flickering lights in garage

[melodiccolor]

My husband installed a couple of old flourescent tube lighting fixtures in our garage over the laundry area. They use the larger (not T8) tubes. They flicker badly, especially in winter for up to 10 min. before warming up. The strobing causes some serious eye strain headaches for me.

What can you recommend for an unheated garage that will resolve this? Cost is a factor too.

 

[kd3pc]

Fluorescent tubes are notoriously flicker and flutter when cold...and until warmed up, even then they present 60 cycle affects, that many will see as a problem.

You will be better served in this instance to use incandescent or LED....

 

[happy2rv]

Personally, I would use LED lights. They are available in a variety of shapes and light levels, depending on what you need. They are instant on and not affected by the cold.

This is a 4 ft 3800 lumen fixture similar to the fluorescent tube fixture. I believe a T12 is about 2600 lumens, so a 2 tube fixture would be slightly brighter than this one.

This one is smaller and only 2100 lumens.

This one is smaller still and only 1400 lumens, but cheaper.

If the existing lights are plug in as opposed to hard wired, there are a couple of sources for LED shop lights that have been referenced here before. I'm having trouble locating them at the moment, but search the lighting & electrical forum for Sam's club or Costco LED. I think they have 4 ft fixtures with pretty good lumen ratings for around $40.

 

[melodiccolor]

Thanks for your help. Yes they are plug in fixtures and this information will help. I hadn't realized LED lights were useful for more than spot task lighting yet. I'll look into this.

 

[Shiftless]

Thanks for your help. Yes they are plug in fixtures and this information will help. I hadn't realized LED lights were useful for more than spot task lighting yet. I'll look into this.

The Costco 4 foot long twin tube hanging shoplights went on sale last week. The new price is only $25. They have a cord and a plug...ready to go!

 

[FordTruckWench]

Location: Sacramento

You will be better served in this instance to use incandescent or LED....

She's in a location without cold winters. Modern electronic ballast fluorescents would work fine. T8 bulb units will be the cheapest.

 

[myredracer]

It is normal for fluorescent "tubes" to flicker while warming up if in a cold room/area and can take maybe a minute or so. If they keep on flickering, the lamps may requirement replacement which could be the case if they are old as mentioned.

 

[TK-421]

I'd say it's time to update them with modern fixtures/bulbs or go all out and get LED.

 

[melodiccolor]

We did end up getting the LED fixtures from Costco. Thanks everyone for your help. Now a quick question, what is a good way to protect the bulbs from getting hit from carrying tall objects? I'm thinking some clear plastic, but if you know of a product or another idea, I'm all ears.

My husband has hit the old lights in the old fixtures a few times.

 

[Shiftless]

We did end up getting the LED fixtures from Costco. Thanks everyone for your help. Now a quick question, what is a good way to protect the bulbs from getting hit from carrying tall objects? I'm thinking some clear plastic, but if you know of a product or another idea, I'm all ears.

My husband has hit the old lights in the old fixtures a few times.

I believe the tubes covering the LEDs are considered shatterproof. It wouldn't be easy to add a diffuser panel. I bought 4 of these to use in my 10x20 work space. I intend to set them up between the open ceiling joists to help protect them from damage. My ceiling is only 7 feet so I have to plan ahead.

 

[FordTruckWench]

We did end up getting the LED fixtures from Costco. Thanks everyone for your help. Now a quick question, what is a good way to protect the bulbs from getting hit from carrying tall objects? I'm thinking some clear plastic, but if you know of a product or another idea, I'm all ears.

My husband has hit the old lights in the old fixtures a few times.

If the bulb assembly is removable (like a fluorescent tube), then these would work:

http://www.homedepot.com/p/Lithonia-Lighting-4-ft-Fluorescent-Tube-Protector-TGT8CL4-R24/100163152