Brighter T8 Tube Lighting

[biljohns]

Hello All,
I currently have a two light T8 fixture (single ballast) in my garage. The fixture currently has 2 32w T8 bulbs. I looked for higher wattage T8 bulbs in my local home improvement store (Lowes) with no luck. I also read it is not recommended I use 40w T12 bulbs (diminish life of T8 ballast).

I found this online and am curious as to how I can run such a high wattage T8 bulb (with supporting ballast):
https://www.1000bulbs.com/product/111424/GE-40081TC.html

Recommendations and suggestions are greatly appreciated (not a home electrical guru).

Pictures attached of my current fixture and accessories.
(sorry, images are all uploading upside down)

 

[Showkey]

More fixtures, not brighter bulbs..........but .....drop in LED replacement bulbs would gain some light output and use less power over the T8.

 

[sz0k30]

Just replace it or them with Costco 4 ft LED's. Great lights.

 

[Cougar]

5000k or 6500k T8 bulbs would be brighter.

 

[ard]

Nice fixtures. Looks like there is a diffuser on it, so you dont have bare bulbs? Nice and neat looking

IMO, replace the bulbs with Hyperikon LED tubes. Cut out the ballasts.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00SSNPI80/?tag=atomicindus08-20

I did 30 in January- great to get full brightness in the cold too....

 

[cybrdyke]

Hello All,
I currently have a two light T8 fixture (single ballast) in my garage. The fixture currently has 2 32w T8 bulbs. I looked for higher wattage T8 bulbs in my local home improvement store (Lowes) with no luck. I also read it is not recommended I use 40w T12 bulbs (diminish life of T8 ballast).

I found this online and am curious as to how I can run such a high wattage T8 bulb (with supporting ballast):
https://www.1000bulbs.com/product/111424/GE-40081TC.html

Recommendations and suggestions are greatly appreciated (not a home electrical guru).

Pictures attached of my current fixture and accessories.
(sorry, images are all uploading upside down)

Hey Biljohns,
There are thousands of really weird fluorescent lamps out there. They're usually made for a very specific application. The lamp you've found is one of those. If you were to use this lamp, you'd have to change the ballast and potentially all the sockets as well. Yes, it's very bright. But it's uber-expensive too. It also has a very very short life rating, due to the coating on it. But, you could make it work.
The quickest, easiest and cheapest option is to get F32T8 lamps that deliver 3000 lumens instead of the standard 2850. But you might not even notice that these lamps are slightly brighter than yours. They'll run on your ballast.
Next option is LED tubes that will fit right into your sockets, using the ballast. Standard versions deliver around 1650 lumens, which is equivalent to your existing lamps. Brighter versions deliver around 2000 lumens, which will be a noticeable improvement over what you now have. Higher output versions will deliver around 2500 lumens. They all come in a variety of colors. There is very little lumen difference between the different colors so just choose whichever one you like best.
Next option is to bypass the ballast and use a different version of the LED tube. As above, they come in different lumen outputs and different colors. If you're ok working on electrical, then these might be a good choice. Be very certain to check the wiring diagram as some versions will require you to change all the sockets and some wont. You obviously want the kind that wont. It's called "double ended".
Next option (and we just jumped up in price a bunch) is to replace the cover that you took off, remove all the sockets, bypass the ballast and replace all that with a new cover that has an LED board mounted onto it. Simple enough to do. A little more permanent. No tubes or sockets to mess with...ever.
Finally, just replace the whole darn thing. If this is an option for you, then look for something 4000 lumens or higher and you'll have alot more light than you do now.
Good luck,
CD

 

[Showkey]

5000k or 6500k T8 bulbs would be brighter.

Nope.......bulb or color temperature has no effect on brightness, other things in play.

Example:

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[06switchback]

I doubt you would be happy or notice much difference with any upgrade with the existing fixture

I would replace the fixtures with led flat panels maybe 6000 lumen or more each

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I537 using Tapatalk

 

[Bert_]

Seems like fluorescent lighting is very misunderstood by most people.

