Tons of dead 4' Tubes

[kwb]

Background Info:
I have 15 - 4 lamp fixtures in my shop (36x42) about 18' up in the air. All T12 bulbs currently.

I have a lot of tubes that need replacing and probably more than a few ballasts will be identified as I try to replace bulbs.

I have not sheetrocked the lid but it is on the list of things to do.

I care a little about ongoing operating cost but I need to get the lighting back up to snuff.

I am out of the loop on what options are out there beyond T8/12 lighting until you get into Highbay stuff that really doesn't work in this small of a space.

THE Question -

Do I go with LED tube replacements and gut the ballasts out of fixtures with bad ballasts or should I be putting some other fixtures (Cans?) into the framing before I sheetrock?

 

[rockwithjason]

most of that is personal preference limited by budget. some guys swear by cans. I personally went the t8 rout because i had most of the stuff laying around. The cheapest option will be to re lamp and re ballast the inop units. if you want to spend some dough and get a better result then you could to the LED retrofit units. I have used the Brite Light 4ft tubes in 4k and they put out some light. In some places we reduced the number of tubes in a fixture because it was just too much.

 

[dreamingmuscle]

http://m.samsclub.com/ip/4-foot-led-...t/prod16460030

 

[checkthisout]

Get the 4 packs of ballasts at Home Depot and relamp with T8's.

 

[Norcal]

Best value for the buck will be to retrofit the fixtures for T8, the payback for a home shop is not there for LED's yet in a home shop, in a commercial environment with the lights on for long periods, & utility rebates make LED's cost effective for them. If T8's are chosen then would have to choose between a single 4-lamp ballast, or 2, 2-lamp ballasts in each fixture, a single ballast will be the cheapest route, using 2 ballasts gives the option of 2 level lighting with a bit of rewiring, but of course will cost more.

 

[CNGsaves]

+1 that re-using / converting fixtures from T12 to T8 is your best bet with all those fixtures.

If you were starting from scratch right now, I'd go with T5HO with your high ceiling . . . . but N/A given your circumstance.

 

[alfredeneuman]

Best value for the buck will be to retrofit the fixtures for T8, the payback for a home shop is not there for LED's yet in a home shop, in a commercial environment with the lights on for long periods, & utility rebates make LED's cost effective for them. If T8's are chosen then would have to choose between a single 4-lamp ballast, or 2, 2-lamp ballasts in each fixture, a single ballast will be the cheapest route, using 2 ballasts gives the option of 2 level lighting with a bit of rewiring, but of course will cost more.

The Winner!!

 

[kwb]

Agree - found some T8 ballast deals on Amazon.

Way better than what I have experienced with HD or Lowes in the past. Time to get the basket for the forklift out and spend some time in the air.

 

[Charles (in GA)]

Buy a bunch of new tombstones also, you will have cracked and burned ones, and ones you cannot get the wires out of. Carefully observe the wiring diagrams on the NEW ballasts, as it will be different than the old ones, get it wrong and it won't work.

Charles

 

[Fallon]

I put in T8's in my shop recently, 8' fixtures with 2 pars of 4' bulbs. Looks great for my 12-14' barn & 8-9' shop. The High output bulbs are just to bright for my low ceilings, but the big fixtures with standard bulbs work well.

Modern solid state (not old magnetic) T8 ballasts are as efficient as the new T5 ballasts.