In-Bay and Vac Station Lights

[soapy]

I just converted a couple of dozen 42 watt cfl bulbs over to 38 watt leds with 5000k color. 35,000 hours bulb life and 4000 lumens per bulb. I took out the ballasts and used a small pigtail light socket. FEIT electric bulbs were $39.95 each at Home Depot. Pig tail $2. These are cob style bulbs. I also put some led bulbs that look like the curly cfl bulbs in some smaller fixtures with 25000 hour rating. While researching I found led bulbs that can be put in old mh fixture without removing the ballasts. I still have a couple dozen T5 HO lights that have been in use for 8 years and have not replaced a bulb or ballast.

 

[I.B. Washincars]

Just today, I replaced one of my 105W CFLs. It was two days shy of being three years old. I thought that was a little odd because many of the ones I installed in 2011-2012 are still going. The realization then hit me that this particular fixture is on 24/7. That's 26,256 hours...not bad.

 

[MEP001]

For some reason fluorescents last far longer than their rating when they don't have to start up. Conversely, I used to use often a convenience store bathroom with the usual 2x4' fluorescent panels in the ceiling and they had to replace them about every three months.

 

[2Biz]

About half of the original 85w CFL's I installed in April 2011 are still going strong. At 15 hours a day average, that's 38,352 hours. Way past the 10,000 hr rated life! Makes it kind of hard replacing perfectly good fixtures/bulbs with LED....

Thanks IB for reviving an old thread...Surely everyone who made the change back then are millionaires now with all the money they saved on electric!

 

[I.B. Washincars]

Yeah, I know. So many people act like LED is the second coming of Christ, but it's not the be all and end all in every situation.

 

[Bethel Car Wash]

I have been adding LED's a few at a time.
https://www.lightingever.com/70w-led-wall-pack-light-waterproof-6300007-dw-us.html

 

[MEP001]

Yeah, I know. So many people act like LED is the second coming of Christ, but it's not the be all and end all in every situation.

It's getting there. Just two years ago LED was still crazy expensive and hardly any could surpass the light output per watt of fluorescent, or if they did they had only a 25,000 hour life. Some of the fixture retrofits were up to $700, more than you'd ever save on electric through the life of the replacement. Every day I pass by a gas station with an early Scottsdale conversion, and the light is very green and unpleasant.

 

[Mr. Clean]

I'm curious what needs to be lit 24/7?

 

[I.B. Washincars]

I'm curious what needs to be lit 24/7?

I have an automatic in a tight bay with a low ceiling. It just wasn't lighted enough during the day to suit me and I felt some potential customers may think it wasn't working. I wired the two wall packs closest to the gantry so they would stay on all the time.

 

[soapy]

I have a bunch of T5 HO fixtures that I run in my auto bays 24\7 and I have yet to replace a bulb. Going on 6 years now.