Anyone use these T8's from Menards?

[armorerr]

http://www.menards.com/main/lighting-fans/indoor-lights/fluorescent/48-wraparound-fluorescent-light/p-1656206-c-6354.htm

In case the link doesn't work, they are Model Number: TW232R8 / Menards SKU: 3483508.

I am familiar with Menards from my time living in Chicagoland but now that I am back in PA, there aren't any close (72 miles to one in Ohio) so I can't go check them out. They are $7 cheaper than the Lithonia version of a nearly-same fixture from HD (http://www.homedepot.com/p/Lithonia-Lighting-2-Light-Utility-Light-3348-2L32W-WRAP/100654395), and no tax since Menards isn't in this state. Even with $100 shipping (36 fixtures), that's cheaper than the HD option. A quick search shows them on amazon.com as well, same price, and while I'd get hit with tax from amazon, I'd get free shipping which outweighs the tax charge.

There is only one amazon review and it is not good, but that's a small sample size. Anyone try these?

 

[armorerr]

How about these from Home Depot? Just found them and they are in-stock locally, an advantage over the Lithonias (and a few bucks cheaper!).

http://www.homedepot.com/p/Commercial-Electric-2-Light-4-ft-Fluorescent-Wraparound-White-Surface-Mount-Fixture-CEW102-06/203725954

I will have to go check out them out but another thread indicates Commercial Electric has pretty high factor ballasts?

 

[Gary S]

I have lights from Menards in my shop, but I didn't use the ones with the diffuser. I feel that diffusers steal too much light in a shop. I use the ones with exposed lamps like this one.
http://www.menards.com/main/lightin...plate-titanium-shoplight/p-1385010-c-6354.htm

 

[JoeFin]

Not a big fan of that type of lighting diffusers as others have mentioned. Besides having to clean them every couple of months to maintain the original light levels - I just don't like the loss of contrast from diffused light

 

[Kevin C]

How about these from Home Depot? Just found them and they are in-stock locally, an advantage over the Lithonias (and a few bucks cheaper!).

http://www.homedepot.com/p/Commercial-Electric-2-Light-4-ft-Fluorescent-Wraparound-White-Surface-Mount-Fixture-CEW102-06/203725954

I will have to go check out them out but another thread indicates Commercial Electric has pretty high factor ballasts?

I have that same light above my bench at work. I agree with not wanting a diffuser, its not very bright. It's a good task light, but loses too much output for lighting a shop. If it has the same ballast that mine has it's only rated for 10,000 hours of life.

 

[armorerr]

Thanks for the replies. I have been waffling on the diffusers ever since "finalizing" my lighting plan in another thread. I believe I used bare tube fixtures in my last shop, which had a lower ceiling than my current one does. The only reason for the diffuser in my mind was to protect the bulbs, but that's pretty much an unfounded fear so far.

So, what's a decent 4' 2-bulb fixture with a residential ballast? I'm looking for a flush-mount, direct wire, value buy; not too expensive but decent (not top-of-the-line) quality. I would've thought a bare fixture would be cheaper than one with a diffuser and maybe I'm searching wrong, but that doesn't seem to be the case?

 

[Bmwsyc]

I also picked up 3 of the Home Depot lights, previously mentioned, not super pleased with them, had to replace one of the ballasts right away. I should have not pinched pennies on the lights, definitely you get what you pay for. They use a cheap ballast that doesn't wire like a conventional one, had to rewire the fixture for the conventional replacement ballast.