Replacing 8ft T12 Fluorescent Garage Lights

[Ban Bot]

Among my spring projects in our new place was to replace the blown out fluorescent bulbs in the garage. Lo and behold they are no longer available in my state (WA) as they are T12 -- not to mention long at 8ft.

I guess I could change the ballasts to T8 but the fixtures are really cheap shop light ones and look pretty aged, not to mention I would be concerned with 8ft T8s becoming extinct as well.

Replacing the entire fixture with some LED shop lights seems reasonable. Are there a specific "bulb" socket (like T12, T8, T5) that is standard? Better options?

I was browsing a couple options at Amazon and Home Depot (here , here , and here) and they seem favorably reviewed.

 

[CPA]

I doubt T8s will become extinct because so many commercial and industrial buildings still use them. I would just change the ballast.

 

[NutBucket]

Our company replaced every T12 bulb within T8 in the last 10 years. It will be a while before it is obsolete.

 

[SparkyJJO]

You can't get T12 bulbs? Around here you can still buy T12 fixtures, though the selection is very limited and I don't know why you'd want to over T8.

At any rate I don't see T8 disappearing any time soon.

 

[Red Squirrel]

Yeah I'd stick with just converting to T8, pretty sure they'll be around for a while. If anything what I see happen is that they might start making T8 LED replacements, if they haven't already.

They recently installed some LED fixtures here at work, they look like T8 fixtures but there's actually a LED array in them and it's all one self contained unit. It throws off a pretty nice white light just like the T8's. They were super expensive though, like 300 bucks a pop or something but I imagine they'll last practically forever.

 

[Mixolydian]

T8 or T5 would be fine.

 

[Micrornd]

Yeah I'd stick with just converting to T8, pretty sure they'll be around for a while. If anything what I see happen is that they might start making T8 LED replacements, if they haven't already.

They recently installed some LED fixtures here at work, they look like T8 fixtures but there's actually a LED array in them and it's all one self contained unit. It throws off a pretty nice white light just like the T8's. They were super expensive though, like 300 bucks a pop or something but I imagine they'll last practically forever.

What a waste of money.
I just replaced all our T8's with LED bulbs.

They come in 2 varieties, the type I used which eliminates the ballast and the bulbs then run off 120vac @ about $20 ea. (less in quantity) and then there is the lazy man's version, a direct replacement that does not require the elimination of the ballast, but just pops right in.
Those buggers are about $90 ea.

We chose the 120vac type because they allows us to keep our fixtures, they eliminate another potential problem source (the ballast in the old fixture and the "transformer" and drive circuitry in the new LED fixtures), and they were cheaper all things considered.

Both types are 4' and shatterproof (no glass) and come in different color temperatures.
We used "daylight" here and are much impressed with the more natural color rendition.
I was told to expect 2', 8' and circular models in the future in both varieties.

It took maybe 10min. to eliminate the ballast and pop in the new bulbs per fixture. And every bulb comes with the directions and diagrams that anyone could understand.

This way is much cheaper than changing fixtures and will be much cheaper and easier if the LEDs ever have to be changed in the future, since everything is in the bulb (heatsink, "transformer", LED strips), anybody could change it and no electrician would be required, which not the case with the new LED fixtures using strips of LEDs.

Heck, if you can't get a good deal on theses type locally, even Newegg sells them.

 

[NutBucket]

I've used the LED replacements that require removal of the ballast. Easy to install but one word of caution. In some fixtures, depending on the bulb sockets, the LEDs may not face the proper direction. Too lazy to explain so maybe I'll do it later if someone asks.

 

[Howard]

If you do replace the fixtures, I would suggest going with T8 rather than T5. Unless the prices for T5 lamps have come down significantly recently (they used to be twice as expensive as T8), you won't make back your money on the slight efficiency advantage of the T5 form factor.

 

[Ban Bot]

Thanks for all the tips. Will probably get 4' T8s. Bulbs are affordable and solid (for my use) shop lights are $20. And it should offer some options to move to LED down the road.

 

[natto fire]

Thanks for all the tips. Will probably get 4' T8s. Bulbs are affordable and solid (for my use) shop lights are $20. And it should offer some options to move to LED down the road.

Probably the best route. LED T8 retrofits have already come down in price, and should be really affordable by the time your ballasts burn up in the T8 fixtures. T8 bulbs are next on the green chopping block, as the legislation from July has already outlawed some styles of T8 bulbs.

