T8 4' strips lights for shop?

[signcrafter]

I have a case of t8 bulbs in the shop that the previous owner left. Right now there are 8 t12 old 4 bulb flourescent lights in the shop that half don't work. Lighting is on the long list of upgrades for the shop but that is down the road sometime since it's a decent chunk of change to go with LED shop lights. Was thinking since I already have this case of bulbs I might go pick up some cheap 4' t8 strip lights to use these bulbs in to get some more light in the shop for now. Menards has the 2 bulb light fixtures for 9 bucks each. Would this be a good way to get some more lighting in the shop for now for not a lot of money since I already have the bulbs? I could get 10 of these for 100 bucks. How big of an area would a 2 bulb 4' fixture light up? Main shop is 43x25'. Ceiling height is only 8'.

Would ten of these do a decent job at lighting it up? Figure if I run two rows of 5 that should give a decent amount of light, not perfect but decent. I have 34 bulbs so could do up to 17 lights without having to buy any bulbs. Or am I just wasting money? Figure if 100 bucks will get me a little better lighting for now until I redo it all then it would be worth it.

 

[Shiftless]

If it was me, I would sell those brand new t-8s and put that money plus your $100 toward what you really want. You’ll save labor time as well instead of doing it twice. Check out the stickies for fixture suggestions.

Buy once, cry once.

 

[u2slow]

You can't buy a T8 ballast for $9. You have new T8 tubes.

I would buy a few of those fixtures... swap the ballast and renew the fixtures you have (in-place). Buy a few extra ballast-bypass LED tubes (maybe just 1 each) for the new fixtures to add supplemental lighting.

Doing stuff once never worked for me.

 

[Bert_]

Nothing wrong with T8's.

Those strip lights for $9 probably have a **** ballast though. You could open one up in the store to find out. Menards is pretty good about that.

Put an ad on Craigslist or something and you could probably get better fixtures.

What kind of fixtures do you have now? Might be cheaper just to fix or upgrade them if they're decent.

 

[T VETTE]

Saw this company on the internet called Zoro selling Lithonia fixture with two T8 tubes for $15.31 and free shipping with orders over $50 Anybody know about them? I can hear Bert now, **** ballast!

 

[BFBOB]

Assuming the existing fixtures' ballasts are good and it's just the some of the tubes that are shot, won't T8's work in T12 fixtures? (in pairs, I assume)

I'm fairly sure I've done this in a couple of fixtures my shop, but they've been sitting there working without complaint for so long I've forgotten what size tubes were in them to begin with.

I've dealt with Zoro for tools and welding supplies. Good prices and products, and when I did have a problem they took it back and refunded without a squawk.

 

[mrobins297aaa]

I agree with Bert, the problem with those cheap fixtures is they have cheap ballasts that will burn out way before the bulbs will

 

[Platonic Solid]

Thread needs link to fixture being discussed. Some ultra-cheap fluorescent fixtures have non-removable ballasts and lamp holders that can't be replaced or rewired for future LED retrofit use.

 

[whtbaron]

My shop was a combination of T-8's and LED's because back then the LED's were still very expensive. If I was doing it today I'd go all LED... I agree with the above, sell the stuff you don't really want and do it right. Start saving on power bills now and let them pay for themselves.

 

[u2slow]

A $9 T8 fixture these days is most likely on clearance, not necessarily 'cheap'.

Assuming the existing fixtures' ballasts are good and it's just the some of the tubes that are shot, won't T8's work in T12 fixtures? (in pairs, I assume)

I'm fairly sure I've done this in a couple of fixtures my shop, but they've been sitting there working without complaint for so long I've forgotten what size tubes were in them to begin with.

No. T8 needs a higher striking voltage to light, and lower base current. Ballasts are marked for what lamps they use. T8 and T12 use the same tombstones, but are usually wired differently. Electronic T8 ballasts for 2 or 4 lamps will normally run one lamp by itself (pairs not required).

 

[cadunkle]

A new direct wire two tube fixture plus two tubes will run $30-$40/ea depending on your choice of fixture and tubes. When I did mine it was about $27 per fixture with 17w 2200 lumen 5k tubes. I have 20 of these in my 24'x30' with 10' ceiling and I think it's just right.

After finally having good lighting, I wouldn't waste time and money on anything less, or a mix and match hodgepodge of older junk and freebies. If you want to resolve current broken fixtures, get a few fixtures to do one row of ganged strips at a time (or maybe just some task lighting in key areas first) and use the displaced T12 strips for parts to fix the broken ones until you get around to replacing the rest.

 

[nadogail]

I think I bought something (I don't remember what) from Zorro once and was pleased with it.

Sorry, I can't remember what or when.

 

[T VETTE]

I have a case of t8 bulbs in the shop that the previous owner left. Right now there are 8 t12 old 4 bulb flourescent lights in the shop that half don't work. Lighting is on the long list of upgrades for the shop but that is down the road sometime since it's a decent chunk of change to go with LED shop lights. Was thinking since I already have this case of bulbs I might go pick up some cheap 4' t8 strip lights to use these bulbs in to get some more light in the shop for now. Menards has the 2 bulb light fixtures for 9 bucks each. Would this be a good way to get some more lighting in the shop for now for not a lot of money since I already have the bulbs? I could get 10 of these for 100 bucks. How big of an area would a 2 bulb 4' fixture light up? Main shop is 43x25'. Ceiling height is only 8'.

Would ten of these do a decent job at lighting it up? Figure if I run two rows of 5 that should give a decent amount of light, not perfect but decent. I have 34 bulbs so could do up to 17 lights without having to buy any bulbs. Or am I just wasting money? Figure if 100 bucks will get me a little better lighting for now until I redo it all then it would be worth it.

My new garage is same as yours and almost done, I am likely to use 12 T-8 two bulb fixtures, thinking of using Lithonia fixture and LED tubes. It will not be as bright as hospital surgery room but I think very good. Seen reasonable price for Lithonia at Zoro site and also at Home depot.

 

[bas157]

Zoro is legit, its a branch of Grainger (or just another storefront for Grainger, something like that).

 

[alfredeneuman]

Saw this company on the internet called Zoro selling Lithonia fixture with two T8 tubes for $15.31 and free shipping with orders over $50

Lithonia fixtures use quality ballasts.
The residential fixture's ballast interfere with radio reception. The commercial ballasts don't.

 

[cybrdyke]

The residential fixture's ballast interfere with radio reception. The commercial ballasts don't.

Oops! It's the other way around.
CD