Help me install better garage / shop lighting - Page 4

bennelson · 12-16-14, 04:20 PM

Daox, how are those LED tubes working out for you so far? I'm really impressed with the Sylvania/Osram LED tubes I put up in my garage.

GdB · 12-16-14, 04:33 PM

Since the LEDs don't need the ballast, I wonder if these work with a bad ballast?

How do ballast fail?

Daox · 12-16-14, 04:51 PM

I haven't installed the LED tubes yet. First off, they'll be a Christmas present, so I'm going to have to wait for them. Also, I have one extra fixture that they'll be going into, and I have to fix it. One of the bulb end holders is busted.

gasstingy · 12-16-14, 05:08 PM

[Since the LEDs don't need the ballast, I wonder if these work with a bad ballast?]

GdB:

I'm not an electrician, but I watched the install over my desk at work. It took less than 10 minutes. Remove old bulbs, remove ballast cover, cut all wires off ballast and throw ballast away. Only one end of LED bulb gets power, so identify the power feed bulb holder and use it. Cut wires off the other end bulb holder. Put ballast cover back in place. Install bulbs. Prepare to be amazed at the increased light level using ~ half the power of the old bulbs.

BTW, this description should not be used to install your own if you aren't comfortable with doing this kind of work.

Robaroni · 12-16-14, 05:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GdB

Since the LEDs don't need the ballast, I wonder if these work with a bad ballast?

How do ballast fail?

Ballasts fail from a breakdown in the internal wiring, ballasts are used to limit the current in FL lamps and also supply a high starting voltage which FL's need to light, once lit the high voltage drops off and the ballast limits the current keeping the FL from overheating.

There should be a sheet that comes with the LED's, it's a pretty straight process even for those not so familiar with ballasts. There's usually enough wire under the cover to allow you to cut the wires from the ballast and bypass it. You don't have to remove the ballast itself, in fact I left mine in.

Rob

gasstingy · 06-30-15, 08:54 AM

Bumping thread to see what happened. You said, "I haven't installed the LED tubes yet. First off, they'll be a Christmas present, so I'm going to have to wait for them. "

Are you basking in the glow of LED lights?

stevehull · 06-30-15, 10:11 AM

I have used "bright" white ceiling paint where I need a lot of light. Many point stores can add extra "brightener" to increase the reflectance at a very low cost ($1 per gallon or so). This is above glossy, so textured ceilings don't work. A friend of mine also put the glossy paint on his shop walls, but it didn't do nearly as much as on the ceiling.

Just did a large shop and went with T-8 as a compromise. If it were a commercial shop, with significant occupancy, I would certainly go LED. But for occasional home use, the T-8 looks to be best value. T-5s are just SO pricey.

In another barn, I also used old fixtures, removed the old magnetic ballasts, put in new ballasts, new T8 end connectors, repainted them - and spent more money than buying new fixtures already with ballasts and all ready to go. Go figure . . . Some fixtures even have the bulbs included.

I did stagger the lights on the ceiling and each group are on different switches, so I can turn on one bank of lights or two depending on the need. Another essential is a roll up reel in the ceiling so you can drop a hot AC line from overhead. You don't have to do this now, just wire it so you have a plug there for a later install.

I also put in a couple cheap overhead ceiling fans. They are a HUGE issue when I am hot and trying to work on something in the summer (note the "trying" word . . . . ).

Think also of the utility of a high output (60-80 A), 240 outlet (welder, air compressor, etc). This may be more information than you need, but why is it that when I just want a couple of lights up and then I get involved with all this other stuff as well . . . .

Let us know how it is going.

Steve

bennelson · 06-30-15, 10:23 AM

I'm still loving my LED tubes. They work great, good color, nice and bright.

Daox · 06-30-15, 03:43 PM

I still haven't put the LEDs in. I'll get around to it, but the fixture they're going into is a little banged up and need some repair first.

