Fluorescent Lights only in cold weather

[Mr. Roboto]

Hey everyone,

First post here, just joined up yesterday! I closed on my first home 4 months ago. I searched long and hard to find a house with an oversized garage, and I eventually found one with a double deep 2 bay detached garage measuring 26 x 34. Althought I have big plans for the garage, I have been focusing most of my efforts on the house up until this point unfortunately, but my father was able to get me 8 48" double tube fluorescent lights that they were going to be throwing out at his work. I want to put them up in my garage in place of the 8 incandescent sockets that are in there now (4 on each circuit). My question is, will I be in trouble in the winter with the florescent lights only? It can get pretty cold in NH, and the garage is detached and unheated. Will I have problems with the nights not starting at all, or will I just have to give them some time?

Thanks for the insight!

 

[rlitman]

That depends on the fixture.
I've had some old T12 fixtures that would not light below 32F.
Some would just be really dim below 40F.
My experience with T12, is that if they don't start in the cold, they won't start no matter how long you wait.

A lot of T8 stuff will light down to -20F (some are just rated to start at 0F), and once the start, they will warm up to full brightness in a few minutes.

I'd say to try them if you really want to save a few bucks, but don't get your hopes up.

 

[Falcon67]

You'll want to change the ballasts to T8 electronic ballasts and you should have little trouble down into the teens or below. If they are T12 mag ballasts, forget it - use the fixtures and change the ballasts.

 

[Charles (in GA)]

The OP will need to tell us something about the light fixtures before we can offer much advice. Are they the large diameter T12 bulbs (1-½ inch diameter) or are they T8 bulbs (1" diameter) and do they have older magnetic ballasts (very heavy) or newer electronic ballast (very lightweight).

What kind of fixtures are they? open strips? Strips with reflectors? Oddball enclosed (wet location, explosion proof, etc). Pics of the fixtures and the data plates are very helpful.

Charles

 

[shweppie]

Make sure those ballasts are 120/240v and not 277, considering they are from a commercial place im assuming. Just a thought and also def electronic T8 is the way to go. Ballast can be pretty costly and is almost worth just getting brand new fixtures.

 

[VWPORSCHEGT3]

i converted my 277 t-12's to 120, the ballasts were like 30 bucks a piece it wasnt too horrendous

 

[theoldwizard1]

i converted my 277 t-12's to 120, the ballasts were like 30 bucks a piece it wasnt too horrendous

I bought new double T8's for less than $30 each at HD. They work fine down to 0F. Might take a minute to get to full brightness.

Even CFL floods work at 0F. They take a couple of minutes to get to full brightness.

 

[Mr. Roboto]

Thanks for the replies. Sorry for the lack of info, I wasn't sure what info was relevant. I looked at the ballasts, they are Sylvania QTPx32T8/UNV 120V - So I'm assuming that means they are T8s? Which from what was stated above will be OK in the cold? Also the bulbs are 1" diameter 4100K.

Here is a picture of what the fixture looks like:

Thanks again!

 

[amolaver]

based on your description and the pic, looks like a great freebie. you'll want to actually look at the ballasts and confirm they are 120v (vs being converted to some more commercial power friendly voltage), but i'd say all signs look promising.

give the reflectors a good cleaning as it will make a big difference in the amount of light they throw, check the ballasts, and get 'em mounted and lamped. then, enjoy

ahm

 

[Mr. Roboto]

Here is a picture of the ballast. It looks to be 120V to me, but will also accept up to 277? doesn't seem to be anything funky going on with them.

 

[kbs2244]

They are free.
Use them.
Even if slow you cannot go wrong.
If it was me though, I would keep the incandescent bulbs as well.
That will give you instant light as well a good over all.

 

[vartz04]

At 30 degrees in my garage the 3 T8 lights I have flick right on and are full brightness in about 2 minutes. (still plenty light to see around the garage) the 1 T12 that I "borrowed" from the basement takes a good 10 minutes to get full brightness and usually only one bulb comes on unless I flip the switch a couple times. Ill be replacing that one here in the next week or so.

 

[geotek]

They are free.
Use them.
Even if slow you cannot go wrong.
If it was me though, I would keep the incandescent bulbs as well.
That will give you instant light as well a good over all.

