maxlite buyers beware

[wstephens1249]

So I recently bought 13 of the maxlite "best fixture ever" from shineretrofits.com and started installing them today. They came in two boxes, one box with four lights and the other was a whole "case" of nine. Everything was going well as I started with the first 4 lights but when I got to the case of 9 I unfortunately hit a large setback. The small packet inside the light that contains that is supposed to contain screws/anchors, wire nuts and the 2 wireless tombstones that you push into the one end really ended only having one tombstone. I checked the other 8 lights in the box....only one tombstone each.

I called shine retrofits and thankfully they are in Colorado because it was after 6 my time. They stated that maxlite products ship directly from the manufacturer in California and would get on the horn with them to get it corrected. Its supposed to be overnighted and should hopefully get here tomorrow.

Moral of the story is if you buy some of these lights check the boxes to make sure its all there as soon as it comes in. I already have scaffolding rented to install the lights and if these dont come in tomorrow it could really screw up my plans.

 

[ATCGA]

The exact same thing just happened to me. Ordered 16 fixtures but only received half of the tombstones needed. Customer service was great and promptly sent the replacements but it shouldn’t have happened.

 

[cybrdyke]

I already have scaffolding rented to install the lights and if these dont come in tomorrow it could really screw up my plans.

since they wont be connected electrically, practically any socket should work. You can get them at the big box store or electrical supplier if they dont show up in the mail.
CD

 

[Platonic Solid]

since they wont be connected electrically, practically any socket should work. You can get them at the big box store or electrical supplier if they dont show up in the mail.
CD

Unfortunately these aren't standard lamp holders. My Maxlite housing review covers this issue here (link).

 

[GRB]

This is the ongoing problem with all these Chinese Trash companies. I recently bought 16 LED fixtures from another company that are assembled in SoCal from Chinese supply but run/staffed by Chinese ignorant trash. ONE of the fixtures was correct. The remaining 15 had 6 different variations on complete junk. Fortunately, my supplier is a few blocks from me and we went through their entire inventory and found enough pieces to get all but one assembled correctly. The last one required stealing components from a fluorescent fixture to make it work. Even then the hot and neutral connections to the tombstones were ALL connected to the same end with a shunted tombstone, which would be a dead short if powered up.
Clearly these were packaged by people that have zero knowledge of their product. Why would you have two tombstones in the same light with an end plate for ONE? Why would you have two tombstones with an endplate that is one big wide slot?

 

[notlob]

This is the ongoing problem with all these Chinese Trash companies. I recently bought 16 LED fixtures from another company that are assembled in SoCal from Chinese supply but run/staffed by Chinese ignorant trash.

I would strongly prefer that you take your racist statements somewhere else.

 

[GRB]

Nothing racist at all. The good Chinese manufacturers are busy making something else, like Apple products for example.
I'm sure that many of the old time lighting manufacturers are having many things made in China. Probably all LEDs are made in China at this point. But these companies are controlling the manufacture of the items and doing QC on the products.
An example of a good Chinese company: a friends company supplied components to an old time US tool manufacturer. Like many, that US company was bought by a Chinese company. They continued to buy these important components from him for years. Shipped from California to China to be incorporated in tools, most of which probably consumed in US. This company didn't find a less expensive source until they could find a suitable replacement. A perfect example of a good Chinese company.
Our insistence on cheap light fixtures makes it difficult for a company like that to compete in the market for generic light fixtures. My lighting warehouse tells me I'm one of the few customers willing to pay more for a better fixture.

 

[reader2580]

Often times paying more doesn't guarantee a batter product. I have seen what looks like the same exact product made in a rainbow of colors. One retailer might charge $10, the next $20, and yet another $30 to $40. Is the $40 product any better if made on the same line at the same plant?

It is hard to find light fixtures made any place besides China or Mexico. Lithonia used to be an manufacturer who made stuff here, but now they make it in Mexico or China.

 

[dogdog]

Unfortunately these aren't standard lamp holders. My Maxlite housing review covers this issue here (link).

why? those tombstones are either non-shunted for single end LED T8s or it doesn't matter if it is Dual End power LED T8s.... I thought those spacing should be standard... the LED tubes I replace are dual end powered, I don't even needed to replace any of those tomb stones, just rip out the ballast.

Your Post is weird though... post 6 shows you are using Single end T8 Tubes... then on your post 9 it shows picture of a dual end powered T8 tube. Which may or may not have worked on a single end setup... dependent on the manufacture, I think mine can go single end or Dual , ballast or ballast-less....

 

[Platonic Solid]

why? those tombstones are either non-shunted for single end LED T8s or it doesn't matter if it is Dual End power LED T8s.... I thought those spacing should be standard... the LED tubes I replace are dual end powered, I don't even needed to replace any of those tomb stones, just rip out the ballast.

Your Post is weird though... post 6 shows you are using Single end T8 Tubes... then on your post 9 it shows picture of a dual end powered T8 tube. Which may or may not have worked on a single end setup... dependent on the manufacture, I think mine can go single end or Dual , ballast or ballast-less....

All your questions are answered if you actually read the whole review.

 

[Musicinabottle]

I would strongly prefer that you take your racist statements somewhere else.

Church is now in session.

 

[dogdog]

All your questions are answered if you actually read the whole review.

