Changing 8' fluorescent to something else
- Thread starter Rod N
- Start date
I'm watching this thread from out east in Fredericton, NB. Looking to finally get some decent light in my garage and have been avoiding the Chinese no-certification stuff. These Philips lights look to be ideal. I'll be removing the single socket light fixtures and buying the metal fixtures as well as the tubes. We don't have a Westburne close but there are a couple of of contractor type outfits like Graybar just down the road so I am planning to head in there next week some time. Keep us posted on this installation and thanks for the info.
I think that's the case. I have spent some time digging through the Philips website and datasheets and there are a bewildering range of led tubes - all high quality and with full certifications. As I have nothing to start with - I am faced with either getting the 2x8' strip fixtures or the 4x4' strip fixtures. It seems the availability of the Philips tubes are good either way and the specs seem to be the same for the end result. It comes down to the "look" of 4 tubes per fixture or 2 tubes per fixture I guess. Not that I will be standing out there staring at the ceiling once it's installed
Success!!
Removed the ballasts and the many wires associated with it. Pretty simple. Power at the line end and neutral at the other. Lots of marrettes. My only issue was a couple of broken solid core connections that I guess I tightened to much. Gave me fits, but 2 hours later I found the broken connections. Being glass it sort of freaked me out handling these bulbs. Comes in boxes of 10 and that was how many I needed. No spoils!
These are more than bright enough. Makes me think the plastic ones are not really putting out the output they clam.
Removed the ballasts and the many wires associated with it. Pretty simple. Power at the line end and neutral at the other. Lots of marrettes. My only issue was a couple of broken solid core connections that I guess I tightened to much. Gave me fits, but 2 hours later I found the broken connections. Being glass it sort of freaked me out handling these bulbs. Comes in boxes of 10 and that was how many I needed. No spoils!
These are more than bright enough. Makes me think the plastic ones are not really putting out the output they clam.
I always liked the long standard twin 8' tubes in my studio spaces. Not the HO's ... Just the standard big old T12's. They seem to have enough light and no dead spots. Some of the T8 are too bright and forget the T5's -- way too bright. Especially the multi bulbs fixtures.I think that's the case. I have spent some time digging through the Philips website and datasheets and there are a bewildering range of led tubes - all high quality and with full certifications. As I have nothing to start with - I am faced with either getting the 2x8' strip fixtures or the 4x4' strip fixtures. It seems the availability of the Philips tubes are good either way and the specs seem to be the same for the end result. It comes down to the "look" of 4 tubes per fixture or 2 tubes per fixture I guess. Not that I will be standing out there staring at the ceiling once it's installed
Since I have the fixtures and like the output -- getting the retro fix and using 4 x 4' tubes seems silly ... especially since I like the long tubes.
I wonder how many great old fixtures went to landfills.
Thanks for the update .... I'm going to try and order up some. Is the linked model number correct ? Looking through the catalog gives me a headache
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The differences between 8' and 4' tbes boils down to two things....handling and options.I think that's the case. I have spent some time digging through the Philips website and datasheets and there are a bewildering range of led tubes - all high quality and with full certifications. As I have nothing to start with - I am faced with either getting the 2x8' strip fixtures or the 4x4' strip fixtures. It seems the availability of the Philips tubes are good either way and the specs seem to be the same for the end result. It comes down to the "look" of 4 tubes per fixture or 2 tubes per fixture I guess. Not that I will be standing out there staring at the ceiling once it's installed
8' tubes are a PITA to handle. Shipping from the factory is a pain. A lot of the common carriers wont take them. They're easily broken. Getting them replaced is a pain. Heck, even swinging them around in your garage is a pain.
There are very few choices when it comes to 8' tubes. You'll be limited to something around 35 to 40-ish watts, 5000 lumens, and a couple of different CCT's. 4' tubes are available in a myriad of watt/lumen combinations and at least 5 different CCT's. Folks doing pro jobs will choose 4' tubes almost every time.
Not trying to change your mind. Just letting you know....
CD
Good points - I never thought of the pain in the **** factor. As mentioned earlier, I can go either way as I am starting with nothing. I would like to get something as high lumens as possible - perhaps the 4' option is the better one in this regard. I'm off to the Philips site again to study those. On a sort of related note - I stumbled across a bunch of 4' x 4 fixtures on a clearance at a local big box store earlier today - for like 15 bucks each - brand new. I need 6 of them for the garage. I could just scrap the ballasts in them and go with ballast bypass tubes and still save a bundle. Anyway, thanks for the info - appreciate it.
Look closely at those fixtures to make sure that you will have a method for mounting them. If so, you'll save a bunch.
I'm not fully aware of all the options that Philips offers, but if you're looking for gobs of light, then look for a 4' tube that emits around 2500 lumens. That's in the upper end.
sparky 1971
Well-known member
Studying the Philips lineup some more reveals that some are 180 degree beam and some are 240 degree. Not sure what the tradeoffs are there. I've got white painted walls and ceiling for maximum lighting whatever I go with. Also, there are some that are frosted and some that are clear. The clear ones seem to have higher lumens - up to 2500 (4') while the frosted are only up to 2100. There is a monster high output 8' tube that is 5500 lumens and frosted - that's about the max lumens per foot. I am not sure I want something with clear tubes - I don't particularly like discrete led points and the glare they give off. A buddy of mine got some cheap chinese ones from Amazon and I swear they almost trigger a migraine headache whenever I look up at them. Head's spinning now with all the options - lol. Will have to give it a rest for awhile..... Another item - they all come in boxes of 10. If I go with 8' tubes I need 12 !
Hard pass on the clear ones. As for the beam angle, in a smaller space like a garage, it's not a huge deal. If your fixtures are mounted directly to the ceiling rather than hanging on chains, then prefer the 180. Either way, I wouldn't stress about it. As for lumens, again, it's not a huge difference unless your space is severly underlit. Doesn't sound like this is the case. The difference between 5000 (2x4') and 5500 (1x8') is barely detectable.
CD
CD
Thanks for the info. Helps me to narrow down the field. I have slipped into a terrible rabbit hole with this lighting study. After a visit to the local contractor supply place today I ended up looking at the GE offerings (gecurrent website) as that particular contractor supplier was more familiar with their stuff. Holy smokes - even more variations than Philips ! I also had a look at the strip fixtures that are being cleared out at a local box store and they look to be suitable for the 4x4' approach - electronic ballasts in them, and being marked down to about 16 dollars from 75 is a serious savings. I've gotten to know the contractor place guys very well over the years with building an extension on my garage for a woodworking shop and all the electrical conduit stuff and wiring I got for that place - I may just run these clearance fixtures by them tomorrow and if they say it's a smoking deal I think I will get them. That will lock me into the 4' tubes and narrow the choice down some more. Anyway, thanks for all the comments and help with this. Appreciate it.