Need some lights for my 26'x 32' shop. Has a 10' ceiling. Looking at some 4' led fixtures similar to a 2 bulb florescent fixture - they are about $40 each. Is there any reason not to just put in standard light sockets and use some 100 watt equilivant LED bulbs? A box, porcelin socket and LED bulb should be under $8/ea. Is the light quality bad? Seems like everyone is using strip lights or shop lights instead of your standard light bulbs. What am I missing?
LED Bulbs vs LED Strip Lights
- Thread starter ollie770
- Start date
I put up 4 eBay special led in my 26x26 with 11’ ceiling and was nice and bright. Was like $12 a light. 4’ 5000k double strip linkable led.
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https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https://www.ebay.ca/ulk/itm/322562867528
Similar to this. These are more money. Little clips screw to ceiling. 2 per light.
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Similar to this. These are more money. Little clips screw to ceiling. 2 per light.
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Stuart in MN
Well-known member
Read through the sticky notes at the top of the page here in the electrical section, there's a lot of good educational information there.
I have two edison (screw in bulb) sockets on my 11 ft garage ceiling. Out of sheer laziness I went to HD and bought 6 socket splitters. I screwed them together so each of the ceiling sockets now takes 4 bulbs. Then I ordered 100w equivalent, 4000K led bulbs, that I could not get locally. I prefer that color after working under 4100K cool white fluorescents my whole life, but to each his own. I have 800 watts equivalent up there for about 120 real watts split between the two sockets and the garage is pretty bright. It was cheap and only took a few minutes to install. Strip lights are probably a little better but you cant beat this for fast and dirty and cheap. They have multi socket adapters on ebay for an even easier installation but the reviews were generally poor so I went with the easily available 2 bulb splitters.
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fourjeepin
Well-known member
Plus one for the sticky. Platonic and others have provided some great info. I converted all of my fluorescents to led based on the advise there.
Bretny
Well-known member
I have the amazon $45 for 6 lights. I got two sets for my 24x24 garage. The only other lighting i have is a 4ft over my work bench. There really bright and took no rewireing. My 4ft florescent light housings were all **** before so not worth saving.
With these you can link them and really spread the light out. There are very few dark spots in my garage.
With these you can link them and really spread the light out. There are very few dark spots in my garage.
BrushWhackin
Member
- Joined
- Mar 21, 2009
- Messages
- 19
In regards to the OPs question. The technology of both is ever evolving. The differences are many but here is the highlights. Bulbs are cheaper but that's about it for benefits. Bulbs have a much shorter life expectancy, less light dispersion and they are less efficient in terms of lumens per watt. A 100watt equivalent led bulb puts out about 1200 to 1500 lumens. A good led strip light will produce 3-6 thousand lumens. Figure out the cost of 3-4 boxes, porcelain bases, plus 9-12 led bulbs over the same time frame as the life expectancy of a strip light and suddenly the bulb route isn't really cheaper.
Backwodsurvivor
Well-known member
I just ordered a 50w LED bulb it's supposed to do 10,000 lumens or something. For 20 bucks I figured it's worth a shot. Anyonee have experience with these bigger LED bulbs? I 'm pretty sure I'll need a reflector for it.
grabera7
Member
@Chiuer, does anyone have any luminaire files for a 4' LED strip light? I am thinking about 16 of these http :// a.co/d/h1tkPtO or 18 of these http :// a.co/d/gW5sx3f for my garage (24x32x14)
(I had to butcher the links.. not enough posts )
(I had to butcher the links.. not enough posts )
Last edited:
Glaffer
Active member
I just had my 24 x 32 Pole Barn built. I have 10 ft walls and installed these...www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01HBT3BV...544-a7f28374af8b&pf_rd_r=279ZNJ6CGFZ1XY402NP5
They are absolutely awesome! They're lightweight, bright, linkable (up to 6 lights), and extra easy to install. I bought 12 and only installed 5 of the lights and boy do they light the place up!
I didn't think that I'd be happy with them but figured for less than $5.00 per light I'd give them a try. I'm not disappointed. I have an older light that I bought from Costco and these are brighter and I can easily flush mount them.
They are absolutely awesome! They're lightweight, bright, linkable (up to 6 lights), and extra easy to install. I bought 12 and only installed 5 of the lights and boy do they light the place up!
I didn't think that I'd be happy with them but figured for less than $5.00 per light I'd give them a try. I'm not disappointed. I have an older light that I bought from Costco and these are brighter and I can easily flush mount them.
nh_yota
Well-known member
Strip lights emit light over a greater area so they reduce shadows.