I have a 24 by 30 shop 9 ft ceilings, I plan on running 9 or 10 fixtures (attached to the ceiling not hanging) I bought four $20 fixtures from Home depot to see if I like the 6500 color and to try them. Two out of four were bad and they are flimsy junk. What do I need to look for or whats everyone using? Thanks!
Which t8 fixtures
- Thread starter Daveo
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pattenp
Well-known member
Re: Witch t8 fixtures
This is a commonly used fixture.
http://www.homedepot.com/p/Lithonia...ip-Light-TUNS-2-32-MVOLT-1-4-GEBHL/202193181#
This is a commonly used fixture.
http://www.homedepot.com/p/Lithonia...ip-Light-TUNS-2-32-MVOLT-1-4-GEBHL/202193181#
Last edited:
Stuart in MN
Well-known member
Re: Witch t8 fixtures
Tell us what make and model light fixture you bought in the first place.
Tell us what make and model light fixture you bought in the first place.
Re: Witch t8 fixtures
Good thinking
Im not too concerned about how thin they are. Im just concerned that half dont work already...
Here is what I bought
http://www.homedepot.com/p/Lithonia...-Fluorescent-1242ZG-RE/202052422#.UjoPlD-E584
Good thinking
Im not too concerned about how thin they are. Im just concerned that half dont work already...Here is what I bought
http://www.homedepot.com/p/Lithonia...-Fluorescent-1242ZG-RE/202052422#.UjoPlD-E584
pattenp
Well-known member
Re: Witch t8 fixtures
So you need plug in fixtures? I was assuming you got the fixtures that are to be hardwired.
So you need plug in fixtures? I was assuming you got the fixtures that are to be hardwired.
djjsr
Well-known member
What brand is the ballast in your fixtures?
I put six of these in my 24x36 garage. A total of 24 48" T8 bulbs. I also went with 6500k (daylight) temp. I love 'em! Check my build thread for pictures.
http://www.lowes.com/pd_163723-337-...L=?Ns=p_product_qty_sales_dollar|1&facetInfo=
http://www.lowes.com/pd_163723-337-...L=?Ns=p_product_qty_sales_dollar|1&facetInfo=
2ManyProjects
Well-known member
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http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showpost.php?p=3371534&postcount=11
FWIW, I'm currently planning on 12-14 of the four-foot models, plus 3-5 of the two-footers, for my 20x20 garage. What's right for you will depend on (among other things) the specific layout of your garage, and what you plan to be doing in there; but just as a W-A-G, you can probably figure on half-again my fixture count, given your much larger space. Don't let that scare you, tho'; as long as you wire them up in several separately switched banks (with some thought put into the coverage patterns involved), there is virtually no downside to using a large number of modestly-priced fixtures.
djjsr
Well-known member
Those Metalux fixtures (see Rainking's post above) from Lowes are the best deal I've found. Reasonably priced and they have a Sylvania ballast.
DpSyChO
Well-known member
Re: Witch t8 fixtures
I do things a little bit differently. I do not hard wire any of my florescent fixtures. I have receptacles on my light circuit, within a couple of feet of the fixture and all fixtures plug in but are still controlled by the light switch. In the good ol' days it seemed like what ever ballast I had would be obsolete for Lowes when one would go out so it seemed cheaper for me to buy a new fixture than get a ballast from the supply house. Unplug the old fixture, unscrew from ceiling, change over plug in, screw new fixture to ceiling and plug in.
I do things a little bit differently. I do not hard wire any of my florescent fixtures. I have receptacles on my light circuit, within a couple of feet of the fixture and all fixtures plug in but are still controlled by the light switch. In the good ol' days it seemed like what ever ballast I had would be obsolete for Lowes when one would go out so it seemed cheaper for me to buy a new fixture than get a ballast from the supply house. Unplug the old fixture, unscrew from ceiling, change over plug in, screw new fixture to ceiling and plug in.
Falcon67
Well-known member
Is it safe to run 7 of these on a single 20 breaker?
I had it figured that I could run 10 of the other ones on the same breaker
I bought these from Menard's.
http://www.menards.com/main/lightin...dem-t8-fluorescent-strip/p-1385175-c-7242.htm
I like them but they do have one issue and that is radio interference. I moved the radio to the other side of the garage to fix the problem.
You may want to ask the other members who posted links if what they linked cause RFI.
http://www.menards.com/main/lightin...dem-t8-fluorescent-strip/p-1385175-c-7242.htm
I like them but they do have one issue and that is radio interference. I moved the radio to the other side of the garage to fix the problem.
You may want to ask the other members who posted links if what they linked cause RFI.
I ran 6 of them on a single 15 amp breaker so you are fine. Here's the math.
7 fixtures @ 4 bulbs = 28 bulbs. Each bulb is 32 watts. 28*32=896 watts. Amps formula: watts/volts=amps. 896/110=8.15 amps.
Stuart in MN
Well-known member
Re: Witch t8 fixtures
That's interesting - I have a few of those in my basement and thought they were pretty good quality.
Good thinking
Here is what I bought
http://www.homedepot.com/p/Lithonia...-Fluorescent-1242ZG-RE/202052422#.UjoPlD-E584
That's interesting - I have a few of those in my basement and thought they were pretty good quality.
You guy are awesome! Thanks. I went with 6 of those from lowes. At least I know I can add on if needed
Re: Witch t8 fixtures
I took the 2 that didnt work apart. Everything was hooked up right. So it must have been bad ballasts....
I took the 2 that didnt work apart. Everything was hooked up right. So it must have been bad ballasts....
djjsr
Well-known member
Those fixtures that somebody posted from Menards are a crapshoot. I bought 4 of them and 2 of the ballasts quit within a month or 2. The other 2 have been fine for a few years. The bad ballasts were made by "American Ballast" in China.
The ones I just got from Lowes have a sylvania ballast in them.... I'll be happy to post any info on them. I have 2 of them up. But I still have to wire them...