Large LED recommendation

[pvanderlugt]

So, I have an old hay barn that I converted into a shop/hangout and party loft....
For part of the barn I have some old 16 inch 1930’s industrial light holders ( the enamel baked kind)...This is a part of the barn that I go into often for parts retrieval, Storage etc.......but not normally hang out....These lights are at 30 foot above the ground....and Light up a 40x40 area.... I currently use a pair of 500w incandescent light bulbs, what provide sufficient light of what I try to do.(I am not working this area, it is mostly storage, trying to get around things)

Problem is, these lights are left on a lot by accident, and at a 1000w/hr, Cost adds up...
Would like to replace them with some large LED’s... At least 500W equivalent ...Lots of availability, however price range is large, and reviews are a mixed bag at best.. more expensive does not equal better quality or performance, apparently.... Have a couple of concerns, first of all, some of these are large bulbs, as tall as 12-14 inches.. does this mess up the reflection part of the light?since the lamp holders were designed to hold the bulb within the fixture, and these LED’s would hang below by a good couple in inches..Second would be instant ON, no time to wait for them to warm up, so no fluorescent or MH. And last, these are hanging in a non conditioned space to temp range from -20 to about 120 in the top of that barn...
Does anyone have any experience, leads or recommendations or suggestions for a large LED??

Thanks Pete

 

[jeepxj]

i wouldn't mess around with the big corn cob bulbs personally.


500w incandescent puts out about 10,000 lumens.

these guys are 13000 lumens. if you want the look then you can gut the old lights and hang the sheet metal around the new stuff
https://www.superbrightleds.com/mor...250w-metal-halide-equivalent-5000k4000k/5491/

these are an option as well. just find the right base.
https://www.superbrightleds.com/mor...9-mogul-base-ballast-bypass-5000k/5962/13619/

i've had good luck with superbrightleds.com in the past. but havent had to return anything yet so i cant comment on their policies

 

[pvanderlugt]

Thanks Jeep, I am familiar with SB led’s .. same experience..those first ones look interesting.....and I agree, those corncobs, not convinced about longevity or performance...thanks
Pete

 

[tab2]

I have a corn cob retrofit in my barn (temporary but going on 2-1/2 years). Instant on regardless of temp and throws a ton of light and it’s only at 12’. It was a “gift” so of course that changes my opinion, but I love it.

For some reason no one here likes them. They serve as temp lighting on most of our commercial job sites (with stringers as well) and those things don’t have an easy life and make it from job to job.

 

[csp]

I too have had good luck with a corncob type bulb. Going on five years now with one as an outdoor yard light between my house and barn. It provides very good light and is mounted in an 18" Benjamin industrial housing much like what the OP appears to have. Mine is about 14' above the ground. Photo represents the type I have.

 

[pvanderlugt]

CSP, , that is more or less what I have, hanging at 30 ft...... good to hear that you are having good luck with the corncobs.... I for sure need to do something, the 500W incandescent don't last very long, and changing them is a bit-h....
Thanks.
Pete

 

[pedrodagr8]

I think you have gotten mostly good advice so far. Whether uniformity of dispersion, glare, lumens of output, or general reliability, the fully integrated units are hands over fists better than corncobb LEDs. As with any general rule, there are certainly exceptions, but I can say, you will never see professionals using corncobb LEDs.

I just wanted to add some comments/advice:
Based on your description of use, this doesn't seem to be a case where high Color Rendering Index (CRI) or warmer color temperatures (CCT) will be of much value. If you were sorting vegetables/drying grains/etc. in the space then high CRI could be very valuable. That being said, when it comes to CCT, "cold white" aka bluer CCTs (>5000-6000K) will make glare and shadows which feel much more harsh. In general, colder whites make a space feel less comfortable.

Additionally, I would advise considering splitting up your lighting into four 250W equivalent lamps (for example the first light that jeepxj posted). The fewer the light sources (for the same amount of power) the harsher the shadows are and the more it can impact your depth perception making it harder to navigate the space. As said before, there are certainly exceptions to this, but spreading out the lighting can increase reliability by distributing the heat and increase usability of the space.

It seems that finding a light which is quality and actually rated down to -20°F is not easy/cheap. There are a few available but most of the ones I saw are priced similar to this one (approx. $200).

