Anybody priced shop lights lately?

[tjclem]

For my new shop I need to by 12 4 foot lights. The prices I am seeing on the Lowes and home depot sites are about $30 apiece. Are you seeing any different? Where would you but them? I am off shopping today because I can't believe what I have seen on line.

[BassicJohn]

They used to something like 7.99. Wow, 30 is almost 4 times that much.

[scottyd]

Yeah when I built my shop I got them for around 8 bucks, less bulbs. Ive also noticed that on the websites they dont always show the cheapest stuff.

[Dirk Diggler]

Yeah when I went to buy one few months ago I was amazed at how much they've gone up. I had gotten some a few years before for much cheaper. If you need light you'll have to pay unfortunately.
Dirk

[Greenman]

Got all my lights from a contracter renovating a call center. All the same and all free.

[tjclem]

Just gotback from Wal mart Lowes and home depot. Walmart did have some for $9 but the reflector was way too small. They also had some for $15 with a decent sized refelector so that is the way I will go.The $30 ones had real big reflectors but $30 is more than I want to spend.......t

[Thunderchief]

The cheap one's don't save you any money. The ballasts won't last. Also the ballasts for the T-12 lamps (old style larger tubes) are no longwer being made. I'd go with a lamp that uses the smaller T-8 bulbs. Electronic ballast, which will save energy costs, and better light. I just updated a buddy of mines shop (Audey Ratliff, Ratliff Mandolins) and he loves it. As we get older ours eyes tend to let us know real quick. Do your self a favor now and put in the best lighting you can afford. May hurt putting out more money now, but in the long run your eyes will thank you.

[tjclem]

Originally Posted by Thunderchief

The cheap one's don't save you any money. The ballasts won't last. Also the ballasts for the T-12 lamps (old style larger tubes) are no longwer being made. I'd go with a lamp that uses the smaller T-8 bulbs. Electronic ballast, which will save energy costs, and better light. I just updated a buddy of mines shop (Audey Ratliff, Ratliff Mandolins) and he loves it. As we get older ours eyes tend to let us know real quick. Do your self a favor now and put in the best lighting you can afford. May hurt putting out more money now, but in the long run your eyes will thank you.

Do you see any on the lowes or home depot site that are like that? All those I saaw at the store use the big tubes..t

[Thunderchief]

Lowe's and Home Depot cater to the builder. Low price, limited life. Remember they don't have to live there for years. Go to a local electrical supply house and talk to one of the people there. If you need help let me know. I've got several contacts and one of them may be able to recommend someone in your area.

[tjclem]

Thanks boss I will look into it....t

[tjclem]

I am calling lighting supply places they don't seem very interested until I tell them I am looking for 12 fixtures then they suddenly sound interested.

Thunderchief if you know someone let me know. I am in zip code 32720 or in the Daytona Beach area.....Tom

[rbrown13]

wow! what size and type of lights are you looking at? I bought my lights from lowes about a year ago, 4ft two bulb flouresent units minus the bulbs, and I think I paid somewhere around $6 a unit and then I bought a case of bulbs. It didn't cost anywhere near $30 per unit though.

[tjclem]

I just got a price of $702 inc. tax for 12 4 foot T-8 light fixturess with 6" reflectors and bulbs. Are these really that much brighter and economical than the Lowes/Walmart style?

[crazydoc]

I had 4 dual T12 fixtures in my prior shop for 20 years - never a ballast problem and plenty of light for a 16X16 area with white walls and ceiling.

I've moved and am finishing up a new shop - 15X24. I just bought 6 T12 fixtures at Home Despot for $9 each plus a box of 30 bulbs for $55. For $110 this will give me plenty of light and should last the rest of my life. If ballast goes bad, just buy a replacement fixture.

YMMV

[tjclem]

I have been running the cheap ones in my shop for years too and they have done fine for me....... My Home depot doesn't seem to have them that cheap though. You got a link or Item #? I had heard that the t-8's were brighter and more energy wise though and was interested in checking them out. My walls and ceiling are unfinished in the work area of the new building. Only the wood storage room is insulated and climate controlled. ....t

[crazydoc]

They aren't on the website, but the fixture is Lithonia Shoplight model #1233. Call your local HD and ask if they have these. No reflector, just the fixture for 2 bulbs. I'm sure they're similar to other cheapest models at Lowe's and other places.

If you can paint the ceiling white there should be no need for a reflector. They're configured to hang from short chains and plug into a receptacle, but can easily be hard-wired into place.

[tjclem]

Thanks it is a tall ceiling and I am old and blind I would like reflectors.....t

[Thunderchief]

I'm checking on lighting prices and contacts in Flordia. I've got a local supply house that has agreed to truck freight to your location. Checking on pricing.

[tjclem]

Thanks. You have seen these and compared the light output with the cheap ones I assume? I haven't even seen the t-8's. I was just told they could be ordered........t

[beejomatic]

All the postings on this thread have dealt with fluorescent lights. I replaced all of my four footers with a pair of hundred watt clamp lights over each specific work area. Now I don't have to deal with the 60 cycle hum of the fluorescents(or the headaches they cause), and i can adjust the light to specific tasks. I realize incandescent light is ecologically unpopular, and I will probably get a ration of crap for posting this, but an old geezer just needs to see what he's doing....