12-16-14, 04:20 PM	#31
bennelson Home-Wrecker Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: SE Wisconsin Posts: 546 Thanks: 3 Thanked 165 Times in 96 Posts	Daox, how are those LED tubes working out for you so far? I'm really impressed with the Sylvania/Osram LED tubes I put up in my garage. __________________ To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

12-16-14, 04:51 PM	#33
Daox Administrator Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Germantown, WI Posts: 5,525 Thanks: 1,162 Thanked 374 Times in 305 Posts	I haven't installed the LED tubes yet. First off, they'll be a Christmas present, so I'm going to have to wait for them. Also, I have one extra fixture that they'll be going into, and I have to fix it. One of the bulb end holders is busted. __________________ Current project - To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. & To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

06-30-15, 10:11 AM	#37
stevehull Steve Hull Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: hilly, tree covered Arcadia, OK USA Posts: 826 Thanks: 241 Thanked 165 Times in 123 Posts	I have used "bright" white ceiling paint where I need a lot of light. Many point stores can add extra "brightener" to increase the reflectance at a very low cost ($1 per gallon or so). This is above glossy, so textured ceilings don't work. A friend of mine also put the glossy paint on his shop walls, but it didn't do nearly as much as on the ceiling. Just did a large shop and went with T-8 as a compromise. If it were a commercial shop, with significant occupancy, I would certainly go LED. But for occasional home use, the T-8 looks to be best value. T-5s are just SO pricey. In another barn, I also used old fixtures, removed the old magnetic ballasts, put in new ballasts, new T8 end connectors, repainted them - and spent more money than buying new fixtures already with ballasts and all ready to go. Go figure . . . Some fixtures even have the bulbs included. I did stagger the lights on the ceiling and each group are on different switches, so I can turn on one bank of lights or two depending on the need. Another essential is a roll up reel in the ceiling so you can drop a hot AC line from overhead. You don't have to do this now, just wire it so you have a plug there for a later install. I also put in a couple cheap overhead ceiling fans. They are a HUGE issue when I am hot and trying to work on something in the summer (note the "trying" word . . . . ). Think also of the utility of a high output (60-80 A), 240 outlet (welder, air compressor, etc). This may be more information than you need, but why is it that when I just want a couple of lights up and then I get involved with all this other stuff as well . . . . Let us know how it is going. Steve __________________ consulting on geothermal heating/cooling & rational energy use since 1990

06-30-15, 10:23 AM	#38
bennelson Home-Wrecker Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: SE Wisconsin Posts: 546 Thanks: 3 Thanked 165 Times in 96 Posts	I'm still loving my LED tubes. They work great, good color, nice and bright. __________________ To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

06-30-15, 03:43 PM	#39
Daox Administrator Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Germantown, WI Posts: 5,525 Thanks: 1,162 Thanked 374 Times in 305 Posts	I still haven't put the LEDs in. I'll get around to it, but the fixture they're going into is a little banged up and need some repair first. __________________ Current project - To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. & To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

12-16-14, 04:33 PM	#32
GdB Lurking Renovator Join Date: Aug 2014 Location: Cypress, CA Posts: 5 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Since the LEDs don't need the ballast, I wonder if these work with a bad ballast? How do ballast fail?

12-16-14, 05:08 PM	#34
gasstingy Journeyman EcoRenovator Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Arab, AL Posts: 491 Thanks: 109 Thanked 49 Times in 43 Posts	[Since the LEDs don't need the ballast, I wonder if these work with a bad ballast?] GdB: I'm not an electrician, but I watched the install over my desk at work. It took less than 10 minutes. Remove old bulbs, remove ballast cover, cut all wires off ballast and throw ballast away. Only one end of LED bulb gets power, so identify the power feed bulb holder and use it. Cut wires off the other end bulb holder. Put ballast cover back in place. Install bulbs. Prepare to be amazed at the increased light level using ~ half the power of the old bulbs. BTW, this description should not be used to install your own if you aren't comfortable with doing this kind of work.

06-30-15, 08:54 AM	#36
gasstingy Journeyman EcoRenovator Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Arab, AL Posts: 491 Thanks: 109 Thanked 49 Times in 43 Posts	Bumping thread to see what happened. You said, "I haven't installed the LED tubes yet. First off, they'll be a Christmas present, so I'm going to have to wait for them. " Are you basking in the glow of LED lights?