Getting more light is not as simple as putting in a higher wattage bulb. You mentioned putting in an F40T12 on an F32T8 ballast, that combo in theory would only run the lamps at ~26W.

The reason being is the ballast sets the current that goes to the lamp. In the case of a standard T8 it is 265mA.
The lamp is the other half of the equation, it is what sets the voltage in the circuit. Different lamps, depending on the gases they are filled with, can have different arc voltages. I think an F32T8 is around 140V
An F40T12 is about 430mA at 100V.

The theory above is true for all discharge lighting (fluorescent, metal halide, mercury vapor, HPS plus some others)

There are only a few ways to get more light out of the same lamp, or at least the same length/shape. One is better phosphors, that is what produces visible light. This is why its not a good idea to buy the cheapest lamps you can find. Those lamps will not have very good output and probably worse CRI because they use cheap phosphors.
The other way is to run more current thought the lamp. That is what HO (high output) lamps and ballasts do.

Hopefully that sheds a bit of light on your questions. The only way to get more a lot more light is more lamps or a different lamp/ballast combo.


I'm not going to say much about the LED options... I don't have a good opinion about them.

 

[Jazz1]

I have a 6 light T8 bank over workbench. They **** however I did not know I could upgrade that bank.. I upgraded the rest of 24 x 30 shop with 8 4' double T5s' Now I can see

 

[yeldogt]

First -- the T8's come in various colors -- and the 4100k is a nice to work under. It's the color of halogen. The 5k and 6k ... I don't like as much. Some of the modified daylight are OK.

Second -- many of the T8 are within 20% of LED efficiency .. and better light output per bulb. Check the output -- if you replace the FL bulbs with LED -- they have less output (all the ones I looked at did)

You will have to add fixtures for more light ... personally I like more fixtures putting out less light each vs using the T5's or the high output LED's. The fixtures become blinding -- even with higher ceilings than your situation.

I get the desire for electric saving -- but .. why go backwards. Personally, the T8's are a nice light.

 

[Cougar]

Nope.......bulb or color temperature has no effect on brightness, other things in play.

Example:

[/URL][/IMG]

Should have said, they may appear brighter because of the different color.
A 5000k may be better suited for garage use.

 

[biljohns]

I would like to thank everyone for responding.

Reading through all the responses, it sounds like I would see marginal difference by upgrading the bulbs. I am considering just going in and making an investment in the lighting department for the garage (still undecided).
I will have to inquiry a licensed electrician and see what the cost are.

I am thinking 3 of these mounted to the ceiling would suffice. I like the look and would give me lighting in multiple directions:
https://www.aeilighting.com/collect...scent-vmax-4-6-8-lamp-linear-lighting-fixture

- 3 fixtures (~$660)
https://www.shineretrofits.com/aei-...arehouse-lighting-fixture-lamps-included.html

- 6 ballast (~$100)
- 12 bulbs (~$30)
- Electrician Labor & Supplies

I would say I should be able to keep this under 1K or is that short changing an electrician? I have never had electrical work done to my home, so I am not sure as to how much electricians run...

 

[Cougar]

I would like to thank everyone for responding.

Reading through all the responses, it sounds like I would see marginal difference by upgrading the bulbs. I am considering just going in and making an investment in the lighting department for the garage (still undecided).
I will have to inquiry a licensed electrician and see what the cost are.

I am thinking 3 of these mounted to the ceiling would suffice. I like the look and would give me lighting in multiple directions:
https://www.aeilighting.com/collect...scent-vmax-4-6-8-lamp-linear-lighting-fixture

- 3 fixtures (~$660)
https://www.shineretrofits.com/aei-...arehouse-lighting-fixture-lamps-included.html

- 6 ballast (~$100)
- 12 bulbs (~$30)
- Electrician Labor & Supplies

I would say I should be able to keep this under 1K or is that short changing an electrician? I have never had electrical work done to my home, so I am not sure as to how much electricians run...

Looks like those are meant for high bay installation.

 

[biljohns]

You are correct.
I didn't know the difference prior to research...

Not many options out their for low bay fixtures...