 

[Howard]

http://www.amazon.com/GE-Lighting-9...&qid=1427407271&sr=1-1&keywords=ge+ultrastart

Good price for a good ballast. Programmed-start ballasts are highly-efficient while maximizing the lamp lifespan.

 

[SparkyJJO]

Probably the best route. LED T8 retrofits have already come down in price, and should be really affordable by the time your ballasts burn up in the T8 fixtures. T8 bulbs are next on the green chopping block, as the legislation from July has already outlawed some styles of T8 bulbs.

Seriously? Daggone stupid retarded government and EPA :thumbsdown:

 

[natto fire]

Seriously? Daggone stupid retarded government and EPA :thumbsdown:

It is a double edged sword, really. Although lighting is a drop in the bucket of electric use when compared to climate control, the legislation has forced "big lighting" to actually come up with innovative products.

Considering how long the single pin T12 bulb has been around, it was not a sudden overnight disappearance of them. I'm sure GE, Sylvania, and Phillips would rather us be using the old magnetic ballast/starter arrangement, as they produced lots of heat and had more components to fail and replace.

So a minor inconvenience to the end user translates to more robust and diverse products from the big players.

FWIW, T5 style lamps were left out entirely from the most recent legislation, and many big box stores are going with T5 troffers over the previous mainstay metal-halide highbays.

 

[SparkyJJO]

"Big lighting" ? Seriously?

I guess if you want to demonize some industry, just put the word "big" in front of it

I'm just sick of the government meddling with stuff they have no business in doing. As if they don't have enough to handle they have to get involved in dumb things like light bulbs. Yes, I'm still sore about the whole incandescent ban too. Even if I personally don't use that many it is the principle of the matter.

 

[natto fire]

"Big lighting" ? Seriously?

I guess if you want to demonize some industry, just put the word "big" in front of it

I'm just sick of the government meddling with stuff they have no business in doing. As if they don't have enough to handle they have to get involved in dumb things like light bulbs. Yes, I'm still sore about the whole incandescent ban too. Even if I personally don't use that many it is the principle of the matter.

Apparently you gave up on my post after "big lighting". I am a commercial electrician and use that joke because 99% of the bulbs I use come from GE, Sylvania, or Phillips. It is just a ribbing and not something I am emotionally invested in.

Yeah it sucks that the government meddles in things like light bulbs, but calling them dumb is a stretch. Darkness is one thing that is sure to incite panic in huddled masses, so the humble light bulb has a pretty important place, although easily overlooked, because of being so common.

All those light pollution pics from space had to come from somewhere, right?

 

[Micrornd]

I've used the LED replacements that require removal of the ballast. Easy to install but one word of caution. In some fixtures, depending on the bulb sockets, the LEDs may not face the proper direction. Too lazy to explain so maybe I'll do it later if someone asks.

I forgot to mention that, but yeah those sockets are easily changed also @ about 50-80 cents each.
I did have to change a couple on a 3 lamp surface mount fixture.
I love the fact all the socket wiring is "stab-in", makes things quicker and easier.

 

[TheSlamma]

Order these and buy some time, LED is in process of nose diving in price over the next few years.

http://www.amazon.com/Case-15-F96T1...=UTF8&qid=1427458546&sr=8-2&keywords=t12+8+ft

 

[Ban Bot]

To my surprise the local big box store carries some 8' T12s. Expensive -- $15 for 2 although cheaper in bulk. I just cannot get them shipped to me in WA. Seems the best route is to wait and see if T8 (which look good/affordable) or LED, or a T8 LED, are the best course.

Thanks for everyone's feedback--2 weeks ago I didn't even know what a T12 was lol

 

[Scarpozzi]

I bought a bunch of T5's because I liked the looks of the high output fixtures. I bought 4 fixtures that have a total of 4 bulbs each. I want to say they are 216 watts per fixture. I am impressed by the light they produce.

FYI, if you buy those, shop around for the bulbs. I found that they were the cheapest at Home Depot....which were $9.95 each or $79 for a 15 pack. (do the math...there's only one way to buy those and that was the cheapest price I could find anywhere) I had them shipped to the store so I could gripe if they were broken, but they were just UPS'd to the store from somewhere else. They came in a box and all of the bulbs were taped and wrapped in a big roll of bubble wrap. They were well packaged.

 

[edro]

1000bulbs.com
By far the cheapest, but you need to buy by the case.