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Anyone using LED shop lights?

11/26/16       
Mike Fuson

I'm currently using 8' fluorescent lights in the shop, recently bought a 4' LED for a small space and was surprised at how much light it gave. According to what I've researched they cost less than half in energy costs, don't have to replace bulbs as often, they don't have to warm up during colder weather, no buzzing. Looks like the only down size is they are more expensive. To my understanding I could use my old fixture and bypass the ballast and that will cost about $50 per fixture. Is it worth the effort and money?

11/26/16       #2: Anyone using LED shop lights? ...
Tom hennessy

Just replaced my shop with them and have been really impressed. The light is much brighter and the energy savings are suppose to be much better. Your right about the cost per bulb and needing to remove the ballast as well. I paid my electrician to do the work and it took him about 3-4 hrs to rip out all the ballasts and replace 2 rows of lights in a 60' run. Cost about 2500.00, but with it.

11/26/16       #3: Anyone using LED shop lights? ...
Family Man

Yes, I have been replacing them at the rate of one or two a month as bulbs in the old flourescents die. Costco has them cheap. They give off more light and running off solar, hence tracking power, they do use substantially less. No brainer move.

11/26/16       #4: Anyone using LED shop lights? ...
Eric Smith

They are great. Our local utility had a rebate program that paid for most of the cost of ours. You might check with yours -

11/26/16       #5: Anyone using LED shop lights? ...
Leo G

I use T5HO 54 watt. LEDs are not brighter. Might be less expensive to run though.

11/28/16       #6: Anyone using LED shop lights? ...
JP Member

I have used the 4500k and 5k can light trims. They are so bright you can hardly stand to look directly at them.
They use almost no power.

11/30/16       #7: Anyone using LED shop lights? ...
Matt M

I'm a bit of an LED whore, I have a rather costly LED array over my reef aquarium that I put together myself from raw components.

However, I did NOT want them in my shop.

Leo is right, T5HO is basically as effiecient as most LED's. It's not exactly "just as good" but it's close enough that it doesn't matter.

T5HO is going to give you FAR fewer shadows. This reason alone stopped me.

LED's are such a strong point-source of light that even using dozens of individual lights will actually cause you dozens of individual shadows.

I bought a couple LED pendant type lights (50 watts) to test out. Yes, bright, but the shadows are just too harsh.

T5HO high-bay lights, 6-tube 48" are available, with lamps (4200K or 5000K recommended) for around $150 locally.

The bulbs are cheap, ballasts are reasonable, and they all last for years.

The secret is in the reflectors.

12/1/16       #8: Anyone using LED shop lights? ...
Guy Knight

did my whole shop in them 29.99 at cosco i have 18 and may add a few more love them


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