Another Flourescent Garage light question with Specifics.

[JohnMcD348]

I was looking in Lowes this morning with the idea of adding a few more lights to my Garage. 6 more total to be exact. 4 over the main Garage area and 2 more over the side work space area.

I looked at these units.:
http://www.lowes.com/lowes/lkn?action=productDetail&productId=163697-337-2004LU

http://www.lowes.com/lowes/lkn?action=productDetail&productId=163717-337-SS-240-120V-LE3-U

They were essentially the same only one was Residential and the other was Commercial. The type I have in there now look more like the Commercial units that don't have the end caps. They are T12 F40, pretty much standard type bulbs.

Now, my two questions. What is the difference between T12 and T8 setups? Other than bulb size. And, what's the difference between a Residential and Commercial setup? Would one be less likely to interfere with a stereo in the garage, flicker less, etc.

Thanks

 

[rodm1]

Some posts contradict them selves but Residential is what you won't I believe. T8 is electronic ballast with better light with cold start and some can run T12.

 

[Chris Adams]

I bought, then returned some of those. Failed out of the box. Then I tried Lowe's T8's. Returned them.
Then I got some from HD. They were awful. Still have two of them, which equals two functioning bulbs, one in each one...
Total crud at both those stores.

The cheap 9.99 ones at WalMart rule. T8's.
I have ten of those. All work, none buzz, none just light one bulb, none make static on AM radio.

Hate to say it, but Wallyworld cheap T8 are WAY better than the competition.

By the way, best price on bulbs is at Lowe's. The 30 pack kicks **** on price.
Bulbs are no better, but no worse, than the 2-3 dollar ones.
This is the contractor pack.

30 bulbs for less than 30 bucks.

 

[JohnMcD348]

I thought I would have to buy the ballast separate from the light anyway. So what you're saying is that the T8's are the newer type with the larger black crick unit where the T12 are the old metal barrel type? The two that I looked at in the post were both T12 units. I thought I'd get those since my other lights in the garage were already T12 so I didn't have to get different bulbs.

 

[rodm1]

I thought I would have to buy the ballast separate from the light anyway. So what you're saying is that the T8's are the newer type with the larger black crick unit where the T12 are the old metal barrel type? The two that I looked at in the post were both T12 units. I thought I'd get those since my other lights in the garage were already T12 so I didn't have to get different bulbs.

Correct, go with T8.

 

[1Garageman]

Sounds wierd reading something good about buying something at WalMart. But I am going to be moving into a house we just bought soon. Thanks for the tips! This website is the BEST!!!

 

[Falcon67]

I bought 6 of the $18 T8 shop lights (not any of the linked items above) from Lowes and have bought a couple of the Mega Boxmart shop lights. Both have worked well, so maybe I got lucky at Lowes. (run with that one) The T8s draw less power and light right up in the winter - HUGE difference between those and the old T12 units. I buy the bulk bulbs at Lowes and use 6500K items for the most light.

Just so you know I'm not "special" I bought a T8 15" dual fixture for the kitchen pantry (from Lowes) and the ballast lasted about a month. The replacement ballast (from Lowes) has been running fine for the last year or so. The ballast in the 4 bulb 8' T8 fixture I bought 2 years ago lasted about one year also. I buy ballasts when these go out even though the ballast costs more than the light because the track record for the replacements is good so far.

I have no FM radio interference and the radio is within 10' of 5 fixtures.

 

[JohnMcD348]

Thanks for all the input. I looked at both Lowes and HD and in my area, only HD had the T8's available. Lowes had to order them but they had alot of T12 stuff...

I think when I do this, I'll just get them 2 at the time since I'll be doing the lighting in sections. That way if I get 1 or 2 duds It won't be as hard to replace as if I get all 6 put up only to find they aren't worth the money I paid for them. I may get 2 from each WM, Lowes and HD and see if I can tell any difference between them.

 

[bucs012]

I too will be learning soon. I just bought 18 Lithonia, surface mount, T8, 4', 4 bulb fixtures at HD for my new 50x30 garage. HD gave me 5% off for the purcahse. They are marked GESB and are to light up in up to 0 degree weather.

I priced many other units (low bay) but they were twice the cost, or more.... when you add shipping.

Here is what I bought
http://www.homedepot.com/h_d1/N-5yc...splay?langId=-1&storeId=10051&catalogId=10053

 

[prc07nascar]

you got an item # or something for the walmart lights? i cant seem to find them.

 

[prc07nascar]

i meant that last post for Chris, sorry.

 

[Chris Adams]

Hi, this thread is darn near a duplicate of the thread above it
http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=44723

See specific answers to your question in that thread.

Funny, seems a popular time to be putting in these bulbs.
Chris

 

[Gizzy]

I bought 2 of the Lights of America from Wal-Mart 2 weeks ago just to try.Seem to work fine,went after work yesterday & bought 2 more.For 10 bucks...can't beat em'.

 

[merlin]

I looked at the lights at Walmart, too, but none of them were surface mount. They all had to be suspended by chains or whatever. Only Lowes and HD had surface mounts. I really wanted troffer (recessed flush with ceiling), but they didn't get those until recently.

I've got 8 Lithonia surface mount T8's up for about a year, and none have gone bad (yet), but one of them does buzz a little. They were the cheapest 4' twin tube T8's in stock.

Yes, I got the thirty pack of lights, too.

Billy

 

[jimmie jam]

I looked at the lights at Walmart, too, but none of them were surface mount. They all had to be suspended by chains or whatever. Only Lowes and HD had surface mounts. I really wanted troffer (recessed flush with ceiling), but they didn't get those until recently.

I've got 8 Lithonia surface mount T8's up for about a year, and none have gone bad (yet), but one of them does buzz a little. They were the cheapest 4' twin tube T8's in stock.

Yes, I got the thirty pack of lights, too.

Billy

why can't you surface mount these lights? you should be able to open up the fixture.

 

[merlin]

From what I read on the box, they were "not for surface mounting". The surface mount lights have 4 built in spacers that keep the box surface about 3/16" away from the drywall. I suppose, as long as you spaced it away from the dryall a similar amount, it might be okay.

Remember, that is the surface the ballast is fixed to, so it has to have some room. If ever there was a problem, and you lost a garage to a fire, and it was found that the lights were mounted wrong, you might get denied on your claim.

Billy

 

[jimmie jam]

From what I read on the box, they were "not for surface mounting". The surface mount lights have 4 built in spacers that keep the box surface about 3/16" away from the drywall. I suppose, as long as you spaced it away from the dryall a similar amount, it might be okay.

Remember, that is the surface the ballast is fixed to, so it has to have some room. If ever there was a problem, and you lost a garage to a fire, and it was found that the lights were mounted wrong, you might get denied on your claim.

Billy

sounds like an easy fix to space them even up to a half inch.

 

[Chris Adams]

They can be surface mounted. The ballast doesn't get hot like an old style ballast.
It also sits down away from the back plate.

Or as has been posted you can put a 3/8 'spacer' behind the light.




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