- 3 fixtures (~$150)
https://relightdepot.com/4x32w-t8-l...-fixture-with-cee-ballast-with-reflector.html

- 6 ballast (~$100)
- 12 bulbs (~$30)
- Electrician Labor & Supplies

With the lower priced fixtures, under 1K shouldnt be an issue.
What are my limitations as to how many fixtures I can run (outside of ceiling real estate)?

 

[yeldogt]

With typical height ceilings -- you need longer fixtures. Years ago the way to go was with twin T12 8' . They make 8' long T8's -- they have 4 4' bulbs.

Do you only have the one fixture?

 

[biljohns]

Yes, just the single fixture (dual 4' bulbs).

 

[cybrdyke]

Reading through all the responses, it sounds like I would see marginal difference by upgrading the bulbs.

I would disagree.

You'll get about 1800 delivered lumens from a standard T8 bulb when it's brand new. That's the reason that alot of LED lamps are made to deliver about 1700 to 1800 lumens....they want to match the existing product.

But it's easy enough to find LED tubes that deliver 2000 lumens, up to 2500 lumens. 2500 lumens is over a 40% increase in light.

I think that's significant.

Good luck,
CD

 

[nsula_country]

No one has mentioned ballast factor... Most resi/commercial ballast (low factor) are .85-.88. Normal factor 1.00. High factor is 1.12-1.18. This is how much current limiting the ballast has.

This factor has to be calculated into lumen output of tube.

Example. T8 32W Maxlite 850/XL 3000 lumen

3000 lumen * .88 bf = 2640 lumen
3000 lumen * 1.00 bf = 3000 lumen
3000 lumen * 1.15 bf = 3450 lumen

Ballast plays a large part in light output of a given tube.

CT

 

[cybrdyke]

No one has mentioned ballast factor... Most resi/commercial ballast (low factor) are .85-.88. Normal factor 1.00. High factor is 1.12-1.18. This is how much current limiting the ballast has.

This factor has to be calculated into lumen output of tube.

Example. T8 32W Maxlite 850/XL 3000 lumen

3000 lumen * .88 bf = 2640 lumen
3000 lumen * 1.00 bf = 3000 lumen
3000 lumen * 1.15 bf = 3450 lumen

Ballast plays a large part in light output of a given tube.

CT

You're right.

The figures for lumens that I was citing include ballast factor.

Standard F32T8 bare lamp is 2850 lumens. The 3000 lumen lamp is a premium product.

FYI:
Normal BF for T8 is .88
Low is .77
High is 1.18
1.0 BF is never used for T8, and is only made by one manufacturer that I can think of. You can also get to 1.0 by de-lamping, but this is rare and not horribly efficient.

Normal BF for T5HO is 1.0. Rarely is anything else ever used.
Normal BF for the old T12 was 1.0 or .9


CD

 

[nsula_country]

I was wrong. Maxlite 850/XL is 3200 inital lumens, not 3000. It's bright lamp! 24000 rated hours. Not disappointed at all.

With my 1.15 ballasts, I was looking at 3680 lumen per lamp advertised.

CT

 

[theoldwizard1]

OP - remove the fixture and replace it with a 4 "bulb" LED fixture.

If that is not enough you will need another fixture.

 

[Bert_]

I was wrong. Maxlite 850/XL is 3200 inital lumens, not 3000. It's bright lamp! 24000 rated hours. Not disappointed at all.

With my 1.15 ballasts, I was looking at 3680 lumen per lamp advertised.

CT

This^
Buy decent lamps, they might cost a little more but often have 1.5-2X the rated life and more light output. A lot more in this case.

 

[nsula_country]

OP - remove the fixture and replace it with a 4 "bulb" LED fixture.

If that is not enough you will need another fixture.

Why is it everyone says to "replace with LED"? LEDs aren't a magic bullet. Usually, any LED fixture under $200/ea is ****. It cost $300-500 for a LED fixture to equal quality of a $100 T5/T8 with premium bulbs.

OP's fixture appears fine. OP just needs to re-lamp and possibly ADD more fixtures.

CT