Shop lighting

[Cherryville Chuck]

I finally quit putting off changing out the rest of my T12 ballasts with LED tubes. I still have 3 out of 12 fixtures with T8 ballasts and bulbs that won’t get changed out until they go bad most likely.

I used the bulbs with internal drivers which meant the ballasts were no longer needed but the fixtures need re-wiring which takes a few minutes but isn’t hard to do. One less component to fail with this system.

The new bulbs are brighter and only use about 60% as much energy. With fluorescent tubes light is emitted in all directions so you need a clean reflector behind it and a cover (diffuser) to keep it all clean. With the LED tubes 100% of the light is on the bottom side of the tube so I can operate them without covers. Plus the light is whiter which also helps. It’s easy to spot the T8s in the pictures.

[Stick486]

are they near daylight in color???

[Bushwhacker]

Nice big shop.

Bushwhacker

[Cherryville Chuck]

are they near daylight in color???

I think they are 5000K in color so close. I don't like the 6500K ones, they are too close to blue in color. I don't like the T12 color either, too yellow. Around 5000K illuminates better with the best color accuracy for me.

David it is a good size but it still falls under one of Murphy's Laws. "No matter what size your shop is you will eventually over fill it."

[HandyDan]

I replaced mine with the direct wire 4000K bulbs. I didn't choose them, I bought them because that is what they had. They are supposed to be a warmer tone than the 5000K but still look quite white and bright to me. I have been happier with them than the florescent bulbs. Better light and none of that buzzing that can go on.

[Cherryville Chuck]

I replaced mine with the direct wire 4000K bulbs. I didn't choose them, I bought them because that is what they had. They are supposed to be a warmer tone than the 5000K but still look quite white and bright to me. I have been happier with them than the florescent bulbs. Better light and none of that buzzing that can go on.

Sort of the same for me. I was at a ReStore (I think ours are also associated with Habitat for Humanity) and they had a box with 21 tubes for $5 each so I bought them all. 4000K would be more yellowish than 5000K. The florescent tubes would have been between 2700 and 3200K I think. They are better light, instant on with no warm up period like florescent, and as you say they don't hum. Plus only 60% as much power to run them. And they last much longer. Pretty much superior in every way.

[Stick486]

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[Cherryville Chuck]

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I thought florescent light was farther down the scale than that. I think it also makes a difference which type you have. The T8s I installed seemed whiter and brighter than the T12s were despite being 32W instead of 40W. The 32W T12s seemed yellower than the 40W tubes as well. I find light from 6500K bulbs to be too blue and hard on the eyes. My wife put blue halogen lights in her vehicle years ago and I had trouble seeing with them despite they supposedly being brighter than standard bulbs.

[Stick486]

any style tube in any output in a 5600K will give you white light...

[Stick486]

and I had trouble seeing with them despite they supposedly being brighter than standard bulbs.

here too.. age catching up w/ us...

[Stick486]

color of artificial matters to many as health issues...
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Psychological-Impact-of-Light-and-Color.pdf