Convert Your Three Foot T12 T8 Shop Lights To LED

[Auggie56]

I went to the hardware store to pick up a pair of ballasts for two shop lights that quit working. Seventeen eighty-five each. The salesman showed me the lights in the store. Their daylight LED but no ballast needed. For twenty bucks a pair I bought four lamps and am pleased with the ease of installation and the light they give.

 

[funknut]

I saw these at Costco and I haven't bought them yet, but am seriously considering replacing the fluorescent units in my garage with these:

https://www.costco.com/Feit-4'-Linkable-LED-Shop-Light-2-pack.product.100410429.html

They appear to be fully integrated, so you don't replace "bulbs" if they burn out, you have to replace the whole unit. But 4000 lumens and 50,000 hours gives you a lot of light for $20 each.

 

[Riverdawg]

That looks pretty easy. I missed a deal online at Sam's club a while back. 10 pack of Honeywell linkable multi-mode 4' LED for $199. I didn't need 10 but didn't talk to a couple people quick enough and missed the deal.

 

[fc7cuda]

When retrofitting shop strips, just buy the LED tubes that are replaceable, not the LED strips. Try here - https://www.1000bulbs.com/category/t8-led-tube-lights/

 

[493 Mike]

I rewired all 39 fixtures in my shop last year. One LED "bulb" put out more lumens than the pair of T-8s so I only used one bulb per fixture ( I did add more later as the extra light is addictive). I left the ballasts in the existing lamps (let someone else worry about disposal) and after I got rolling (literally-I was on a Baker scaffold) it only took about 5 minutes per lamp to rewire. Yesterday I had a failure (first one) and swapped in a new bulb-OK. This move is one of the best changes I have made to my shop!
I purchased the "bulbs" online.
Mike
https://www.amazon.com/Single-End-F...5980&sr=8-12&keywords=led+4'+shop+light+bulbs

 

[Auggie56]

I forgot to mention, eBay sells these lamps pretty cheap compared to what I paid. Around half as much and no shipping.