^^^^^^agreed you can never have too much light in a garage!

 

[rlitman]

It says right on your ballast:
Min Start Temp 0F
A picture is worth 1000 words.

And that ballast is good for anywhere between 120V and 277V
Sounds like you will be fine. Just be sure to use T8 bulbs.

If you're paranoid, you could replace a couple of your ballasts with ones that start at -20F. That way, even in the coldest of days, you would get some light right when the switch turns on.

Anyway, you have nice fixtures, and congrats on the new garage.

 

[Mr. Roboto]

wow I am blind, I did not even see that it was listed on the ballast I'm sorry. For the time being I will just simply wire them in place of the incandescent lights, and see how this winter goes. Sounds like they will fire up no problem. Until I do something about the lack of heat/insulation in there, I don't see myself workout out there a whole lot anyways until the weather warms up.

 

[Steve.S]

wow I am blind, I did not even see that it was listed on the ballast I'm sorry. For the time being I will just simply wire them in place of the incandescent lights, and see how this winter goes. Sounds like they will fire up no problem. Until I do something about the lack of heat/insulation in there, I don't see myself workout out there a whole lot anyways until the weather warms up.

Stick around here long enough and you'll be installing a furnace, bathroom, and mini-bar for use year-round!

 

[madosta]

Stick around here long enough and you'll be installing a furnace, bathroom, and mini-bar for use year-round!

Haha. This is true. Plenty of great ideas too.

 

[Falcon67]

Looks like your lights will cost a pretty penny though. single pin 8' T8 runs about $12 each at bulbs.com, probably more locally if you can find any.
http://www.bulbs.com/Light_Bulbs/Si...adpos=1t3&AffID=6&creative=16392322278&Ntt=t8

 

[jvitez]

Keep the incandescent lights, but move them to give general illumination in the whole garage. Wire the fluorescents separately. When cold and just grabbing something from the garage you can flick on the incandescents. Put the fluorescents on a separate switch.

 

[ChevyEFI]

I have a similar issue.

I have a 48" 2 bulb 120V fixture that 1) fails to fully light the bulbs fully when chilly (as it get below 50F or 10C) and 2) is rusty.

What's a better fixture option? Power use isn't a huge deal where it is (Laundry off the garage) and I enjoy not regularly replacing bulbs. T8 & T8 bulbs? Anything LED worthwhile?

 

[Mr. Roboto]

To update this thread, I installed all of these lights this fall. They do NOT want to run very well at all in any weather below 40 degrees or so, despite the fact that they are T8 ballasts. They say "Max Start Temp: 0F" right on the ballasts, but this certainly is not the case. I turn them on and can barley see the ends of each bulb glowing, and that's about it.

Any idea what's going on? Could the ballasts or bulbs just be showing their age?

Thanks!

 

[Charles (in GA)]

How long are those fixtures? The pics make them look like single pin end tombstones and 8 ft long. A 32w T8 should be a 4 ft bulb.

Charles

 

[Mr. Roboto]

You are correct, they are 8 foot single pin bulbs. What should I be running for a ballast?

 

[LS6 Tommy]

Get F96T8 ballasts for (2) bulb fixtures. I have (3) two bulb T8 8' fixtures in my garage with standard ballasts & standard bulbs. I got them used from work when we upgraded to T5HOs. They light right off even in 2 or 3* weather. If you REALLY have a cold start problem, just get a cold rated ballast...

Tommy

 

[600SL]

You are correct, they are 8 foot single pin bulbs. What should I be running for a ballast?

Sounds like you have T8 ballasts with T12 bulbs????

 

[Charles (in GA)]

Post #1 is where were went astray.

.... but my father was able to get me 8 48" double tube fluorescent lights that they were going to be throwing out at his work........

The OP described them as 48 inch (4 ft) and no one apparently caught the fact they were single pin, which is not made in anything other than an 8 ft length. I'm not familiar with 8 ft T8 so I don't know if it is single pin or not, I'll bet it is, but in any case, someone installed the wrong ballasts in the fixtures and that is why they don't work well. I'm surprised they work at all. I hate 8 ft bulbs, they are so difficult to handle.

