Where I come from we only use grow lights for one thing. To grow plants in the basement away from prying eyes.
Shop Lighting, and LED vs Fluorescent
- Thread starter TimR
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woodtickgreg
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For what it's worth I do dig led lights. But my shop is all t5 and t8 fluorescent in the 5,000k plus variety. I got them dirt cheap and the shop is well lit. I also use task lights right at the machine, it helps with aging vision. A few cfls here and there too. My whole house is either cfl or led, been slowly replacing the cfl with led as they fail.
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LEDs took a huge step up in brightness and affordability in the last couple years. I wonder if I'll ever buy any other kind again, aside from replacing a tube lamp that's already in place.
I've been reading up more since my last post and I'm going to get a few LED lamps and see how I like them. If I like them as much as I suspect, I'll be doing like Greg and replacing them as the CFL's go out.
Personally, I'm not a big fan of CFL Bulbs; had one blow up in a lamp next to me. Shot flame and sparks everywhere, big puff of smoke. Had it been over a bed or couch and unattended at the time, it could have been disastrous. Wasn't good for the blood pressure the way it was! Looked kinda like someone had struck an arc with the welder cranked up right next to my head the way it was. Was scrambling trying to get away from it, then moving furniture in a hurry to make sure nothing was burning.
Transformer explosion and fire is not an uncommon problem with the CFL bulb either.
This one is obviously induced, but it's exactly what I experienced sitting in the comfort of my living room recliner!
Transformer explosion and fire is not an uncommon problem with the CFL bulb either.
This one is obviously induced, but it's exactly what I experienced sitting in the comfort of my living room recliner!
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If retro fitting t8s to LED, no ballast will be more energy efficient than using the ballast . A little extra effort on the front end but you also remove a component with potential to fail at some point.
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Good point, and another reason why I opted away from more expensive fixture and ballast, aside from RFI issues.