Shop Light Question - Page 1

Posted: 5/1/2017 10:11:58 PM EDT

Hey guys. So I have 4 sets of 8' shop lights installed in my garage. For some reason one of the sets is working intermittently. I installed new bulbs and no change. I removed the covers and looked at all the wiring. It all looks fine. Everything is tight. The light didn't work all day and all of the sudden it turned on when I flipped the switch at the end of the day. One switch controls all 4 sets.

Could it be a ballast? Or are they either working or not.

Posted: 5/1/2017 10:25:55 PM EDT

[#1]

Flourescents? If so, yes, it's most likely the ballast.

Posted: 5/1/2017 10:27:53 PM EDT

[#2]

Yes.

Posted: 5/2/2017 12:09:09 AM EDT

[#3]

Another vote for a ballast.

Posted: 5/2/2017 8:46:39 AM EDT

[#4]

Excellent time to replace the flor bulbs with ballast bypass LED bulbs. About $11 each and you get +110 lumens/watt of power consumed.

Easy to bypass the ballast. The bulb manufacturer will have directions on their site and usually with the bulbs on the box or inside. Easy-peasey.

First example from Bing search:

http://www.bulbs.com/LED_Bulbs/Yes-Ballast_Bypass/results.aspx 1800/15 = 120 lumens/watt, not too shabby. $7 each as well.

Good luck!

Posted: 5/2/2017 11:23:05 PM EDT

[#5]

Quote History

Quoted:
Excellent time to replace the flor bulbs with ballast bypass LED bulbs. About $11 each and you get +110 lumens/watt of power consumed.

Easy to bypass the ballast. The bulb manufacturer will have directions on their site and usually with the bulbs on the box or inside. Easy-peasey.

First example from Bing search:

http://www.bulbs.com/LED_Bulbs/Yes-Ballast_Bypass/results.aspx 1800/15 = 120 lumens/watt, not too shabby. $7 each as well.

Good luck!

View Quote

These will save you the ballasts, but you will still have to retrofit for 4' bulbs. Whether you go florescent or LED, 4' is a must do. I used to retrofit lights and EVERY time an 2 lamp 8' t12 was found, a simple bracket was installed to make it 2 attached 2 lamp 4' t8 fixtures (4 lamps total). Most of the structure of the fixture is reusable, but the wiring almost never was, ballast always replaced, lamp holders replaced. If you can, add reflectors. You can drop down in wattage and still retain the same amount of light. Also necessary: if you go fluorescent, your ballast with have to match your bulbs in Watts, otherwise you will get micro-flickering which sucks to live with, causes headaches and stuff. Finally, 4100K bulbs FTW (although that is a personal preference).

Posted: 5/2/2017 11:47:29 PM EDT

[#6]

Bypass LED's are definitely the way to go, and 8' versions are coming down quickly in price so I wouldn't even consider the hassle of retrofitting an 8 footer to a quad (tandem) 4 foot.

That said, are you sure you installed new lamps, OP? If they're not a perfectly unused set, fresh from a case you KNOW is new, then I'd double check. I see so many people that keep a screwball mix of old/new/improper/recycled lamps around and just throw two random pieces of crap in a fixture when it stops working.

As noted, if your lamps are new and connections solid, it's a ballast issue.

Posted: 5/2/2017 11:50:58 PM EDT

[#7]

The bulbs I installed here new from the hardware store. I ordered a new ballast off amazon for 12$. I would look at converting to led but I plan on selling the house in a year..

Posted: 5/3/2017 10:08:08 PM EDT

[#8]

Quote History

Quoted:

These will save you the ballasts, but you will still have to retrofit for 4' bulbs. Whether you go florescent or LED, 4' is a must do. I used to retrofit lights and EVERY time an 2 lamp 8' t12 was found, a simple bracket was installed to make it 2 attached 2 lamp 4' t8 fixtures (4 lamps total). Most of the structure of the fixture is reusable, but the wiring almost never was, ballast always replaced, lamp holders replaced. If you can, add reflectors. You can drop down in wattage and still retain the same amount of light. Also necessary: if you go fluorescent, your ballast with have to match your bulbs in Watts, otherwise you will get micro-flickering which sucks to live with, causes headaches and stuff. Finally, 4100K bulbs FTW (although that is a personal preference).

View Quote

My bad, I missed the 8'.

So here are 8' LED ballast bypass tubes, same idea: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00SUMEGSC?tag=vglnk-c102-20

Posted: 5/4/2017 5:17:15 PM EDT

[#9]

Make sure the reflector is grounded.

The bulb needs the capacitance from the bulb to the grounded reflector to strike correctly.

Posted: 5/4/2017 5:33:32 PM EDT

[#10]

Quote History

Quoted:

My bad, I missed the 8'.

So here are 8' LED ballast bypass tubes, same idea: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00SUMEGSC?tag=vglnk-c102-20

View Quote

That's the brand I use at home- they're excellent.

Posted: 5/4/2017 5:57:32 PM EDT

[#11]

Quote History

Quoted:
Make sure the reflector is grounded.

The bulb needs the capacitance from the bulb to the grounded reflector to strike correctly.

View Quote

I will double check that when I put the new ballast in. I am sure it was tight.

Posted: 5/5/2017 3:13:34 PM EDT

[#12]

Quote History

Quoted:
I will double check that when I put the new ballast in. I am sure it was tight.

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Quote History

Quoted:

Quoted:
Make sure the reflector is grounded.

The bulb needs the capacitance from the bulb to the grounded reflector to strike correctly.

I will double check that when I put the new ballast in. I am sure it was tight.

Make sure the ballast mounting screws are machine threads.

Self tapping machine threads are acceptable but not the coarse threads of sheet metal screws.

The same with the ground connection to the reflector.

Even removing paint from under a screw used to ground the reflector [or using an internal tooth lock washer] can affect striking performance.

Posted: 5/6/2017 9:57:55 AM EDT

[#13]

Quote History

Quoted:

Make sure the ballast mounting screws are machine threads.

Self tapping machine threads are acceptable but not the coarse threads of sheet metal screws.

The same with the ground connection to the reflector.

Even removing paint from under a screw used to ground the reflector [or using an internal tooth lock washer] can affect striking performance.

View Quote

Ok I will check that. THe ballast showed up yesterday. I will get to installing it next week.

Posted: 5/6/2017 10:29:58 AM EDT

[#14]

Throw them out and buy LED

Posted: 5/6/2017 4:02:23 PM EDT

[#15]

Quote History

Quoted:
Throw them out and buy LED

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Read all my replies and you would see why I'm not going led.

Posted: 5/7/2017 3:27:25 PM EDT

[#16]

Ballast issue. Replace them and look up the more advanced models. You can get new ballast types that are much more efficient with a different florecent bulb. Can't remember exactly but you won't regret it. LED is expensive for the light you get so good thing about not switching. Most shops are under lit so you might need to add some lights while you are at it.