Need a good replacement for metal halide canopy lights

[Rocky Rotella]

In December 2016 we moved into a preexisting home that was built in 2006. It has a fully-furnished detached garage that measures 24 x 30 with a 12-foot ceiling.

The original owner (who was an electrician) installed (6) 175-watt metal halide canopy fixtures from e-conolite. While I enjoy the light quality, they're now pushing 12 years old and requiring some maintenance. I had to replace one ballast, and two more fixtures very recently quit working. I hadn't yet made it to my local electrical supply house to purchase a bulb and ballast in an attempt to determine what had ultimately failed.

Because the canopy lights are big, bulky, and heavy, I have been considering replacing them entirely. I also saw the stress they placed on the drywall ceiling. Well, I walked out to the garage this evening and found a fixture dangling by the electrical supply wires over one of my collector vehicles. The toggle bolts retaining it pulled through the drywall. The sheet rock was dry, so it wasn't moisture related. As best I can tell, it was time and weight related. I snipped the wires at the fixture base and set it on the bench.

With (3) of the metal halide canopy lights now not functioning, I'm at a crossroad. I'm considering converting all (6) to LED replacement canopy fixtures, high bay LEDs, or 8' high-intensity florescents.

I am looking for suggestions on which would give me similar light quality. What do you guys think?

 

[Gummi Bear]

Yikes!

Definitely replace them with a new LED equivalent fixture.

Your energy consumption will go down, and light output will go up. There is less loss of efficiency as the LED fixtures age versus the HID fixtures you have now.

It’ll be a bit spendy, but in the end, you’ll be happier for it.



I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately...

Henry David Thoreau

 

[Rocky Rotella]

Thanks.

Do you have a preferred LED equivalent?

 

[Rbreddin]

high bays aren't the right application for such a low ceiling (although I see people do it here all the time).

a low bay fixture is closer, but that's still a low ceiling for that light fixture type.

there are quite literally hundreds of options, id recommend talking to some of the lighting reps (each manufacturer's website or your local lighting distributor will have someone willing to guide you).

dont buy into the lifetime that is advertised though, most are over exaggerated.

 

[Stuart in MN]

Rocky -


Check the top two sticky notes in this section - "light fixture layout collections" and "the best light fixture ever". Chances are you can find a lighting setup that is close to the size of your garage, along with some recommended LED fixtures.


By the way, I've enjoyed seeing your recent Pontiac contributions in Hot Rod magazine.

 

[rq375]

Definitely go LED, I just replaced 175w Metal halides with 110w Alphalites (16' ceiling), same or better light with no warm up or restrike. I did what Stuart has suggested and found one of Platonic Solid's layouts for the same size shop.

 

[cybrdyke]

In December 2016 we moved into a preexisting home that was built in 2006. It has a fully-furnished detached garage that measures 24 x 30 with a 12-foot ceiling.

The original owner (who was an electrician) installed (6) 175-watt metal halide canopy fixtures from e-conolite. While I enjoy the light quality, they're now pushing 12 years old and requiring some maintenance. I had to replace one ballast, and two more fixtures very recently quit working. I hadn't yet made it to my local electrical supply house to purchase a bulb and ballast in an attempt to determine what had ultimately failed.

Because the canopy lights are big, bulky, and heavy, I have been considering replacing them entirely. I also saw the stress they placed on the drywall ceiling. Well, I walked out to the garage this evening and found a fixture dangling by the electrical supply wires over one of my collector vehicles. The toggle bolts retaining it pulled through the drywall. The sheet rock was dry, so it wasn't moisture related. As best I can tell, it was time and weight related. I snipped the wires at the fixture base and set it on the bench.

With (3) of the metal halide canopy lights now not functioning, I'm at a crossroad. I'm considering converting all (6) to LED replacement canopy fixtures, high bay LEDs, or 8' high-intensity florescents.

I am looking for suggestions on which would give me similar light quality. What do you guys think?

Canopy lights aren't really the right thing to use in a garage, anyway. If the previous owner was an electrician, he probably had them given to him or had them laying around.
A 175w Canopy light delivers somewhere between 3500 and 6000 lumens, so, if you're happy with that amount of light, that should be the number to look for in a new fixture if you intend to do a 1 for 1 replacement. If you want to do it correctly, and have a nicer finished outcome, you should get a lighting layout done with new fixtures of a more appropriate style. There's so many choices.....
Good luck,
CD

 

[Platonic Solid]

If limited to 6 in existing unknown locations I'd probably use 110W Alphalites (link) adding the surface mounting bracket option.

