Replacing old tubes with CFL floods

[Xringer]

In the garage, I had two fluorescent tube fixtures, one over each car.
One of them has been buzzing, I got new tubes (40" or 40W?) and it still buzzed.

Anyways, I had some old security light parts left over and I have a bunch of left-over 65w CFL floods..
So, I recycled the parts and made a new fixture to replace the old Buzzer..



Two of those old 65w CFLs came out of the security light fixture for the back deck.
It now has some new $8.00 75w LEDs from Lowes.
http://ecorenovator.org/forum/sale-t...lood-%248.html



I used clear Krylon spray paint on these bulbs to make them more water-resistant..(I hope).
It rained last night, but not enough for a good test..

[jeff5may]

how do you like the outdoor motion detector? The place I move into has one over the driveway door that doesn't work until you're on the porch. Thinking about replacing it before winter sets in.

[NiHaoMike]

You could have swapped out the old ballast with one of the new inverter types and actually get a better efficiency than CFL. The spiral design of the CFL means that it tends to block its own light. Try shining a flashlight through a CFL (turned off) and you'll understand the problem.

[Xringer]

Originally Posted by jeff5may

how do you like the outdoor motion detector? The place I move into has one over the driveway door that doesn't work until you're on the porch. Thinking about replacing it before winter sets in.

Take a look at the bottom of the unit. They normally have a time-out setting(with a test mode position),
and a sensitivity setting, which is a gain control that sets the detection range..
It might be set low, because it was triggering when cold(or warm) wind was starting to blow.
I have two that do that. Weather changes real fast in the late evening, lights come on for no reason.

[Xringer]

Originally Posted by NiHaoMike

You could have swapped out the old ballast with one of the new inverter types and actually get a better efficiency than CFL. The spiral design of the CFL means that it tends to block its own light. Try shining a flashlight through a CFL (turned off) and you'll understand the problem.

Did not want to put any more money into the fixture.
I'm saving the tubes (I purchased last summer) for my two indoor work bench fixtures.

Plus, I had spare security light parts in the bin(Free) and about a dozen
brand new 65W CFL flood lights(Free) that will never be used, if I don't use them.
(I've been changing from CFLs to LEDs, so I have a LOT of spare CFLs).

Our garage is detached from the house, and my guesstimate is
those new garage lights will be used for less than 10 hours a year.
(Otherwise, I would install some new $8 75w LED floods out there).

Total cost $0.00 and, my wife is no longer bugging me about
the buzzing noise, and "Will it start a fire?" ete etc..