Re: Home Depot Shop Lights

On Dec 30 2007, 11:56 pm, Sergey Kubushin <k...@xxxxxxxx> wrote:
Mike Marlow <mmarlowREM...@xxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
"Sergey Kubushin" <k...@xxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:4777b0c4$0$26050$88260bb3@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Better yet replace those magnetic T12 ballasts (not that bad, actually,
for
magnetics) with e.g. GE Ultramax T8 ones and use good F32T8 bulbs. It will
cost $5-8 per fixture depending on how cheap one was able to get those
ballasts off of Ebay and 20 minutes of time. Result is well worth it...
Replacing ballast is much more expensive than replacing fixtures.  The HD
fixtures I posted about are electronic ballast and to correct my original
post, are good to -10C (14F).  By the time you pay shipping those $5-$8
ballasts won't be $5-$8.

They are. Sure it's more expensive if you buy ballasts at HD. But if you buy
in bulk on Ebay it's much cheaper. I bought 20 GE Ultramax 3/2 bulb T8
ballasts for $100. Shipping was around $20. That makes it $6 per ballast.

And it's not just about saving something like $10 per fixture, that's hardly
worth it even if multiplied by 18 fixtures as it was in my case. First of
all, my fixtures have a real GE ballasts in them, not el-cheapo chinese
mockups. Then, my ballasts are multivoltage so I put 220V on them. And the
fixtures are modified anyways--they are mounted permanently so I had to
dissasemble them and install conduit fittings to hook them up--so replacing
ballasts took almost no additional time.

---
******************************************************************
*  KSI@home    KOI8 Net  < >  The impossible we do immediately.  *
*  Las Vegas   NV, USA   < >  Miracles require 24-hour notice.   *
******************************************************************

--
Posted via a free Usenet account fromhttp://www.teranews.com

Sounds like a lot of time spent...what is your time worth?

TMT
.

Relevant Pages

  • Re: Shop Lights
    ... They all are pretty old and some need new ballasts ... the old fixtures aren't High Output... ... bulbs in open fixtures. ... The Daylight or other color temperature lamps ...
    (rec.crafts.metalworking)
  • Re: Whats killing my flourescent "shop lights"?
    ... Many low cost shop light fixtures use a very cheap ... terribly specific in buying bulbs when I had to replace them. ... dying (which means the ballasts). ...
    (sci.engr.lighting)
  • Re: Installing Some Fluorescent Strip Lights?
    ... I have to report that fluorescent fixtures do not ... These fixtures use the newest electronic ballasts, ... It turns out that strip lights especially are not filtered adequately, ...
    (alt.home.repair)
  • Re: Fluorescent shop light retrofit questions
    ... with fixtures from garage sales and the dump. ... No telling what the ballasts are and whatever tubes I could get on sale. ... 5000K "Daylight Deluxe" lamps are a good analog for sunshine - I use ...
    (rec.crafts.metalworking)
  • Re: Bench lighting ideas.
    ... > Have to be electronic ballasts. ... > 4 foot fixtures, ... that overdrive the lamps if you need more light, but it's easier to just use ...
    (sci.electronics.repair)