Smart Shop tips!

[fried1765]

on my shop i replaced the old style t12 8 foot high output dim florescent light with a retrofit kit to add the center mounts, and installed new led t8 style lights. the lamps fit the same t12 style light sockets, but the kits came with new tombstones.. i had to add the center mount plate and eliminate the ballast wiring.

i didnt want to have to replace entire light fixture because of the way they were installed. would have been alot of work.

i have rebuilt 100's and 100's of shop florescent fixtures for the state of idaho over the years. fixtures were originally installed in the late 1960's. but were clean. only old ballast and lamps were shot. left old ballast in fixture (less toxic to leave installed trhan to take to landfill) , rewired fixture tombstones to accept t8 lamps. done.

in my case, i had the lamps leftover from years of retrofits. i simply ordered the center section from ebay

Retrofit Kit for 8' 2 Bulb T12 Light Strip To 8 ft T8 4 Lamp Fluorescent Fixture | eBay


i only had about $8 per fixture since i already had the lamps. if you have to purchase lamps...thats a different ball of wax

The 8 foot LED tubes are $10+ each on Amazon in a pkg. of 25.
U-Clip center supports another 45 cents each.
About $21 per 8' double tube fixture.
Yup....leave the ballasts in, but cut the wiring to them.

 

[grsthegreat]

The 8 foot LED tubes are $10+ each on Amazon in a pkg. of 25.
U-Clip center supports another 45 cents each.
About $21 per 8' double tube fixture.
Yup....leave the ballasts in, but cut the wiring to them.

i can get phillips 5,000K, 70,000 hr led T8 lamps for less than $7 locally ($6.00 at wholesale house). why pay 10 thru amazon.

 

[JethroB]

i can get phillips 5,000K, 70,000 hr led T8 lamps for less than $7 locally ($6.00 at wholesale house). why pay 10 thru amazon.

I would caution about going too bright with LED's. I was skeptical of the ones my electrician recommended and installed in my shop. Whoa! Almost too bright along with the white vinyl backed insulation.

 

[grsthegreat]

i like the 5,000 K light output. i have installed alot of the 6500K in commercial operations and feel its too blue of a light. but most paint booths i have powered up over the years swear by the 6500K output.

 

[gstrom99]

I have 5- 10lb. extinguishers, one 5lb. (on my L48), and one 20 lb. In my primary work/storage building.
Both the one in the back of shop view above, and the OP extinguisher view, appear to be the black plastic handle type.
If so...that is not good!
Plastic grips have been known to fail, when an extinguisher is really needed.

I have two in the shop, one in every car/truck. If they are KIDDE brand, be sure to see if they are part of the recall they had last year. Kidde Fire Extinguisher Recall, Identification Guide | Kidde

 

[gstrom99]

Didn't see this in the posts:

Never, ever, ever lend your tools to your neighbors.

 

[fried1765]

i can get phillips 5,000K, 70,000 hr led T8 lamps for less than $7 locally ($6.00 at wholesale house). why pay 10 thru amazon.

North Idaho is just too far to travel for LED bulbs.

 

[grsthegreat]

North Idaho is just too far to travel for LED bulbs.

Just look at Home Depot or Lowes. About $7 there also

 

[fried1765]

Just look at Home Depot or Lowes. About $7 there also

Cheapest 8' LED bulbs I can find on the Home Depot website is $238 for 10
That is $23.80 EACH!

 

[grsthegreat]

Cheapest 8' LED bulbs I can find on the Home Depot website is $238 for 10
That is $23.80 EACH!

I added the mid point adapter kit I posted above. My 8 foot light fixtures switched from 2 x 8 foot lamps to 4 x 4 ft light fixtures. Yes, those 8 foot lamps are a killer.