LED lights for garage - what style you using ?

[rfuerst911sc]

Part of my new man cave build will revolve around lighting . The last man cave I had I installed two rows of track lighting with conventional bulb holders . I then installed LED floodlights and was happy with the results . New man cave because of higher ceiling if I went with track lights I think I'll need three rows of track . Not opposed to doing that but cost is also a consideration .

Was skimming CL and came across these lights , I am not really all that familiar with this style . I don't like the idea of not being able to replace just the bulb when it burns out but how often do these burn out ? Not pushing this vendor or his product just using the link for discussion purposes . So any of you guys using this style of shop light ? Any issues ? I have looked in Home Depot and their 4 ' LED fixtures are MUCH more than this vendor is offering . Where are you guys buying your lighting ?

https://knoxville.craigslist.org/mad/d/led-lights-pole-barn-shop/6443413276.html

[rfuerst911sc]

Wow more internet surfing found these , dirt cheap . Worth the price you think ? Reviews are good but obviously no long term data . I could buy three eight packs and run three six fixture strips and maybe six over the work bench area for less than 250.00 !


https://www.amazon.com/Integrated-Fixture-Utility-Ceiling-electric/dp/B076FQ15R6/ref=sr_1_13?ie=UTF8&qid=1514809033&sr=8-13&keywords=4%27+led+shop+lights

[fireant911]

rfuerst911sc,
We just moved in to our new home five weeks ago. Part of this new construction was a two separate garage bays and a shop for me! These three areas have 10' ceilings and I had some lengthy conversations with our builder addressing the lighting for the shop and garages. He recommended that I visit another one of his earlier clients business' as lighting was very much an important factor. I drove down and took a look and he had used 8' LED throughout his facility. These lights looked very much like what appeared in your Craigslist link. I was going to get exactly the same item for mine but was unable to get the required lights in at the time they were needed. Then I was forced to go with option 2 which was the Home Depot version... these were the 4' LED that were linkable. In fact, I emptied out the inventory at both the Scottsboro, AL AND one of the Huntsville, AL Home Depot locations. Cost wise and as you already know, these were more expensive than the lights from Craigslist.

The shop and garage bays are very well illuminated! I do not have a feel yet about the serviceability or the expected life of these lights but I am EXTREMELY happy with the functionality thus far.

[cabmandone]

That CL listing looks a little "scammy"
Who miscalculates and overbuys by 800 lights??

I just have standard twist in LED's on the ceiling in my shop.

[schwarz633]

I replaced (20) 8' fluorescent tubes with LED tubes from here:

https://www.ledmyplace.com/

I had existing fixtures that I rewired to eliminate the ballast, but if you don't already have fixtures, these integrated 8' LED tubes look interesting:

https://www.ledmyplace.com/products/t8-8ft-led-tube-60w-integrated-2-row-6500k-clear

They answered all my questions and delivered what I ordered with no problems.

[jrj3rd]

Some light reading on the subject...

https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=278420

[VincentVega]

I keep looking at these too and never pull the trigger. I need to replace the old t12's in my workshop and plan to use t8's over led. I've tried a few options from plug in units from costco to replacement led bulbs... and havent found one that works yet. Sure, they use less power and produce light but the color is off and not enough lumens. t8's are affordable, simple, proven... bulbs will last a lpg time in a hobby shop and you can get them everywhere. If you run 100 lights all day everyday the operating costs are different.

[IROC]

I replaced the standard fluorescent bulbs in my last garage with the “LED” ones and wasn’t impressed. I now have a 20x35 barn that I am planning to convert to a shop and plan to use some 4ft LED fixtures from Costco. They typically are $29 each, but run them on sale occasionally for $20. I’ve used these over a workbench and they are awesome.

[devodave]

I installed 4 Utilitech fixtures that I bought at Lowes and am very pleased. These were only single element fixtures, similar to a single 4' fluorescent blub, and was amazed at the light output. And since they are not affected by cold startup, I have instant light in the coldest months of the year. There is also a 2 element version as well. The nice feature of these lights is there is an included adapter that allows you to connect multiple fixtures together in series, quick and easy!

[vash]

Originally Posted by IROC

I replaced the standard fluorescent bulbs in my last garage with the “LED” ones and wasn’t impressed. I now have a 20x35 barn that I am planning to convert to a shop and plan to use some 4ft LED fixtures from Costco. They typically are $29 each, but run them on sale occasionally for $20. I’ve used these over a workbench and they are awesome.

I’m using and loving them

[nvr2mny]

Can’t comment on the reality of the brightness just yet but I bought some of the 24k lumen lights from BigAss Lights. No, they ain’t cheap but my eyes ain’t what they used to be either....

[cabmandone]

Well thanks a lot! You put lighting in my head and now I'm off to buy some LED tubes to replace my fluorescent lights that have a bad ballast.

I might do a before and after shot with one side having the LED and the other the fluorescent and post it here once I get done.

[devodave]

Originally Posted by cabmando

Well thanks a lot! You put lighting in my head and now I'm off to buy some LED tubes to replace my fluorescent lights that have a bad ballast.

I might do a before and after shot with one side having the LED and the other the fluorescent and post it here once I get done.

Here's the image of the Utilitech lights I used $22 or so.

[wildthing]

Costco... But probably more utilitarian than man-cave worthy.

[aschen]

Somehow costco is substantially cheaper than even amazon for comparable led fixtures. Put a bunch in my garage to good effect

[9dreizig]

Originally Posted by vash

I’m using and loving them

Same here did my 50 x 50 metal building with 36 of them.. It's like daylight in there and less than $1k for the whole building

[rfuerst911sc]

I just pulled the trigger on three of the 8 pack LED shop lights from Amazon . For less than 200.00 I hope it's a no brainer I guess time will tell .

[jhynesrockmtn]

When I had mine wired I did rows of switched outlets on the ceiling and then used the 4 footers from Costco. Very impressed so far.

[Evans, Marv]

I switched out my fluorescent for the Costco LEDs and added two. The difference is like day & night.

[LWJ]

Costco. 4 of them and I can do surgery in there. Wow.