Let there be "Light"

[samert111]

Last weekend finished up swapping out the 12 - 100 watt incandescent flood lights in the PB with 12 of the Metalux 4ft fluorescent T-12 fixtures from Lowes. I know the T-12 stuff is going obsolete but the T-8 fixtures were a bit more expensive and more importantly, too narrow to cover up the ceiling box holes, plus I’ve heard of RF and ballast issues with the T-8 fixtures also. I bought an extra box of bulbs and when / if the ballasts give up I can convert these fixtures to T-8’s if necessary. Cost was $19.88 per fixture plus the bulbs which I went with the 4100K Cool White @ 3150 Lumens. I tried the 6500K bulbs first but they gave off a blue light. I really prefer these 4100K’s with the bright white light they give off. Plus the 9 fixtures that were all on one curcuit went from 8.0 amps draw down to around 4 amps with the new fixtures.

First 3 photos are with the old 100 watt floods and then similar shots with the new fluorescents plus one from outside.

 

[jam022316]

Wow huge improvement. Do they make t12 to t8 converters? I am out of the loop on these things. Didn't know certain bulbs were going away, other than regular light bulbs. What is the difference in a t12 compared to a t8?

 

[MattDoves]

woo, really big improvement ...

 

[Norcal]

Wow huge improvement. Do they make t12 to t8 converters? I am out of the loop on these things. Didn't know certain bulbs were going away, other than regular light bulbs. What is the difference in a t12 compared to a t8?

Yes they do, change the lamps & ballast(s) to T8 & it's converted.

 

[samert111]

Yes they do, change the lamps & ballast(s) to T8 & it's converted.

I also read somewhere that the T-12 bulb sockets need to have 2 wires going to each socket to be converted to T-8. Apparently there a couple ways to wire these fixtures. Anyway my fixtures have 2 wires each going to them so I should be good to go if necessary.

 

[Rich H.]

Looking good.

Alot of folks here seem to hate T12s but I'm not one of them, they're fine with me.

 

[samert111]

What is the difference in a t12 compared to a t8?

A little more energy effecient and also more light output from the bulbs I believe.

 

[NitroGarage]

Samer, is this building heated? Love the lexan but can't fathom doing it and having the heat loss.

 

[Showkey]

Interesting choice in the fixture and bulbs with the all the choices in LED.

Even choose fixtures with drop in LED bulbs rated at 100 lumens per watt would yield more light with far less power consumption. Then there is the t12 bulb life......issue. If this is just storage and low use the consumption is non starter.

Carry on

 

[reader2580]

Someone brought a five year old thread back to life. LED wasn't really a viable option back then.

 

[openwheelracing88]

Wth?

 

[Showkey]

Someone brought a five year old thread back to life. LED wasn't really a viable option back then.

Good catch......did not see the date, still crazy buying T12 even 5 years back.