4ft x 2 ft Fluorescent Light Fixture Replace / Repair?

[JimmyPlenderleith]

Have a 4ft x 2 ft, 4 Bulb, T12 fluorescent light fixture in my hanging ceiling. Its been there since we bought the house.

About a year ago, the lights started to dim on all four bulbs. I went out and replaced the ballast and the lights seemed fine for a bit, but after another month or two they began to dim again. Flipping the light switch off and on several times will sometimes get at least two of the bulbs to go full bright. Once you turn if off and back on again though, they are dim. I have replaced the bulbs several times. Sometimes they are bright when put in, other times just dull. It even appears as if the bulbs are being damaged (maybe?) as you can see some black on the ends after they are put in.

I will gladly provide any other information, but wanted to get an idea of what I should look into doing? Should I replace the sockets? I can check to see if they are shunted or non-shunted and order new ones, but I didnt want to waste the money if the issue is the entire fixture.

We have a new box of 36 T12 bulbs I really dont want to waste by replacing the fixture with something new, but if that is what I must do, so be it.

Your expertise is greatly appreciated!!

 

[mike93lx]

Throw the bulbs on Craigslist and replace the fixture with LED

 

[gleman]

I agree with Mike. You already replaced the ballast. You'll drive yourself nuts looking for loose fittings or worn wires.

There's tons of Led options that are affordable.

 

[JimmyPlenderleith]

Would cleaning the contacts on the sockets make any difference? They look black and when I move the bulb around, the dimness / brightness will change.

Or is that just not worth it either and I should just get a new led fixture?

Is there anything special about the LED fixtures I need to look for? Also, do they take a while to get full bright when you turn them on? The wife asked that we dont get bulbs that have to warm up...but I think LED lights will go full bright right away correct?

 

[mike93lx]

Would cleaning the contacts on the sockets make any difference? They look black and when I move the bulb around, the dimness / brightness will change.

Or is that just not worth it either and I should just get a new led fixture?

Is there anything special about the LED fixtures I need to look for? Also, do they take a while to get full bright when you turn them on? The wife asked that we dont get bulbs that have to warm up...but I think LED lights will go full bright right away correct?

Instant on, even in cold weather.

The only thing I would spend time on with a t12 fixture is removing it.

 

[JimmyPlenderleith]

Excellent.....I will go that route!!

Thanks again.

 

[four.cycle]

fluorescents = never again.
LED only way to go.

 

[PoorUB]

I might consider saving the fixture and installing LED bypass bulbs, but I would have to be somewhat attached to the fixture.

 

[Sumboodie]

Excellent.....I will go that route!!

Thanks again.

Which route?

 

[tfi racing]

One single fixture? Don't waste any more time, throw it into the scrap bin where it belonged twenty years ago.

 

[cherokee]

I might consider saving the fixture and installing LED bypass bulbs, but I would have to be somewhat attached to the fixture.

Or be an el cheapo.

I have about 3 dozen of them. I just bought all the stuff needed to convert them. It was more inexpensive.

I have 8' lights high up in my shop, worst decision I ever made, not sure what I am going to do with those. Right now they just hang there power still goes into them, and they are really dim, other things have been wired around them. I hate being 24' in the air dealing with those stupid long things.

 

[PoorUB]

Or be an el cheapo.

I have about 3 dozen of them. I just bought all the stuff needed to convert them. It was more inexpensive.

I have 8' lights high up in my shop, worst decision I ever made, not sure what I am going to do with those. Right now they just hang there power still goes into them, and they are really dim, other things have been wired around them. I hate being 24' in the air dealing with those stupid long things.

I converted 22 - 4 footers in my shop a couple years ago. So far so good! When I had the fixtures a part I washed them and some of the older ones I spray bombed them white as they had yellowed. I really brightened up the shop. I was at the point where I needed to either buy bulbs and 3 or 4 ballasts, or replace the fixtures. I thought about it pretty had and almost started new, but went with LED bypass bulbs instead. A lot less money!

You can convert the 8 footers to LED.

 

[cherokee]

I converted 22 - 4 footers in my shop a couple years ago. So far so good! When I had the fixtures a part I washed them and some of the older ones I spray bombed them white as they had yellowed. I really brightened up the shop. I was at the point where I needed to either buy bulbs and 3 or 4 ballasts, or replace the fixtures. I thought about it pretty had and almost started new, but went with LED bypass bulbs instead. A lot less money!

