garage lighting

[hemi68charger]

Hey gang..
I'm tired of suck-butt garage fluorescent lighting fixtures... Any proven good quality light fixtures out there? I'm not looking to break the bank, but there's gotta be a better brand than the dang builder-grade fixtures I have in the garage now.....

Thanks in advance..
T

[73-charger-383]

I just added some LED strips that I bought from Digi-Key.  Made a world of difference.  I'll post a parts list later today.

[sunfire69]

I think if I ever have to replace my fluorescents it will be with LEDs by then the price should have come way down.....Not sure what your budget but I have 4 bulb T12 fixtures that came from Craigs list for about $20 a piece with bulbs...I have 5....plus I have two rows of 3 each incandescents since the fluorescents don't work well in the cold. I have plenty of light.....

[ITSA426]

Besides adding lighting I painted the walls and ceiling a bright white to take advantage of the lighting.  I only have six double tube four foot fluorescent fixtures and use portable lighting when I need it in areas like under the hood or under the car.  Plenty of light for me.

[sunfire69]

Good point.....if you can paint the walls and ceiling white..maybe a gloss or semi-gloss it will make a huge difference

[hemi68charger]

My interior walls are already a bright color. What the root of discontent is the flourscent lights not turning on, usually from the dang starter that goes bad........... I'm looking for good quality 4ft. ceiling fixtures... LED may be an option. I have 6 units in the garage now, but they are dang tempermental to say the least.

[will]

I've noticed that the t-8 bulbs don't last nearly as long as the t-12's. Just my experience, YMMV. I've replaced hundreds of light bulbs, the 12's last alot longer. We've been upgrading light fixtures to LED. Vast improvement from the old high pressure sodium light fixtures we had at work. This is in a turbine building with 100' roof. cut our fixtures down from 7 rows to 4. They will pay for themselves in 3 years, cost + labor to install. 10 year warranty. The light output has to be matched to get the best bang for the buck. Research. We're Mopar guys, we know how to research.

[Shakey]

Adjustable track lighting?   

[1970Moparmann]

I did the same thing in my home office Troy... Look at LED lights!  Will make a huge difference!

[Dodgecharger74]

I have a 36 x 50 garage 15' ceiling with 4 rows of 6  8' flourscent lights on ceiling
All walls & ceilings painted gloss white  You need shades     in the garage  2 years old & only 1 lamps is out

[green69rt]

I have 8 fixtures with 4 T8 ( I think ) bulbs per fixture in the workshop, ( two of those directly over work bench on separate switch.)  see first pic.

4 more fixtures in general parking area. second pic.

One ballast and 4 bulbs gone in 8 years.

Purchased at Home Depot (don't remember how much they cost.)

[PlainfieldCharger]

What about upgrading the ballast in the fixtures to a modern "electronic" ballast that works when its cold and you can get the ballast for the type of bulbs you want to use?

[1970Moparmann]

LED double the light -

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B8kRboOev3s

How to convert -

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zjw2UXVJaS0

[73-charger-383]

My setup (currently) is these lights from Samsung http://www.digikey.com/product-detail/en/SI-B8R171560WW/1510-1109-ND/4935774

the driver I use is discontinued, but the closest equivalent is http://www.digikey.com/product-detail/en/LED50W-024-C2100-D/1121-1082-ND/2786580


I'm driving four strips each of which give light that is like two 18W fluorescents.  The LED's stay cool enough so that I just screwed them straight to my rafters for now...I'm going to gut my old fixtures and use the reflectors to give a little bit more even of a light.  ... plus they (should) be instant in no matter how cold it gets and should last pretty much forever..... I'll take some pictures in a bit.

[Just 6T9 CHGR]

Picked up the Feit LED shop lights from Costco.  Instant on, no noise, no heat and super bright light.  Well worth the $35 per fixture.

[1970Moparmann]

Glad you posted this from Costco!!!  For that low price, going this weekend!

[hemi68charger]

Picked up the Feit LED shop lights from Costco.  Instant on, no noise, no heat and super bright light.  Well worth the $35 per fixture.

Do they make a plug-less version? I want to mount replacements in the same spot as the original ceiling mounted units I have in my garage now. I don't want to have cords hanging from the ceiling...

[Dodgecharger74]

4'  Led lamps are available at H/D  under $25.00 each  Just rewire existing fixture accordingly
they have same output of light as Flour T8's