LED shop lights

[k0ua]

I found this screw in garage LED light review helpful. Many things to consider when buying LEDs.

What LED Light Is Best For Your Garage? Lets Find out! These Are good for Barns and Basements Also! - YouTube

If only he had an old AM radio tuned between stations playing in that garage. Then we could have known the RFI potential of each light.

 

[ruffdog]

If only he had an old AM radio tuned between stations playing in that garage. Then we could have known the RFI potential of each light.

Please, tell me more. So, doing the AM radio thing will read static?

 

[Bullwinkle123]

I've added a number of different LED lights over the years as I've replaced my fluorescent lights. I've found the Harbor Freight ones to be of questionable quality and the box store ones marginal in light output. The best I've found are the "V-shaped" ones from Amazon.

Barrina LED Shop Light, 4FT 4W 5LM 5K, Daylight White, V Shape, Clear Cover, Hight Output, Linkable Shop Lights, T8 LED Tube Lights, LED Shop Lights for Garage 4 Foot with Plug (Pack of 1) - - Amazon.com

My Barrina 8 footers just arrived by UPS in the last 10 minutes from amazon, will be interesting to see how they are. Will report back when I've got them up.

 

[k0ua]

Please, tell me more. So, doing the AM radio thing will read static?

It is as good as any for helping determine the potential for RFI emission from the lights. The little ferrite antenna inside the radio inside the same room as the lights is good for this type of work. Just tune the radio so that there is no strong station presently tuned in and you are hearing the "noise floor". When the light is turned on, of course you should hear the "pop" of the electrical wall switch, but the noise floor on the radio should not significantly rise. If it does rise, (loud buzzing sounds, etc) then you will know that these lights put out a lot of RF, and are not something I would want to own. Of course a spectrum analyzer would be a better tool, but I would assume that not a lot of us have those handy. Although the Chinese have built a cheap one for about $100. I don't know how good it is. Typically these instruments are several thousands of dollars.

 

[ovrszd]

It is as good as any for helping determine the potential for RFI emission from the lights. The little ferrite antenna inside the radio inside the same room as the lights is good for this type of work. Just tune the radio so that there is no strong station presently tuned in and you are hearing the "noise floor". When the light is turned on, of course you should hear the "pop" of the electrical wall switch, but the noise floor on the radio should not significantly rise. If it does rise, (loud buzzing sounds, etc) then you will know that these lights put out a lot of RF, and are not something I would want to own. Of course a spectrum analyzer would be a better tool, but I would assume that not a lot of us have those handy. Although the Chinese have built a cheap one for about $100. I don't know how good it is. Typically these instruments are several thousands of dollars.

Good stuff James. Wish I'd known this a year ago when I was struggling to determine if my florescent lights were causing RFI.

 

[k0ua]

Good stuff James. Wish I'd known this a year ago when I was struggling to determine if my florescent lights were causing RFI.

Well, if you ever need any help in the future on these types of scenarios, just contact me. I am one of the ARRL Technical Specialists for the state of Missouri. That is not a whole lot, and it is a simple appointed position in the American Radio Relay League, but someone (the director) thinks I know a little bit anyway.

 

[Oaktree]

If only he had an old AM radio tuned between stations playing in that garage. Then we could have known the RFI potential of each light.

Never mind between stations, some of these lights will obliterate all but the strongest stations.
The LED driving lights I put on my truck do a pretty good job of drowning out even FM stations. :thumbdown:

 

[ovrszd]

Well, if you ever need any help in the future on these types of scenarios, just contact me. I am one of the ARRL Technical Specialists for the state of Missouri. That is not a whole lot, and it is a simple appointed position in the American Radio Relay League, but someone (the director) thinks I know a little bit anyway.

I know you know more than I know. That's a lot of knows..... I just didn't know about the AM radio check. Good stuff James. Thanks!!!!

 

[ovrszd]

Never mind between stations, some of these lights will obliterate all but the strongest stations.
The LED driving lights I put on my truck do a pretty good job of drowning out even FM stations. :thumbdown:

My Son put some high dollar lights on his truck and says the same thing.

Why can't we just leave stuff alone.....

 

[k0ua]

My Son put some high dollar lights on his truck and says the same thing.

Why can't we just leave stuff alone.....

Why can't engineers take into account in their designs that the RF domain exist's? Or put another way, why do they keep pretending it does not?

The very first thing I think about when I see an LED light is how much RF energy does it radiate? The second thing is how much light does it put out for how much energy consumed (efficiency) . These things are not mutually exclusive. And why can't specifications sheets have such information on them? It isn't hard to understand. And even if you didn't understand the terms, you could bring it to the attention of someone who does.

 

[Bullwinkle123]

My problem isn't with cheap lights and radio interference they may cause. My problem is my very fancy and expensive DELL XPS 15 9560 laptop which I loathe beyond all other purchases.

The screen generates massive RF activity. Not only will it cause my stereo to make ugly sounds, it will make the old oil space heater in my officem squeal! Sometimes I also hear the screen itself making noise, but lately I don't notice it.

