T5HO vs LED

[86turbodsl]

Have seen some discussions lately using these proposed LED bypass fixture details:

Direct quote from Platonic solid:

At 118 lumens per dollar, below combination for a new install is going to be tough to beat.

Price for 10 2-lamp 4ft LED bypass fixtures:

18W James LED Bypass $10.99 x 20 = $220 + Free Shipping
(Be sure to get frosted lens)

MaxLite LED Ready Strip Hsg $12.50 x 10 = $125.00 + $20 shipping

Total = $365 / 10 = $36.50 per complete fixture (all tax and shipping included),
4320 lumens, 36W, 120 Lumens per Watt.


I am really struggling with which direction to go on my new lighting, Home Depot $70 T5HO fixtures, versus some sort of LED lighting.

The T5 route gives me about 20,000 lumens / fixture for $70 + about $3/bulb.

The LED fixture route, i can do T8 bypass strips and 10/bulb for 2000 lumens / bulb but i think it will still be a tough deal to beat the T5 route. My ceiling is 14' and white steel. There's also the Ebay 10 pcs strips for $129. And there's the sam's club $35 / 4500 lumens fixtures, although i looked at them and they didn't seem that bright to me. Hardwired and mounted directly to the ceiling is a must for me.

The power savings of LED is attractive, the recent changes by EPA on coal burning, i expect my power costs to go up a LOT in future.

I'm old and really good lighting is a priority.

Are the LED's there yet, or is the T5 still higher output? I'm looking for bang/buck. Lighting isn't cheap.

 

[Slowgsr]

I love my t5hos, I have way too many though but they're up at 14feet

30x30 I have...
12 6lamp f54t5ho fixtures then above my workbench (on lower level of mezzanine), a row of 4lamp f32t8 fixtures. ( 6 fixtures )

 

[ForceFed70]

Sorta depends on what's really driving your choices. Regular T5 is more efficient than HO if you are concerned with efficiency. I've always found that the additional cost of a T5 fixture over a T8 fixture wasn't worth it. Nearly double the cost for only a few % higher efficiency.

 

[Platonic Solid]

86turbodsl - My quote means: In comparison to other UL Listed hardwired LED fixtures, the combination linked is hard to beat. Fluorescents are still cheaper lumens per $ as shown in the spread sheet which only covers F32T8, not F54T5HO. You guys with 12 to 14 ft ceilings are stuck between a rock and a hard place. The low cost LED options don't put out enough lumens and F54T5HO gives you glare when mounted below 15 ft.

Unless you want to spend real money on higher lumen LED fixtures (about 3x the cost of fluorescent fixtures), your best bet is to put up with a little glare and get the 4-lamp 8ft F54T5HO.

4 rows of 5, thus 20 fixtures (80 bulbs) will yield 81fc at 30" workplane.

Add white reflectors and yield increases to 93fc ...

Do not get mirror specular reflectors as they will focus the light like a spot light creating uneven distribution.

 

[1953mercury]

I have the mirrored reflectors on 4ft x 4 tube fixtures in both t-8 and t5ho in two different shop spaces and I'm very happy with the light output and distribution. No problems with glare, what so ever. Mike

 

[bloomingtonmike]

I have the mirrored reflectors on 4ft x 4 tube fixtures in both t-8 and t5ho in two different shop spaces and I'm very happy with the light output and distribution. No problems with glare, what so ever. Mike

Same with my eight t5ho 6 bulb 4' fixtures at 16'. Love them. I want 8 more.

 

[encantofred]

i have 21 6 bulb t5ho fixtures with mirror reflectors on a 20 foot ceiling and they are AWESOME i have 150 foot candles at waist height when they are all on. i have them on 7 switches so i can just turn on the ones i need.

i would have loved to have led's but the cost is still too high for me

to

 

[Shiftless]

i have 21 6 bulb t5ho fixtures with mirror reflectors on a 20 foot ceiling and they are AWESOME i have 150 foot candles at waist height when they are all on. i have them on 7 switches so i can just turn on the ones i need.

i would have loved to have led's but the cost is still too high for me

Wow, what a set up!
Smart move putting them on 7 different switches. It must be great to have so much light and so much control over all that power.
With 20 ft. ceilings and 21 super power light fixtures, you must have a pretty big building? What are the dimensions and what kind of work do you do in there?
I bet I'm not the only GJ reader who is jealous!

 

[Platonic Solid]

There are 2 ways to address glare on F54T5 fixtures mounted below 15ft: Louvers or Diffusers.

@ 1953mercury, bloomingtonmike, encantofred -
Can you guys be more specific on the F54T5HO fixtures you have = Make, Model, Link?
Also, please define mounting style. OP states: "mounted directly to the ceiling is a must for me". While searching for the ideal fixture for this application I see lots of fixtures that are chain or pendant mount only.

 

[encantofred]

Shiftless,

you can see my garage on my avatar picture. it is 70 deep, 65 wide with 20' ceiling. stick built to match my house. stucco, tile roof. inside is a 32x16 mancave with party kitchen, full bathroom and a mancave room. the mancave i am working on finishing now as the rest of the inside of the shop as well

i have a rotory 2 post SPO15 15k lift and 2 14' wide and 15' high insulated doors. the structure is 2x8's with r30 insulation drywall on the inside.

still a work in progress.

it is not a business, just my dream retirement garage to work on my RV and vehicles and hang out in.

tom

 

[86turbodsl]

This question has become academic now. I just scored huge on craigslist, a guy had 27 4 bulb T5HO fixtures WITH bulbs and he sold them all to me for $200. That makes these less than $7.50 each. And they came with bulbs too. I do have to reballast them to 120-277V, but even with that, they still are a stellar deal. My whole shop relamped for probably less than $500.