary.
The current trend in the industry is to just keep the fixture the way it is, and install LED tubes that dont require any re-wiring or modifying of the fixture. These tubes are available at most electrical supply houses and even at the big box stores.
Good luck.
CD

 

[cybrdyke]

Why not look at some nice LED strips?
Philips Fluxstream EZ are great fixtures......

Can be had for around $100 each.
Another option, and it's the cheapest way....is to just use fluorescent lamps. Unless you run your lights 12-15 hours per day, these will be overall the cheapest option.
On a personal note, at the risk of getting flamed...electricians are installers of light fixtures and in general (yes there are exceptions) aren't lighting experts.
Good luck
CD

 

[Spudland_Dave]

The current trend in the industry is to just keep the fixture the way it is, and install LED tubes that dont require any re-wiring or modifying of the fixture. These tubes are available at most electrical supply houses and even at the big box stores.
Good luck.
CD

I've heard & seen this, but from what I can tell there is only labor savings, the actual energy consumption isn't as efficient as the "no ballast" direct wire type. So for people who cant wire, or big expensive retrofit jobs, its a feel good option.

Why not look at some nice LED strips?
Philips Fluxstream EZ are great fixtures......
Can be had for around $100 each.

You mentioned the issue...$100 each. If I only needed a couple it wouldn't be a big deal, but when you need 27 fixtures.... If I were made of money I'd buy the Lithona Z series LED Strips.

Cost/Lumen is not in the strip's favor....the Phillips I found:
http://www.bulbs.com/product/BN140C-LED38S-840-PSU-L1200?RefId=1473

94.00 for 4000 lumens. With a retrofit style looking at +/- 1800 LM per bulb at about 15 bucks per bulb...Bonus here is I can get 5000k, 6000k, etc.. the Fluxstreams I found max out at 4000k which I think is too yellow...
Lithonia has what I want...at $167 per fixture... 5k to light the shop...no way, no how. My wife stays home to raise our kids...I'm just trying to make something out of nothing...I know I cant afford what I want, just trying to come up with an affordable, common sense solution without having to resort to T8's...

 

[mtbmitch]

You might look in craigs list for a restaurant that has changed over and has a bunch of fixtures for sale cheap. Just rewire and save big $$$

 

[Spudland_Dave]

You might look in craigs list for a restaurant that has changed over and has a bunch of fixtures for sale cheap. Just rewire and save big $$$

Yes...that's a plan. I'm kicking myself in the A$$ right now...last year I was offered and turned down a pickup truck load of T12 fixtures...they were 4 bulb, 8' long...all nice quality older stuff... Recently I was offered some 4 Bulb 4' long Troffer units...passed on those too.

 

[cybrdyke]

the actual energy consumption isn't as efficient as the "no ballast" direct wire type.

It's about the same these days....

So if you need 27 fixtures and money is tight, I dont see how you can beat the T8's. I realize that's not the desired goal, but even if you can find some donated T8 strips, you'll still have to rewire the fixture, replace all the sockets and buy $30 worth of tubes (x 27). At that point, I think I'd just succumb and put $5 worth of T8 lamps in.
But that's just me....
Good luck.
CD

 

[Platonic Solid]

You actually can buy a 4ft strip light without a ballast at Goodmart.com for $32, but why do that when you can buy this Cooper Metalux for $16.85 and chuck the POS $2 ballast. We covered the LED retrofit thing starting on pg 3 post #53 of The Best Light Fixture Ever! thread. And yeah, like CD said, if money is tight, fluorescent is still the best bang for the buck.