Shop led lighting

Shoebox

Shoebox

Well-known member
When I built my house with attached shop 18 years ago, for the tall ceiling I used what was recommended, metal halide I believe. Recently several have died, and I never did like the buzzing sound. Now I'm ready to replace all and what I'm hearing is that I should be looking at High Bay LED lights. Just wondering if any of you guys have gone with this sort of lighting. Any recommendations or comments most welcome.

THANKS!
 
Hi; Retired electrician here... The new Leds are fantastic, I installed High bay t-5s [flor] and did not like the heat they produced. T-8s [Flor] with electronic ballasts can be converted to Led T-8s by just replacement. Note the 'brightness' ratings in Lumuns. Your eyes maybe sensitive. Newc
 
Yep, took out all the florescents and replaced with LED.
All purchased on line (EBAY)
Daylight color.
The ceiling is 10 foot and they look great.
The 8 ft fixtures I removed weighed about 15 pounds each.
 
Whenever I lose a fluorescent tube, I convert that fixture to led's. I'm about half converted now. I think they're great.
 
Thanks for the responses guys. 51 MERC any info on the units you used, such as watts, lummens ? I'm interested in round lights that can hang from existing hooks.


Scott
 
I replaced all the fluorescent fixtures in my shop with LED fixtures I bought at Costco. The complete units were cheaper than converting the fluorescent ones to LED.
 
Be aware that some of the bargain priced LEDs are low on lumens output. I think my present t-8 bulbs are about 2300 L per bulb. I have bought some single single bulb LED fixtures for over the workbenches that are rated at 5000 L .
 
I work for the local school system, we have been converting high bay light in gyms to LED, in one we used a conversation that uses the fixture and wires around the ballast. The light is intense as stated, we used Creed in one and Lithonia in a couple more, the light output is great. If you choose the right lumen you will be amazed.
 
I also replaced all of my florescent lights with LEDs. What a difference! Instant on, even in cold weather, no noise, twice as bright as before...I can see in the garage now. And they are cheaper to operate, plus last much longer so I am told.
So, whats not to love? Switch over. I wonder why I waited so long.
 
I replaced my old shop lights with the clear leds last fall, had mixed results. Had to buy darker sunglasses
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, found tools and parts I thought I lost 25 years ago
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.

Love them. JT
 
There are basically two color temps also for most LEDS. Warm (amber) and blue. Blue are very bright and can seem odd in a house, much brighter. I like warm colors for the home and blue/clear light for shop, etc.


I replaced 2 florescent hanging units with 6 100w leds bulbs and the old regular (cheap) incandescent ceramic fixtures (rewire). Doubled my light in the house garage.





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I replaced all the fluorescent tubes with leds a few years back and i got to choose between Warm-Daylight-Cold for color. Went with daylight since even though the cold seemed much more bright it was kind of sterile.Was told Warm is for living areas and Cold for industrial.
Very happy with the Daylight choice that is in middle.
 
You can save yourself some money by just replacing the lamp. You will have to wire the socket directly with 120/240 voltage you have at the fixture. You leave all the wiring for the ballast, starter, etc. out.
 
If you have old magnetic ballasts you can leave them in...the electronic ones has to go.
The led tubes come in 2 types...one has both connections at one end usually the newer dimmable ones are this type...the other type has one connection at each end.
 
Leaving the ballasts in the circuit increases the power required for the LEDs, also another source of failure with the ballasts. I went with the ballast bypass type, a little more wiring but worth it to me.
 
I tossed all the 4' flourescents in my 30'x40'x12' shop with LEDs from Sams club about 2-years ago. 8 units light it up like daylight immediately even in the coldest weather. I love them and will use them in the new shop I'm building.
 
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