"GLOWing" LED light review (no pun intended lol)

[VintageMusclecar]

Been fighting a losing battle for years with fluorescent overhead lights in the shop. Pricey bulbs went out just as quickly as the cheap ones. Cold weather meant working by the braille method. You get the idea.

Decided I'd had enough yesterday, picked up 2 of these at our local Menards:

https://www.menards.com/main/lighting-ce...ainStoreId=3240 (https://www.menards.com/main/lighting-ceiling-fans/indoor-lighting/strips-shop-lights/smart-electrician-48-4800-lumens-led-silver-shop-light/p-1460080852477-c-1460466960158.htm?tid=-3951135371307271662&bargainStoreId=3240)

https://hw.menardc.com/main/items/media/LUMIN005/ProductLarge/348-1434_P_.jpg

Just got one hung.

Holy crap--instant freakin' daylight! <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/worship.gif

With the old fluorescent lights, I had to resort to magnifying glasses AND a flashlight to be able to read small print--like jet &amp; metering rod #'s.

I can now read them w/o the magnifying glasses or the flashlight. <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/biggthumpup.gif

These LED's are supposed to last ~35,000 hours. If they last even half that long I'll be happy.

For a measly $40.00 each, I'll be purchasing several more of these very soon. My old eyeballs need all the help they can get.

[scuncio]

Good to hear. I'm swapping out my old fluorescents too.

[Crush]

I have been slowly replacing my fluorescent lights w LED in the house and barn and couldn't agree more on how bright they are! The last one I bought said it will last 46 years, so I told my wife that will be the kids inheritance!!

[HawkX66]

Great price Eric. I bought a bunch of banged up LED lights off Craigslist a couple of years ago for next to nothing and retrofitted the ones in my garage. I would NEVER go back to fluorescent. They were the worst in the cold. LED, instant on. Nice! It's nice to see the prices finally settling down a little too. I need a couple more for my reloading area.

[Charley Lillard]

Replaced a 6 bulb T4 4' setup with a LED I bought from Amazon. Looking at the floor you can compare the difference. The LED is over the bright section. Amazing. http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/pics/usergals/2017/02/full-23-57798-img_2185.jpg

[ssl78]

I replaced all 64 florescent bulbs in the original fixtures with LED bulbs that I bought at Costco. The difference was unreal

[mockingbird812]

John - I did not know you could simply swap out the f. bulbs for the LED bulbs. Do the fluorescent ballast resistors interfere with LED bulb operation or do you remove/by-pass those?

[markinnaples]

Man, I gotta do this. The florescent bulbs I just bought not that long ago are already giving me trouble. They sure don't last long.

[Charley Lillard]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: mockingbird812</div><div class="ubbcode-body">John - I did not know you could simply swap out the f. bulbs for the LED bulbs. Do the fluorescent ballast resistors interfere with LED bulb operation or do you remove/by-pass those? </div></div>
You can buy them either way. Costco sells direct replacement bulbs.

[70 copo]

When I remodeled the 3 bay last year I switched to LED fixtures.... the main building is next. They are bright yet easy on your eyes.

[MosportGreen66]

Whenever my budget affords, in my distribution centers builds (especially new construction), I always spring for LED. Big difference in productivity in the areas with LED vs. others...

Dan

[mockingbird812]

Thanks Charley.

How much less wattage is drawn by LED vs. Fluorescent?

[Charley Lillard]

A bunch as I recall. Thru the box away but search Amazon

[ssl78]

Direct swap with the original ballasts but you have to be careful. I originally bought bulbs thru home depot I believe they were Sylvania but they did not work. I read the box and they were only compatable with certain ballasts. It seems like Costcos are compatible with all. They worked with no problem. I read by changing the whole light with a led one it could be a lttle brighter but my fixtures would have been to hard to change.



http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/pics/usergals/2017/02/full-338-57852-dsc00184.jpg

[mockingbird812]

Good to know - thanks John! Nice shop BTW!!

[ssl78]

Thanks Sam, When I installed those lights didnt think I would have problems with the cold weather since my garage was heated. First winter i realized my attic was not heated and they were really dim in the winter. The weather does not effect the LED lights.

[Gary Anderson]

http://www.ruralking.com/4-led-shoplight-4500-lumen.html

[Lynn]

How much less wattage is drawn by LED vs. Fluorescent?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Charley Lillard</div><div class="ubbcode-body">A bunch as I recall. Thru the box away but search Amazon </div></div>

Mind you, that's only an estimate.

[69b5bee]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Gary Anderson</div><div class="ubbcode-body"> http://www.ruralking.com/4-led-shoplight-4500-lumen.html</div></div>

Have you used these? There is plenty of Rural King's around me that I could buy from if they are decent

[VintageMusclecar]

Bought 4 more lights today, got 5 of 6 hung so far.

Best as I can describe it:

<object width="425" height="350"> <param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/e2I-_tIDV-4"></param> <param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param> <embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/e2I-_tIDV-4" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="350"> </embed></object>

[Gary Anderson]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: 69b5bee</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Gary Anderson</div><div class="ubbcode-body"> http://www.ruralking.com/4-led-shoplight-4500-lumen.html</div></div>


Have you used these? There is plenty of Rural King's around me that I could buy from if they are decent </div></div>

http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/pics/usergals/2017/02/full-10678-58051-road_trip_002.jpg

I put some up in my shop recently. Instant on and full bright with no hum like the existing fluorescent lights. There are 50 some reviews on that page, all are quite good.

[RPOLS3]

Anybody have any experience with these supposed direct replacement lamp tubes? I have 8' fixtures and it would be nice to be able to just swap the lamps out.

8' LED direct replacement (https://www.eledlights.com/led-lamps-by-type/led-tube-light-bulbs-lamps-t8-and-t12/ballast-compatible-tubes/8ft-ballast-compatible-led-glass-tube-3899.html#.WKG13eQiw0Q)

Thanks

[VintageMusclecar]

AND as usual...........there's a catch. <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/mad.gif

Turns out LED lights can cause interference with radios and other electronic devices.

As fate would have it, these lights render my shop stereo useless...unless I want to listen to white noise buzzing while I work. <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/rolleyes.gif

Haven't tried the garage door remote opener yet. <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/smirk.gif

How is it that I always find out about this kind'a <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/bs.gif <span style="font-weight: bold"><span style="text-decoration: underline">AFTER</span></span> the fact???

[Crush]

That's interesting info....wonder if that is what is causing problems w my wifi?

[tunes]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: VintageMusclecar</div><div class="ubbcode-body">AND as usual...........there's a catch. <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/mad.gif

Turns out LED lights can cause interference with radios and other electronic devices.

As fate would have it, these lights render my shop stereo useless...unless I want to listen to white noise buzzing while I work. <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/rolleyes.gif

Haven't tried the garage door remote opener yet. <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/smirk.gif

How is it that I always find out about this kind'a <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/bs.gif <span style="font-weight: bold"><span style="text-decoration: underline">AFTER</span></span> the fact??? </div></div>

I just bought the same LED lights at Menard's. They aren't up yet but I plugged them in and get no noise from my stereo system. Could it be something else?

[VintageMusclecar]

I moved the stereo today as far away from the LED's as I could, made a big difference but the one light closest to the stereo still makes it buzz a little bit. I'm going to put one of the old fluorescents back up in that spot and move the LED to the other side of the shop, that should suffice for now.

Thinking it may be related to not having 3 prong grounded outlets.