I didn't, what I couldn't find was the description of these sockets why so different, they looked different, but should fit for all T8 is what I am saying.

I liked my Hyperikon fitted into my own fixture and have no complain about it so far. I don't needed any non-shunted tomb stone for my installation.

 

[dogdog]

Church is now in session.

LOL ... before starting a crusade, just make sure get the facts straight.

 

[Platonic Solid]

I didn't, what I couldn't find was the description of these sockets why so different, they looked different, but should fit for all T8 is what I am saying.

The lamp holder on the right is the Maxlite - left is standard. If you used the left lamp holder in the maxlite housing, the lampholder face to face spacing would increase to the point that the lamps would just fall out.

​

I liked my Hyperikon fitted into my own fixture and have no complain about it so far. I don't needed any non-shunted tomb stone for my installation.

I believe your hyperikon lamps are universal single or double end (may even be ballast compatible), which is the same for the GLLUSA shown in the previously linked review. The lamp holder situation in question does not change regardless of which of these lamps you have.

 

[cybrdyke]

The lamp holder on the right is the Maxlite - left is standard. If you used the left lamp holder in the maxlite housing, the lampholder face to face spacing would increase to the point that the lamps would just fall out.

​

Hmmmm....did you try it?
From the picture, where they're laying on their back, you'd think that the face of the sockets would be as you said, different distance. But if it's installed in the fixture, I wonder if the faces would line up appropriately and then the back of the maxlite would just be a little further back than the stucci.
(did that make sense?)
Neither socket looks special or custom to me.
CD

 

[Platonic Solid]

CD - 0.344 thick sockets used to replace the 0.460 Maxlite sockets leaves a 0.116 gap behind the socket that needs to be filled in with something to maintain base-face to base-face dimension.

​

 

[CooperS]

So I recently bought 13 of the maxlite "best fixture ever" from shineretrofits.com and started installing them today. They came in two boxes, one box with four lights and the other was a whole "case" of nine. Everything was going well as I started with the first 4 lights but when I got to the case of 9 I unfortunately hit a large setback. The small packet inside the light that contains that is supposed to contain screws/anchors, wire nuts and the 2 wireless tombstones that you push into the one end really ended only having one tombstone. I checked the other 8 lights in the box....only one tombstone each.



I called shine retrofits and thankfully they are in Colorado because it was after 6 my time. They stated that maxlite products ship directly from the manufacturer in California and would get on the horn with them to get it corrected. Its supposed to be overnighted and should hopefully get here tomorrow.



Moral of the story is if you buy some of these lights check the boxes to make sure its all there as soon as it comes in. I already have scaffolding rented to install the lights and if these dont come in tomorrow it could really screw up my plans.

Well it ***** you had that happen but I wonder if this is a supplier issue? I only had one little issue with mine from ProLighting.com and it wasn’t a supplier problem but a manufacturing missed QC. (Wire not seated filling in a tombstone). In other words I wonder if ProLighting.com ships from their own warehouse where they check boxes and not a drop ship situation?

Hopefully it’ll all work out. I’m completely pleased with mine.


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[CooperS]

This is the ongoing problem with all these Chinese Trash companies. I recently bought 16 LED fixtures from another company that are assembled in SoCal from Chinese supply but run/staffed by Chinese ignorant trash. ONE of the fixtures was correct. The remaining 15 had 6 different variations on complete junk. Fortunately, my supplier is a few blocks from me and we went through their entire inventory and found enough pieces to get all but one assembled correctly. The last one required stealing components from a fluorescent fixture to make it work. Even then the hot and neutral connections to the tombstones were ALL connected to the same end with a shunted tombstone, which would be a dead short if powered up.
Clearly these were packaged by people that have zero knowledge of their product. Why would you have two tombstones in the same light with an end plate for ONE? Why would you have two tombstones with an endplate that is one big wide slot?

While I hate that everything these days is made in China with low wage workers who don’t know the product, the blame lies with the company not having high standards or personnel in place to make the manufacturer live by or else. Apple has very deep pockets and very high standards so this is kind of an unfair comparison with the size and value of their contracts to these manufacturers.

If you could find a fixture made in the US, it would likely be 3x the cost. Is that the US company’s fault? No! But it is the world we live in. I was not looking for cheapest but rather best value for the money and 99% or them are made in China. In fact I’m not sure I even was able to compare a US fixture.

It ***** yes, but the powers that be in manufacturing and government have created this appetite for cheap! AhemKevinO’Learyahem! Personally I don’t mind spending a little more for something great quality but the options for that being US made is all but nonexistent anymore.


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[wstephens1249]

Well it ***** you had that happen but I wonder if this is a supplier issue? I only had one little issue with mine from ProLighting.com and it wasn’t a supplier problem but a manufacturing missed QC. (Wire not seated filling in a tombstone). In other words I wonder if ProLighting.com ships from their own warehouse where they check boxes and not a drop ship situation?

Hopefully it’ll all work out. I’m completely pleased with mine.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

It is a maxlite issue, shineretrofits said that the product ships directly from the manufacturer. They are essentially a middle man making easy money.

Thankfully the tombstones were shipped overnight as I asked and they showed up at my house around 10:30 am the next morning.

I was able to complete the install that day with out any other big issues. I did find two wires that weren't installed into the wired tombstone correctly but all I had to do was push it into the connection and all was good.