 

[pvanderlugt]

Thanks Pedro for you detailed response....I think I am more the likely going with some version of the all-in-one mentioned above..some of those UFO’s look like they might just be the ticket..... and leaning towards the warmer end of the spectrum, 4-5k as far as color.... mostly because it feels more “barn like” .... and as pointed out above , I might not need 500W equivalent, , current 20000 lumens is OK for me for that space, and that should be easily attainable....
Thanks
Pete

 

[cybrdyke]

you will never see professionals using corncob LEDs.

Truth.
They're for DIY-ers, Hacks, and the unknowing.

finding a light which is quality and actually rated down to -20°F is not easy/cheap.

Because no one should be spending time in a barn when it's -20F.

But seriously, if UFO's are the choice, there are hundreds of different styles and shapes that are reasonably priced. You can fancy them up with aluminum or acrylic domes or glare shields. You can get black or white ones, etc etc etc.
CD

 

[tab2]

Truth.
They're for DIY-ers, Hacks, and the unknowing.

I guess I am unknowledgeable, hack, DIY-er that has a GC business that also produces custom millwork out of that same barn

 

[csp]

They're for DIY-ers, Hacks, and the unknowing.

Or perhaps when they don't require a complete retrofit of existing fixtures for occasional, non-task specific use.

You guys who pontificate always forget relevance.

This is a part of the barn that I go into often for parts retrieval, Storage etc.......but not normally hang out....These lights are at 30 foot above the ground....and Light up a 40x40 area.... I currently use a pair of 500w incandescent light bulbs, what provide sufficient light of what I try to do.(I am not working this area, it is mostly storage, trying to get around things)

 

[Negen]

I work in a electronics repair company rather small only about 1,800 employees. In many areas we use those corn cob style lights. Guard shack indoor and out, all restrooms , the employee dinning hall , restrooms, and storage warehouse. Are the areas I can think of. The tech repair rooms had florescent tubes so those got replaced with led tubes. A few years back when we were "going green" the electric company gave us a pallet full of lights so it's what we use. I am not sure how much power we use but we do have about 2,000 machines that draw 1,000 watts that are on 24/7. Plus the other normal electrical stuff. Being in the middle of the woods makes it hard to get solid power. When we have to use our generators the fuel consumption is about 1,000$ per hour.

Sent from my ONEPLUS A6013 using The Garage Journal mobile app

 

[Bigblockyeti]

I bought one of these to go over my workbench.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B088NQ5KK7/?tag=atomicindus08-20

It would be better if it were higher than 8.5' but everything under it is VERY well illuminated. The color is a little more blue than I would like but for two months so far, I'm otherwise pleased. I haven't yet confirmed the 150W consumption or the 15000 lumens but it is bright.

 

[TonyJ]

I have 2 of the corn cob lights and so far I’m loving the amount of light. 20,000 lm each

 

[pvanderlugt]

I ended up getting these UFO’s from Amazon..... well made, very impressed..... these things are BRIGHT!!

 

[soloz2]

I ended up getting these UFO’s from Amazon..... well made, very impressed..... these things are BRIGHT!!

Do you have a link?

 

[JRC3]

I have 2 of the corn cob lights and so far I’m loving the amount of light. 20,000 lm each

LOL

 

[pvanderlugt]

Here is a link.... is about 30 ft above the ground.... it is like daylight...... on a sunny day..impressed with build quality and just overall product... heavy, lots of cooling fins, just seems like a very quality product.. very happy so far..


http://https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0774PT43N/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o09_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

 

[dcg9381]

Convert them to an outlet and use high-bay "UFO Style" lights. You'll never go back. Mine have been rock solid for more than 2 years of daily use. They work well for ceilings as high as yours.

 

[pvanderlugt]

Convert them to an outlet and use high-bay "UFO Style" lights. You'll never go back. Mine have been rock solid for more than 2 years of daily use. They work well for ceilings as high as yours.

Yup, thats what I bought, see link above...^^^^^^

 

[FTG-05]

I have 2 of the corn cob lights and so far I’m loving the amount of light. 20,000 lm each

I thought the problem with corn cobs was the fact that they throw the light horizontally, not vertically down, where it's needed. Maybe from Platonic perhaps?