So ... if my cheap Chinese <$20/lamp led lights make some noise in the garage I'm okay with it. I just wish my super expensive crapomatic Dell would stop making multiple things in my office squeal.

Maybe that helps put things in perspective

 

[Oaktree]

The screen generates massive RF activity. Not only will it cause my stereo to make ugly sounds, it will make the old oil space heater in my officem squeal! Sometimes I also hear the screen itself making noise, but lately I don't notice it.

Pray tell, how can a laptop interfere with a space heater? Makes no sense to me.

 

[Bullwinkle123]

Pray tell, how can a laptop interfere with a space heater? Makes no sense to me.

Yes, imagine my surprise. Clearly there's some circuitry in the oil heater (thermostat?) that responds in some way that generates audible noise in response to the RF noise caused by my screen. The range of audible responses from my stereo and oil heater vary based on what my screen is doing. I've never seen anything quite like it.

I would think all those metal radiator fins would be like a catchers' mitt for RF noise, but hard to imagine what is generating the audibles in response. The radiator is generally only several feet away from the RF noisy laptop.

 

[grsthegreat]

poltergeist.......

 

[Bullwinkle123]

Rewired the lamp socket for grounded plugs and install two of the six "8 foot" Barrina led strip lights in my garage. Barrina LED Shop Light Fixture 8ft, T8, 72W 9lm 5K, Clear Cover, V Shape, Daylight White, Tube Light, Hight Output, Bulbs for Garage, Warehouse, Plug and Play (Pack of 6) - - Amazon.com
(I'm quoting the "8 foot" because the lights aren't quite 8' long, they're several inches short of that if you're making plans with a measuring tape).

So far so good. My first response on turning them on is "wow" and "awesome" because there is so much more light than my old CFL's, even with just one strip (though I've installed two so far in the center bay).

I have an FM radio playing in there, no RF interference, though maybe it takes AM channels to notice. I don't know how long these will last, I think the warranty said 3 years. But for now, the brightness is wonderful.
Photos really don't do it justice because the camera adjusts to the additional light. But the eyes notice it. For old eyes it now means I can read manuals without a flashlight.

 

[kenmac]

I've added a number of different LED lights over the years as I've replaced my fluorescent lights. I've found the Harbor Freight ones to be of questionable quality and the box store ones marginal in light output. The best I've found are the "V-shaped" ones from Amazon.

Barrina LED Shop Light, 4FT 4W 5LM 5K, Daylight White, V Shape, Clear Cover, Hight Output, Linkable Shop Lights, T8 LED Tube Lights, LED Shop Lights for Garage 4 Foot with Plug (Pack of 1) - - Amazon.com

just ordered these and will try them out for my garage. I have some dark spots.
Ceilings are 16ft.

On Amazon. there is a $20.00 gift card. So I paid about 116.00 with tax

 

[5030]

I installed a number of LED shop lights about a year and a half ago and 2 have already expired. Not overly happy about that. The expired ones will be replaced with my old standby T8 fixtures. At least the tubes are replaceable. The LED's aren't. One thin about the LED fixtures, when the expire, they just go out. When a T8 gets some run time, they expire slowly.

I'm not impressed at all

 

[GeneV]

Rewired the lamp socket for grounded plugs and install two of the six "8 foot" Barrina led strip lights in my garage. Barrina LED Shop Light Fixture 8ft, T8, 72W 9lm 5K, Clear Cover, V Shape, Daylight White, Tube Light, Hight Output, Bulbs for Garage, Warehouse, Plug and Play (Pack of 6) - - Amazon.com
(I'm quoting the "8 foot" because the lights aren't quite 8' long, they're several inches short of that if you're making plans with a measuring tape).

So far so good. My first response on turning them on is "wow" and "awesome" because there is so much more light than my old CFL's, even with just one strip (though I've installed two so far in the center bay).

I have an FM radio playing in there, no RF interference, though maybe it takes AM channels to notice. I don't know how long these will last, I think the warranty said 3 years. But for now, the brightness is wonderful.
Photos really don't do it justice because the camera adjusts to the additional light. But the eyes notice it. For old eyes it now means I can read manuals without a flashlight.

Comes out to $13 per light, that's a great deal!

 

[ultrarunner]

I installed a number of LED shop lights about a year and a half ago and 2 have already expired. Not overly happy about that. The expired ones will be replaced with my old standby T8 fixtures. At least the tubes are replaceable. The LED's aren't. One thin about the LED fixtures, when the expire, they just go out. When a T8 gets some run time, they expire slowly.

I'm not impressed at all

Are these from Costco?

Reason I ask is bought both fixtures and LED 4' bulbs and no issues yet.

I have had some Edison Base bulbs go out... one last night that was from when I did Mom's house when they first came out... the reduction in electricity was dramatic... her home had many 3 bulb and 4 bulb fixtures ranging from 60 to 100 Watt bulbs... so 400 Watts replaced by 30 Watts... (In a 4 bulb fixture)

Installed in 2012-13

 

[5030]

No, Menards. I've bought my last ones. Going back to T8's.