[Sirrotica]

Originally Posted by geeteeohguy

Yet another vote for LED's. I converted a friend's faulty fluorescent lamp to a ballast-eliminating LED 'Daylight' lamp (4 foot tubes) and it's like the sun shining in the room. Uses 30% less energy than ballast-type fluorescent tubes, and is more than twice as bright. No heat generated, either. Be sure to get the ballast-eliminating (bypass) tubes. The ones that advertise 'plug and play' with the original ballast suck....and have all the problems that ballast systems have. LED tubes have gotten downright cheap, too.

Agree about the conversion tubes with ballast intact suck. I tried them and they didn't last 6 months. I then started replacing my fluorescent fixtures a couple at a time getting the Feit brand from Costco as I previously posted and have all but one replaced at this time.


I saw the Rural King units, but I've stayed with the Costco/Feit ones so far.

['ol Pinion head]

Originally Posted by Sirrotica

Agree about the conversion tubes with ballast intact suck. I tried them and they didn't last 6 months. I then started replacing my fluorescent fixtures a couple at a time getting the Feit brand from Costco as I previously posted and have all but one replaced at this time....

Since late November the local Lowes & Home Depot have only had in big packs, the 4 ft conversion bulbs that work with a ballast. Took driving into the city to buy 2 dozen of the correct style from an electrical supplier.

Am in and out of Sam's every couple weeks. The last time I went down the isle where Sams offered something for an LED shop light, the cheap POS used a LED rope light setup inside, not replaceable 4 ft bulbs. The entire deal is throw away, just like the $8 LED rope lights at Harbor Freight.

[TAKerry]

On a related note, the led light in my laundry room went out yesterday. Its about 4 years old. There are no serviceable parts and now I need an entirely new fixture. That was the first led I installed in my home and thought it was odd there was no 'bulb' when I installed it. It has not been overly used and by the given tables when you purchase one they say they will last for 10 yrs or more!

[David Jones]

Originally Posted by TAKerry

On a related note, the led light in my laundry room went out yesterday. Its about 4 years old. There are no serviceable parts and now I need an entirely new fixture. That was the first led I installed in my home and thought it was odd there was no 'bulb' when I installed it. It has not been overly used and by the given tables when you purchase one they say they will last for 10 yrs or more!

I suspect the LED itself is still capable of working. The transformer/driver is probably dead. Selling on the hour/time rating of the LED is a brilliant piece of marketing.