You can convert the 8 footers to LED.

I have seen the bulbs, but 8' is just a difficult size. I am not sure what to do take them down and just replace them, swap out the guts so I can do LED's. Just not sure.

 

[Bert_]

I've always thought the 8' fixtures were a lot easier and faster to relamp. The spring loaded sockets are great.

I've installed a few 8' LED lamps. They work good, just a lot more expensive than they should be. You can also get tandem kits to convert to 4' lamps.

 

[sparky 1971]

I'm a little late to this party and agree that going to LED is the way to go. Now that that is out of the way, I don't recall ever seeing a 4' four lamp T12 ballast, the four lamp T12 fixtures always used (2) two lamp ballasts. Did you install a four lamp T8 ballast and then use T12 lamps?

 

[JimmyPlenderleith]

Honestly, I dont know a good answer to that!! The fixture was already there when we bought the house. Its a 4 x 2. When bulbs burned out, I took them out and saw they were T12 bulbs, so that is what I got a box of. When I replaced the ballast, there was only 1 ballast in the fixture, so that is what I replaced.....

EDIT - I am a *****.....apparently I replaced two ballasts in the fixture, not 1...I have a horrible memory. Thankfully my wife does not!

Also, could someone kindly recommend a good led ready 4 bulb fixture for the drop ceiling that can take 4000K Lumens? There are a bunch online and honestly I dont know which is good and which isnt

Again, thank you for your assistance.

 

[sparky 1971]

Honestly, I dont know a good answer to that!! The fixture was already there when we bought the house. Its a 4 x 2. When bulbs burned out, I took them out and saw they were T12 bulbs, so that is what I got a box of. When I replaced the ballast, there was only 1 ballast in the fixture, so that is what I replaced.....

EDIT - I am a *****.....apparently I replaced two ballasts in the fixture, not 1...I have a horrible memory. Thankfully my wife does not!

Also, could someone kindly recommend a good led ready 4 bulb fixture for the drop ceiling that can take 4000K Lumens? There are a bunch online and honestly I dont know which is good and which isnt

Again, thank you for your assistance.

These aren't bad. No matter the brand, they are all about the same.

https://www.menards.com/main/lighting-ceiling-fans/troffer-lights/lithonia-lighting-reg-4000-lumen-4-led-flat-panel-troffer-light/cpx2x44000lm40km2/p-1527143387298-c-1642874274491379.htm?tid=-284902523860922780&ipos=1

You could also get ballast bypass LED tubes for the existing fixture. As long as the fixture looks OK, it's the route I would go. The Amazon link is just the first thing that came up when I googled LED ballast bypass lamps.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08HPVR3TX/?tag=atomicindus08-20

I use these on page 4, but don't know about only buying four lamps. I buy them in case quantities.

Product Catalog 0818

IOWA LED LIGHTING PRODUCTS - TUBES, WALLPACKS, FLOODS, AREA LIGHTS, CAN LIGHTS, PANELS, RETROFITS, SHOEBOX, STRIPS, WRAPS, ONCE AGRICULTURE

sitler-supplies.dcatalog.com

 

[whateg01]

... that can take 4000K Lumens? ....

4000000 lumens is very bright!

I was going to suggest the 20,000 lumen lights from Menards or even the 15,000 lumen lights but it looks like you want to fit it into the existing drop ceiling and it would take some additional work to make these fit.

 

[sparky 1971]

4000000 lumens is very bright!

I was going to suggest the 20,000 lumen lights from Menards or even the 15,000 lumen lights but it looks like you want to fit it into the existing drop ceiling and it would take some additional work to make these fit.

I doubt he meant lumens. 4000k would be the color. A lot of people don't know any different, just what they read on the interweb.

 

[JimmyPlenderleith]

Yes, the color.....always nice to see my utter lack of lighting knowledge on display!!!

Yeah, I need it to fit in the current drop ceiling as I'd like to just drop it in, wire it up and turn it on!

I dont know if the fixture is good or not....the way bulbs go in, maybe have full brightness for an hour or so before dimming and the sides blackening, I think the fixture has issues.

Thanks for the options above as well

 

[mike93lx]

Yes, the color.....always nice to see my utter lack of lighting knowledge on display!!!

Yeah, I need it to fit in the current drop ceiling as I'd like to just drop it in, wire it up and turn it on!

