old fluorescent light fixtures

[jcm44]

About 2 years ago, I took apart a shop and was given all the fluorescent light fixtures out of the shop. I had no real plan for them and they went into an attic without much thought. Now I am moving and will need to light a new shop and I am wondering if these old things are worth hanging up or if I should just get something modern.

I am pretty sure they all have magnetic ballasts installed as they are all heavy compared to the newish lights I have already up in my current shop (granted there is a big metal to plastic weight difference). They don't seem to flicker from the ones I've plugged in, but there is a audible buzzing coming from the fixture.

So I don't know if lighting technology has advanced such that these lights aren't worth saving (rather the ballasts as I'd probably keep the fixture and change out the guts). I don't know if you can just plug a T8 or T12 bulb in and it will work. And I don't know if the buzzing is just par for the course or if it will slowly drive me insane.

Looking for any feedback or suggestions.

 

[Junkman]

Getting rid of them can create a problem, since today, the ballast is considered hazardous waste. I would offer them up to someone that collects scrap metal to sell, and give them away. Today, modern fixtures are so cheap, and they are much more energy efficient, that it doesn't make sense to deal with old fixtures.
I have a slew of old 2' x 4' fluorescent fixtures from my store, and I put them on Craigslist, saying come take them away for free, and every last one was gone in 2 days.

 

[jcm44]

I just prefer the wide shade these fixtures have. That's really my only reason for wanting to keep the fixture.

 

[Norcal]

What type of lamps do the fixtures take? If your not sure read the data off the ballast.

 

[phiftyseven]

Based on your info, I assume these are the older T12 style fixtures. You got them for free, why not use them ? Granted, the older, heavier magnetic ballasts aren't as energy efficient as newer fixtures, but if that doesn't bother you, I see no problem. The T12 bulbs are being phased out, and eventually you will have no choice but to switch to T8 lamps. Since you like the fixture, you can always replace the T12 ballasts with T8 ballasts as the T12's burn out. The sockets are the same, so they don't have to be changed, however the T8's wire up differently, so you'll just have to adjust some of the wiring to the sockets. I've done this with several of my fixtures and eventually will have all T8's in my garage. Just a reminder: Even though T8 bulbs fit the T12 socket, they are not interchangeable without changing the ballasts.

 

[WQ59B]

Another aspect to consider is that the 'so cheap' modern lights often don't seem to last but a few years before they need replacement, whereas the old magnetic ones last for decades. Had more than a few people attest to this via experience.

 

[jcm44]

Based on your info, I assume these are the older T12 style fixtures. You got them for free, why not use them ? Granted, the older, heavier magnetic ballasts aren't as energy efficient as newer fixtures, but if that doesn't bother you, I see no problem. The T12 bulbs are being phased out, and eventually you will have no choice but to switch to T8 lamps. Since you like the fixture, you can always replace the T12 ballasts with T8 ballasts as the T12's burn out. The sockets are the same, so they don't have to be changed, however the T8's wire up differently, so you'll just have to adjust some of the wiring to the sockets. I've done this with several of my fixtures and eventually will have all T8's in my garage. Just a reminder: Even though T8 bulbs fit the T12 socket, they are not interchangeable without changing the ballasts.

Bingo. All the ballasts say for 40W bulbs, so I am assuming those are T12s only. Good to know on the interchaning bulbs and glad I opened some of the fixtures, a few wire nuts have fallen off.