Replace t12 lights with LED or replace entire fixture?

[kbkna]

My question is whether I am just throwing away money by replacing my t12 bulbs on older ballast lights with LED bulbs or should I be replacing the entire light fixture? Will I still have the cold weather start up problems with the old fixtures? Hasn't been cold enough here in Alabama to know if I am wasting my money? TIA

 

[BD1]

I replaced the entire fixture with the Costco LED'S for $30.00 each. They are great and work at COLD temperatures ,I'm in Northern Illinois.

 

[CMillet86]

My question is whether I am just throwing away money by replacing my t12 bulbs on older ballast lights with LED bulbs or should I be replacing the entire light fixture? Will I still have the cold weather start up problems with the old fixtures? Hasn't been cold enough here in Alabama to know if I am wasting my money? TIA

In our shop we have about 60 8 foot dual T12 fixtures, they are wired in with conduit and all that. So we weren't keen on switching them to something different. We decided to try Hyperikon 8' T12 LEDs. We are bypassing the ballast and wiring them direct, so far we've replaced 8 fixtures, and they put off so much light that we can now use 1 bulb per fixture instead of 2. You can only get them on Amazon, but they have great customer service. We had one bulb that half of it quit working, I called them and had a new bulb on it's way no questions asked the same day. They didn't even want the old bulb back.

 

[Moose364]

Get the LEDS that let you get rid of the ballast, no need to replace the fixture you just wire around it takes about 10 mins per light fixture to do,

 

[kbkna]

Thanks for the info. Was not aware of bypassing ballast! Now on to my next project.

 

[zendriver]

I recently installed these, along with retrofitted older quad fixtures with the ballasts removed. It's a joy to flip the light switch in freezing temperatures. http://m.samsclub.com/ip/honeywell-t8-18w-led-tube-light-set-2-pk-/prod20071895



Removing the ballast and rewiring, is a pretty simple procedure.


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[arca 54]

I just did 5 lights with bulbs from Bees lighting bypassed ballast they are great

 

[burger]

For a new installation, T8 bulbs/fixtures still offer the best value. However, in your case, retrofit LED bulbs are an obvious choice.

I recently upgraded a few T12 fixtures with these LED replacement bulbs from Bees Lighting. Installation was simple. You don't need to bypass the ballast, but in my case I was converting to LED because the T12 ballasts had failed. Removing the ballast and rewiring the fixtures took about 15 minutes each. The LED bulbs are noticeably brighter than the T12 bulbs.

 

[Crazyjake8493]

Get the LEDS that let you get rid of the ballast, no need to replace the fixture you just wire around it takes about 10 mins per light fixture to do,

This is what I did, and I'd highly recommend it. I got a bunch of free troffers from an old school, T12 bulbs, and just recently replaced all the bulbs with the ballast-bypass LED bulbs. As Moose said, takes about 10 minutes to change over each fixture. Much better light, instant on, full brightness. Bulbs were about $10 each online, so for $30 per fixture I end up with 6000 lumens per fixture. My dad bought some of the Lights Of America LED shop lights for $33 each at BJ's, and they put off nice light for over a workbench (claim 4200 lumens) but I felt like I would need too many of them to light up my whole garage.

 

[vartz04]

I was considering going the bulb route but Went with new LED's from costco in my workshop. It was almost the same price. I put the florescents in other area's where I won't use them as much (over desk in basement, under cabinets in garage, ect.)

 

[budco]

I recently installed these, along with retrofitted older quad fixtures with the ballasts removed. It's a joy to flip the light switch in freezing temperatures. http://m.samsclub.com/ip/honeywell-t8-18w-led-tube-light-set-2-pk-/prod20071895



Removing the ballast and rewiring, is a pretty simple procedure.


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No offense, but there is nothing that's a joy in freezing temps.....

 

[zendriver]

No offense, but there is nothing that's a joy in freezing temps.....

None taken, but the only way I can progress in my reality, is to be that " glass half-full" guy.

After experience in a freezing garage, with no lighting, or just as bad, useless flickering fluorescent lights, I take great joy in at least seeing what I am doing. .

Fwiw I have a rockin salamander heater I just didn't turn it on if I'm looking for a few tools


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