I dont know if the fixture is good or not....the way bulbs go in, maybe have full brightness for an hour or so before dimming and the sides blackening, I think the fixture has issues.

Thanks for the options above as well

Git r done. I bet its in stock at your local store

Lithonia Lighting Contractor Select GT 2 ft. x 4 ft. Integrated LED 4000 Lumens 4000K 120V Commercial Grade Recessed Troffer 2GTL4 A12 120 LP840 - The Home Depot

The 4 ft. long LED Troffer from Lithonia Lighting delivers general ambient lighting in applications such as schools, offices and hospitals. Long-life LEDs, coupled with energy efficient drivers, provide

www.homedepot.com

 

[sparky 1971]

Yes, the color.....always nice to see my utter lack of lighting knowledge on display!!!

Yeah, I need it to fit in the current drop ceiling as I'd like to just drop it in, wire it up and turn it on!

I dont know if the fixture is good or not....the way bulbs go in, maybe have full brightness for an hour or so before dimming and the sides blackening, I think the fixture has issues.

Thanks for the options above as well

The ballast's are junk or wrong for the lamps. With ballast bypass lamps, all of that will go away. Take the ballasts out, connect all of the wiring to the sockets at one end to the hot, all of the wiring to the sockets at the other end to the neutral and you are done. Put the lamps in and walk away from it. If you go this route, make sure the lamps aren't plug and play OR single end wiring. You want ballast bypass double ended. If you have doubt's about your abilities, just swap out the fixture for the troffer in post #21 or what I really like, a flat panel like what's linked in #17, or if you prefer Home Depot, right here

Lithonia Lighting CPX A12 Lens 2 ft. x 4 ft. 128-Watt Equivalent Adjustable Lumens Integrated LED White Troffer Light with Switchable CCT CPX 2X4 ALO8 SWW7 A12 M2 - The Home Depot

The 2 ft. x 4 ft. CPX panel from Lithonia Lighting is the perfect choice for a quality LED panel at an affordable price. The cost effective and reliable luminaire features an A12 lens. This CPX configuration

www.homedepot.com

 

[JimmyPlenderleith]

That Lithonia is integrated LED...trying to avoid that.

I think doing the bypass shouldn't be too hard, I can definitely handle that.

Will have to get the doubled ended bypass bulbs and see how it goes. I will report back with how things work out

Thanks everyone again for the help, I greatly appreciate it.

 

[whateg01]

I was hesitant to go with integrated LED assemblies. I converted several 4 foot florescent fixtures to use regular LED bulbs. I've since replaced most of those with 4 foot lamps that have far more light, less, shadowing, and have thus far shown no reliability issues.

 

[mike93lx]

Same here. Every led I have is integrated. They last so long that it's not really an issue, IMO. I guess if you were in a shop that they stayed on 24/7, lifespan/serviceability could be an issue

 

[JimmyPlenderleith]

Does Home Depot or Lowe's have any ballast bypass bulbs I could use? Looking to go grab them, remove the ballasts and do the wiring.

I have two ballasts in the fixture..when I cut the wires for both ballasts, how does the wiring go into the fixture?

I can use T8 bulbs in the fixture with the ballasts gone?

These are the ballast bypass double ended bulbs I was gonna pick up'

HALCO LIGHTING TECHNOLOGIES 4 ft. 14-Watt T8 Non-Dimmable LED Linear Light Bulb Type B Bypass Double Ended Daylight 5000K (10-Pack) T8FR14/850/BYP3/DE/LED10PK 89003 - The Home Depot

Give your home a functional and stylish upgrade with the use of this Halco Lighting Technologies T LED Linear Light Bulb Type B Bypass Double Ended Daylight.

www.homedepot.com

 

[cybrdyke]

Does Home Depot or Lowe's have any ballast bypass bulbs I could use? Looking to go grab them, remove the ballasts and do the wiring.

I have two ballasts in the fixture..when I cut the wires for both ballasts, how does the wiring go into the fixture?

I can use T8 bulbs in the fixture with the ballasts gone?

These are the ballast bypass double ended bulbs I was gonna pick up'

HALCO LIGHTING TECHNOLOGIES 4 ft. 14-Watt T8 Non-Dimmable LED Linear Light Bulb Type B Bypass Double Ended Daylight 5000K (10-Pack) T8FR14/850/BYP3/DE/LED10PK 89003 - The Home Depot

Give your home a functional and stylish upgrade with the use of this Halco Lighting Technologies T LED Linear Light Bulb Type B Bypass Double Ended Daylight.

www.homedepot.com

those would work. They might have the same thing in a different brand. Look for the words "Type B" and "Double End".