You have two choices, replace the ballasts with ones designed to run the bulbs you have, or scrap the whole thing, in which case I would save the ballasts, as they may prove to be useful on a 4ft T12 to T8 conversion or a replacement for a bad T8 ballast.

If you get new fixtures, get ones with standard T8 4 ft bulbs, they are easily found and cheap, in all variations of quality and color ranges.

 

[Norcal]

There are F96T8 Slimline w/ a single pin base, and F96T8HO lamps w/ a recessed double contact base. Slimline lamps **** in cold temps, the fixtures show single pin tombstone lampholders, but the ballast shown is for 2-32 watt T8 4' lamps.

OP's photo:

Edit: the ballast also will operate 2' & 3' lamps.

 

[Mr. Roboto]

Thanks for all the feedback, however, I am still a little confused. I thought the T12 vs T8 bulbs described a difference in bulb diameter, not length. Are you all saying my bulbs must be T12 because an 8 foot T8 bulb does not exist?

 

[Norcal]

Thanks for all the feedback, however, I am still a little confused. I thought the T12 vs T8 bulbs described a difference in bulb diameter, not length. Are you all saying my bulbs must be T12 because an 8 foot T8 bulb does not exist?

T8 lamps DO exist in 8 foot lengths, I did write F96T8 and F96T8/HO, which are 8' lamps, the HO ones do not apply to you though.

 

[Charles (in GA)]

Probably what happened originally was that your Father's place of work installed the wrong ballasts in the light fixtures and they did not work properly, so they finally removed them. Building maintenance gone astray.

 

[Mr. Roboto]

Well, I will just have to look at the bulbs when I get home from work to see what they say on them. I will post back once I do.

 

[eljefino]

I wonder if you could yet save these by getting a mega-pack of two-pin tombstone lamp connectors and making each fixture take 4 foot T8s. Either rig them one long bulb then another (like walmart is doing now) or scrap half of them, steal their ballasts, and double up on the other fixtures.

This seems like rebuilding grandpa's ax with a new head and a new handle though.

 

[Kyle1500]

Post #1 is where were went astray.



The OP described them as 48 inch (4 ft) and no one apparently caught the fact they were single pin, which is not made in anything other than an 8 ft length. I'm not familiar with 8 ft T8 so I don't know if it is single pin or not, I'll bet it is, but in any case, someone installed the wrong ballasts in the fixtures and that is why they don't work well. I'm surprised they work at all. I hate 8 ft bulbs, they are so difficult to handle.

You have two choices, replace the ballasts with ones designed to run the bulbs you have, or scrap the whole thing, in which case I would save the ballasts, as they may prove to be useful on a 4ft T12 to T8 conversion or a replacement for a bad T8 ballast.

If you get new fixtures, get ones with standard T8 4 ft bulbs, they are easily found and cheap, in all variations of quality and color ranges.

Actually, there are single pin lamps available in 48 inches, but only as a T12. F48T12 would be a single pin lamp aka slimline, but is actually slightly shorter than the F40T12 we've come to know and love, because the sockets for slimline lamps take up more space than a normal bipin socket while the fixtures are the same length. F48T12 lamps are very uncommon and hard to find, but they do exist. Single pin T8 lamps are available in 72 and 96 inches.

 

[cybrdyke]

Zombie thread from 10 years ago.
CD

 

[Mr. Roboto]

Wow, this was my first post on the forum 12 years ago hahaha.

 

[nadogail]

i converted my 277 t-12's to 120, the ballasts were like 30 bucks a piece it wasnt too horrendous

I scored a bunch of magnetic ballasts when a previous employer changed from coil and core ballasts to energy efficient electronic ballasts.
The contractor who was hired by the utility was required to throw the removed magnetic ballasts into the dumpster, he very decently packed them all into a box that lay on top.
Recovery was very easy.

 

[Racer_X]

Actually, there are single pin lamps available in 48 inches, but only as a T12. F48T12 would be a single pin lamp aka slimline, but is actually slightly shorter than the F40T12 we've come to know and love, because the sockets for slimline lamps take up more space than a normal bipin socket while the fixtures are the same length. F48T12 lamps are very uncommon and hard to find, but they do exist. Single pin T8 lamps are available in 72 and 96 inches.