 

[DieselNut88]

Definitly switch to LED fixtures. We have those same lights in our parking garage at work. Bulbs and ballasts are not cheap even with the discounted pricing we get. Also the lenses ar NLA so if they break you are SOL. There are tons of options out there.

 

[syhdeejey]

Agree with cybrdyke, canopy is too bright for the garage at such a low ceiling. Some underground garage will use the canopy as light source, most people dont use canopy for household garage.

I think T8 tube would be fine for your garage.

 

[Rocky Rotella]

Thanks for the comments and advice, guys.

I read through the recommended stickies previously and again after this, and it sure seems that for my layout and ceiling height, T8s were commonly recommended.

I’m not really limited to (6) total fixtures. The lights are on two switched banks. And because I can access the rafters from above, there’s really no reason why I can’t add more if needed.

So maybe 6 to 8 (or 12-16 bulbs) of 96” T8 bulbs would do. I’ll also check with my local lighting supply store to see what they offer for LED equivalents.

 

[Rocky Rotella]

And good to see you here, too, Stuart!

 

[PhysicsDude]

You can daisy chain the power on multiple 48" or 96" strip lights. No need to run additional wiring in the attic IMO.

 

[Platonic Solid]

Thanks for the comments and advice, guys.

I read through the recommended stickies previously and again after this, and it sure seems that for my layout and ceiling height, T8s were commonly recommended.

I’m not really limited to (6) total fixtures. The lights are on two switched banks. And because I can access the rafters from above, there’s really no reason why I can’t add more if needed.

So maybe 6 to 8 (or 12-16 bulbs) of 96” T8 bulbs would do. I’ll also check with my local lighting supply store to see what they offer for LED equivalents.

Suggest making your life easy and replace 1 for 1 with the Alphalites previously linked. Total cost is a bit over $600 and you won't have to think about lighting again for a very long time.

 

[Gummi Bear]

If you’re thinking of using 8’ strips, consider the ones that use 4’ lamps.

8’ lamps are a pain in the ****, to transport, store, and they’re expensive.



I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately...

Henry David Thoreau

 

[Rocky Rotella]

I just wanted to take a moment to follow up for those who commented and any readers who might interested on the lighting I ultimately decided on for my garage.

After considering everyone’s opinion and many different fixtures, I chose LED strips from Columbia Lighting. I used a combination of 96” fixtures (number CLS8-8040) and 48” fixtures (number CLS4-4040), both in 4000k temp. I found that Lithonia offers similar quality fixtures, but I chose Columbia simply because its distributor’s warehouse was blocks from my house.

In each location where a metal halide fixture was located, I replaced it with an LED strip. I used a combination of (5) 96” fixtures and (1) 48” fixture in those locations. (See numbers 1-5 for the position of the 96” fixtures)

The ceiling-mounted HVAC intake and the access hole prevented me from using a sixth 96” fixture, so I used the aforementioned 48” fixture (see number 7) in that position, and hoped to equalize lighting front-to-rear with another 48” fixture that I daisy-chained in (see number 6).

In addition to the (6) metal halide fixtures, the previous owner installed a 48” fluorescent fixture as an “instant on” light while the metal halide bulbs were striking. I replaced it with an another 48” LED strip (see number 8). While it does contribute to the overall lighting effect, it’s original purpose was security when entering through the service door, so I may reposition it to a more favorable point down the road.

After a couple of weeks with the LED fixtures in place, I really can’t say if the lighting in my garage is any brighter than before because there was only a very short time when all the metal halide fixtures were completely functional. The walls were also originally bright yellow and I repainted them in semi-gloss white latex in the process.

Of the total effect, I finally have what I feel is plenty of lighting in my new garage! I also found it convenient having instant lighting as opposed to waiting for the metal halide bulbs to strike. And while I didn’t necessarily mind the incessant “buzzing” of the metal halide fixtures, it’s definitely much quieter when working with the doors closed.

Thanks to all who originally replied!