Shop lighting

[Joe K]

Originally Posted by ryanheacox

For those that are close to an Ocean State Job Lot, I just picked up 10 of these. 2400 lumen, 4’ shop lights, $4 a piece with cord and hanging cables. Got some different models, same brand that were on sale last year for the garage that are still going strong. These will go in the basement.

They had these at the local OSJL for $14.99 and also an "improved" version for $18.99.

That is they had the $14.99 units until the local store sold out - then only the more expensive version.

I commented to the store manager about the dearth of the cheaper units. "I'd like to get more to sell more but OSJL doesn't send along any more" he replied.

Meanwhile down in Taxachusetts, the Billerica OSJL was still in stock and carrying the $14.99 units. So I made the trip down and bought 10 (!) to outfit my garage/man-cave.

I would guess them about 1/3rd brighter than the aged T12 Fluorescents they replaced. Nice in that no matter how cold the shop/garage gets I seem to get full brightness.

Time will tell whether the LEDs will continue as bright with continued use. A relatively little appreciated fact is that high output LEDS "age" - hence the 1990s CD boom box that no longer will follow the CD and skips where when new it was rock solid.

OBTW, I have not had stellar luck with electronic ballasts for T8 or T12 florescent units.

I have replaced first the electronic ballast and later the entire unit in a 4' T-8 fluorescent in my laundry room. Its gets a LOT of use being the light of choice on entering the room, and is usually left on.

A local pre-school counts on me to keep their 8' and 4' fluorescent units running and one by one the 50 year old single pin 8' units are going out and being converted. An electronic ballast in this identical application lasts about 5 years whereas the original oil filled ballasts went 40-50.

The electronic ballasts do yield a brighter light - perhaps on a lumen basis they are cost effective?

Joe K