You wire all the sockets on one end of the fixture to black and all the sockets on the other end to white.
You can use T8 LED bypass bulbs if you had T12 or T8 in the fixture.
Good luck,
CD

 

[sparky 1971]

Does Home Depot or Lowe's have any ballast bypass bulbs I could use? Looking to go grab them, remove the ballasts and do the wiring.

I have two ballasts in the fixture..when I cut the wires for both ballasts, how does the wiring go into the fixture?

I can use T8 bulbs in the fixture with the ballasts gone?

These are the ballast bypass double ended bulbs I was gonna pick up'

HALCO LIGHTING TECHNOLOGIES 4 ft. 14-Watt T8 Non-Dimmable LED Linear Light Bulb Type B Bypass Double Ended Daylight 5000K (10-Pack) T8FR14/850/BYP3/DE/LED10PK 89003 - The Home Depot

Give your home a functional and stylish upgrade with the use of this Halco Lighting Technologies T LED Linear Light Bulb Type B Bypass Double Ended Daylight.

www.homedepot.com

They will work, but are also 5000K. In post #16 you stated you wanted 4000K. It may not matter, but I wouldn't have 5000K in my house other than in the unfinished part of the basement or the garage.

 

[JimmyPlenderleith]

Thanks, my wife wants it "as bright as I can get it" in the laundry room, so I was going to go with 5000K

 

[sparky 1971]

Thanks, my wife wants it "as bright as I can get it" in the laundry room, so I was going to go with 5000K

That's probably as bright as you're going to get it from Home Depot. I did install some 22 watt 6500K lamps this morning though. Those are the brightest I've seen...yet.

 

[Bert_]

Thanks, my wife wants it "as bright as I can get it" in the laundry room, so I was going to go with 5000K

5000*k is color temperature. It has nothing to do with how bright a light is.

You need to look at lumens if you want to compare light output

 

[JimmyPlenderleith]

Ahh yes, that is right.....I will get it right eventually.....I know it said 5000K was like "daylight"

 

[whateg01]

The brightest bang for the buck I've seen is the 20000 lumen shop lights at Menards. Don't know if they really are that bright but they are bright. That doesn't fit op needs though

 

[sparky 1971]

Ahh yes, that is right.....I will get it right eventually.....I know it said 5000K was like "daylight"

5000K is referred to as daylight, 3000K is warm white, 4000K is cool white. I will say that with everything else being equal, 5000K appears to be brighter than 4000K to some people, myself included. I changed my shop from 4000 to 5000K, and even thought the lumens stayed the same, it seems brighter.

 

[Shiftless]

Another consideration is color rendering index CRI. Lower quality LED tubes have a CRI of only 80 out of 100. 90 is a lot better than 80. Less than 80 isn’t very good at all. Poor color rendering makes things look rather ghoulish.

 

[JimmyPlenderleith]

With two ballasts in there, do I completely unwire the load and neutral wires from one of the ballasts, then cut the other ballasts load and neutral. Use those load and neutral to wire up the tombstones on each end? That second ballast I just want to make sure I dont need to also cut the load and neutral wires from it and tie them in with the other load / neutral and tombstones wires.

 

[JimmyPlenderleith]

I completed the setup today and it works great!!

Thank you all for the information and how-to, I greatly appreciate it!

 

[nadogail]

LED is the present state of the art.

Just as we changed from Candles, to Kerosene, to Gas Lights and then to Electric Lights; we are now changing to LED. The next technology will be coming eventually.

Right now the most efficient technology is LED.

 

[Jmellc]

If you know how to straight wire sockets to circuit voltage, LED tubes are a good option. This bypasses the ballast and lets the tubes run on building voltage. 2 and 4 foot tubes are around. Beware of variations that feed line and neutral to the same end. You need nonshunted sockets for that. Most now feed line to 1 end, neutral to other, much easier to convert. A few tubes go either way. Be sure they are 120 volt tubes or 120/277. I'm sure your house lights are 120. Be sure to mark fixture with labels that come with the tubes. Mark L and N on the ends of lights, same on each.