Thoughts on Lowes Lighting

[jeffj78]

I'm going to Lowes tonight - anyone use their Utilitech lighting? Pros/Cons?

I'm looking at the 4 bulb T8's.

I cannot seem to find the parent company anywhere to do further research.

 

[Stuey]

I have limited experience with the Utilitech products, but it seems to me that they're the same generic products that you will find elsewhere under other brand names.

Some of the products are quite good, some are only soso. Sorry that I cannot advise you further.

 

[Striker]

I have three T8 2 bulb electronic ballast commercial fixtures that are Utilitech brand. They function just fine and act like any other fluorescent light fixture I've seen.

 

[thdewey]

I just installed these lights in my garage. The lighting is effective and will do the job nicely. But, I under estimated how annoying the radio RFI interference would be. I have some spot lights above the workbench that I turn on and then turn all the flourescent off. Hopefully, I'll get the satellite signal out there as soon as I can.

 

[jeffj78]

I take it you mean the AM/FM issues?

 

[thdewey]

I take it you mean the AM/FM issues?

Yes. Because I'm spending more time in my garage than I thought I would. The first thing I do when I get in is turn on the radio. Maybe someone here will come up with a cheap and easy solution to this problem. I just turn the flourescent lights off until I need them, for now.
Oh, I just thought of something. Each box that I got from Lowes was labled '2 bulb' when they were in fact 4 bulb (four, four foot T-8). They were the exact box that the two bulb 8' T-8 came in. Just make sure that the codes on the sticker at the end of the box match what you want. I HATE having to run back to Lowes for somethiong this stupid! The electrical inspector said that I needed to put a romex clamp on each fixture, so that is what I did. The standard one will do.

 

[jeffj78]

Does anyone have a fix for it? From what I googled, there seems to be a difference between the residential ballasts and the commercial when it comes to RFI suppression.

 

[thdewey]

Ther are many theads on the RFI issue on GJ. It seems there should be a way to shield the radio/antenna than change out EVERY ballast.