Flourescent bulb advice - Circular ceiling light

[Bob Kontak]

My place is a 1930 (built) farm house with a pretty big kitchen added onto the back. (I left my reading glases at the shop so forgive typing errors)

There is a circular flourescent cieling light and the room is not very bright. Below ae pictures of the light and close ups of the bulb description. I know nothing about bulbs.

Please help me choose brighter bulbs while having a color that is acceptable for inside a home.

If the existing kit should be pitched and replaced please advise. I rent but get on wth lndlords well.







Thanks for the assistance,

Here's my 1954 Frigidare by General Motors. It is so cool and it works fine.

[Zeke]

I removed the old tubes and ballasts and bought direct to line voltage LED replacements. You can get both sizes but one of the larger LEDs is all you need and that will double the light. You can always add the 2nd smaller one.

[hcoles]

If it were me, I would pitch it and see if you can get some sort of LED solution.
Is there some sort of glass cover that goes over those two FL bulbs?
Now days you can get LED bulbs in different colors and brightness levels.
If you need a whole new luminaire that could be an issue because different paint may show.

[oldE]

We had those in a couple of rooms in the house I grew up in. I suggest you just replace them with LED fixtures, especially if you want brighter light.

Best
Les

[john70t]

Originally Posted by Zeke

I removed the old tubes and ballasts and bought direct to line voltage LED replacements. You can get both sizes but one of the larger LEDs is all you need and that will double the light. You can always add the 2nd smaller one.

I did the same with a dozen shop lights.
(note: none of the "Direct replacement" LED worked with my existing ballasts, even the known-good ones. I tried every brand and combo.)
Those bulbs are called Ballast-Bypass or Direct-Wire.
(make sure you write this in big letters inside the fixture for the next guy.)
Good thing is they are wired in parallel so only one will burn out at a time.
What a difference. Instant on in winter. Good Light. No ballast buzzing.


Bob- Your key words are Lumens and Spectrum

Lumens is total light output. That inner bulb looks weak but you are probably not going to get much more out of that fixture.

Spectrum is color. https://blog.lightingsupply.com/blog/what-are-warm-white-soft-white-cool-white-and-daylight-light-bulbs
Lower is yellow and cozy but reading might be more difficult.
Higher is blue and harsh.
I personally prefer Soft White 3000K to 3500K and have above the kitchen sink set to Warm White.

A large flat 2' x 4' surface mount box would provide a lot of diffused light but would look "modern".
Or consider a stand-up LED lamp. Some angle up and cast light off the ceiling.

[john70t]

Check with the LL before any major changes of course.
Many won't care especially if you are paying for it...but they want it installed correctly.

[cstreit]

Honestly the LED panel lights are so cheap, I'd be tempted to just replace it. THose old circle bulbs suck.

...but you want something in the 4-5k color range I think. Not hospital white, slightly warmer.

https://www.amazon.com/Afaoel-Temperature-Circular-utilities-Installation/dp/B0C3D4TH2J/ref=sr_1_7?crid=GUAEA7MZHDFY&keywords=circular+led+light+5000k&qid=1700272419&sprefix=circular+led+light+5000k%2Caps%2C88&sr=8-7


Probably less than 2 bulbs cost-wise

[john70t]

Some of the panels are switchable between color spectrum.
(button on the side plus a remote.)

[Noah930]

I would get a new light fixture and use LED bulb(s) in them. You can get a functional and not-ugly flushmount for $50 at a Home Depot or an online lighting/home furnishings store, or you could spend several hundred dollars for something prettier. Off the top of my head, some of the online vendors we shopped when we remodeled our house a few years back: Wayfair, Lumens, Rejuvenation Hardware.

If the diameter of the new fixture is smaller than the old one (and you don't want to leave a paint ring or have to repaint the ceiling), there are medallions that you can buy and stick to the ceiling for cosmetics. I'd get the approval of the landlord first. Don't be totally surprised if the landlord wants a real electrician to install it (or not) for safety reasons.

[Bob Kontak]

Direct replacement at Lowes. Chose 4000 for the color on each. That was the middle choice. Easy peasy.

Thank you all.

[masraum]

Originally Posted by Zeke

I removed the old tubes and ballasts and bought direct to line voltage LED replacements. You can get both sizes but one of the larger LEDs is all you need and that will double the light. You can always add the 2nd smaller one.

That was my first thought, "there's got to be an LED replacement that would be brighter with better color."

If Zeke says it's so, then it certainly is.

[masraum]

Originally Posted by Bob Kontak

Direct replacement at Lowes. Chose 4000 for the color on each. That was the middle choice. Easy peasy.

Thank you all.

Awesome!

[Bob Kontak]

Originally Posted by masraum

That was my first thought, "there's got to be an LED replacement that would be brighter with better color."

If Zeke says it's so, then it certainly is.

+1 on that.

I bet you could get more lumens out of those types but I'm just talking without researching.

I just walked into Lowes and there they were. $32 and the directions said nothing about wiring. Also the lumens were about three tines as much. Sold to the lazy guy!

[masraum]

Originally Posted by Bob Kontak

+1 on that.

I bet you could get more lumens out of those types but I'm just talking without researching.

I just walked into Lowes and there they were. $32 and the directions said nothing about wiring. Also the lumens were about three tines as much. Sold to the lazy guy!

Awesome old stove! I wish we had one like it.

Are all of the cabinet pulls diagonal like the ones over the stove hood? That's interesting. I don't remember ever seeing any like that before.

[Zeke]

Originally Posted by Bob Kontak

+1 on that.

I bet you could get more lumens out of those types but I'm just talking without researching.

I just walked into Lowes and there they were. $32 and the directions said nothing about wiring. Also the lumens were about three tines as much. Sold to the lazy guy!

I guess you can get the direct replacement now that does not replace the ballast. Best deal for you as all you did was "change the light bulb."

[Dr J]

I recently replaced a lamp that was very unsatisfactory with this:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BNMV9H1Z?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_product_details&th=1

Very happy with it. Super bright and super easy to install.

[Bob Kontak]

Originally Posted by masraum

Are all of the cabinet pulls diagonal like the ones over the stove hood? That's interesting. I don't remember ever seeing any like that before.

Forgive the mess but yes.

My brother was saying that was kind of strange.

[Baz]

Nice - glad it worked out. I have replaced some of my outdoor "porch lights" with LED fixtures after replacing "X" many bulbs over the years....and rusty fixtures. So far so good and much brighter!

[masraum]

Originally Posted by Bob Kontak

Forgive the mess but yes.

My brother was saying that was kind of strange.

I like it. It's certainly not anything that I remember ever seeing.

[Bob Kontak]

Originally Posted by masraum

I like it. It's certainly not anything that I remember ever seeing.

They angle the other way for the cupboards right of the sink. It limits what you can see at one time but I'm not cooking for a gang of people.