Workshop lighting upgrade

[dave]

Hi all!

My shop currently has four fluorescent light fixtures so I am need of more light and thought I would upgrade to LED. I have seen some plug in LED fixtures and was hoping I could pull down the current fixtures and wire up outlets in the ceiling to run two separate LED fixtures, thereby doubling the number of lights to eight.

Not being schooled in electricity, I wanted to ask if this would work or is this not a good idea?

Thanks!
Dave

 

[Mark Gottesman]

The costco LED fixtures for $35 are great for this. I just put two in my workspace and am saving up for more.

 

[Mike Davis]

Mark,

How thick are those from top to bottom? I need light above my garage door and should have a fixture that is less than 2 inches tall for that space.

 

[dave]

Mark,

Do you have a link for those? I am not having any luck finding them.

 

[Mark Gottesman]

DAVE: I can't find it on the site either. It may be a limited offer item at the Winston-Salem warehouse. Costco # 858582 $34.99 @. Here is a link to a review http://www.designingwithleds.com/review-costcos-feit-led-shop-light-with-integral-lamps/

MIKE: It measures 1.75" thick on end cap.

 

[Pop Golden]

I have just upgraded my shop lights. My shop is about 600 sq. ft. I replaced the ballast from T-12 to T-8. I now have 32 T-8s & a LED flood. If this sounds like overkill, I'm 75, never had great eyes, but now I have to have tons of light to see what I'm doing.

Here's a lesson: I paid $15 for the ballast & spent around 1 to 2 hours work. A new fixture would have cost me $20. IT'S NOT WORTH THE TROUBLE! Next go-around I'll just buy new fixtures.

Pop

 

[woodworker2000]

Here's a lesson: I paid $15 for the ballast & spent around 1 to 2 hours work. A new fixture would have cost me $20. IT'S NOT WORTH THE TROUBLE! Next go-around I'll just buy new fixtures.

That is always frustrating. You try to do the right thing for the environment by repairing instead of replacing but the price difference makes it hard to justify the effort.

 

[Phil S]

recently on a commercial job, we needed a very thin fixture as there was only a few inches between the grid and the ducts. I asked my electrician to get as thin a light as he could. We got a led light panel that was 2' x 4' x less than 1/2" thick and brighter than any tube fixture. These will soon be the norm, rather expensive now but they will come down fast

 

[Mike Davis]

We use some in the plant, 1x2 inches by 8 feet long and super bright. But the cost is about $800 each.

 

[jerrye]

The costco LED fixtures for $35 are great for this. I just put two in my workspace and am saving up for more.

I have one of these installed in the wife's crafting room. I plan to replace the T12's in the garage with these. I recommend them highly.

 

[CrealBilly]

I'm still on T8's - its nice to know you guys are happy with the LEDs. Maybe they will replace those crappy CFLs in the near future. I am still amazed every time I go to purchase bulbs. It used to be simply but not anymore.

Never do anything during the day that will keep you awake at night

 

[fulldec]

FYI

Home Depot Buy-Of-The-Day has LED InstantFit 4 ft. T8 16.5-Watt Daylight (5000K) Linear LED Light Bulb (10-Pack) for $142 with free shipping.
http://www.homedepot.com/p/Philips-...inear-LED-Light-Bulb-10-Pack-434894/205565981

Also, InstantFit 4 ft. T8 32-Watt Cool White (4000K) Linear LED Light Bulb (10-Pack) for $142 with free shipping. http://www.homedepot.com/p/Philips-...inear-LED-Light-Bulb-10-Pack-434605/205084792

Plus 3 other LED replacement bulbs on sale.

Don

 

[Rwe2156]

Check this out on retrofitting.
This place sells the bulbs for a lot

 

[fulldec]

Check this out on retrofitting.
This place sells the bulbs for a lot

Thanks, that looks like a better deal. It is not clear if they sell quantities less than the case of 25, though.

Don

 

[Mike Davis]

I got two of the fixtures from Costco and they are great, they put out a lot more light than I expected and were super easy to hang. I just screwed them to the ceiling and plugged them into a power strip. Now I have light at the far end of the shop over the table saw and i can still raise the garage door when I need to.

 

[smallboat]

Thanks I need to do this, light above the garage door track would be a real plus