Shop lighting upgrade: T5 vs T8 fluorescent vs LED

TL;DR

Upgrading shop lighting to more energy-efficient T8 fluorescent lights with electronic ballasts improves lighting quality and saves power.

Transcript

hey everyone been here I thought it'd make a quick video that shows what I did to recently upgrade the lighting in my shop so let me get behind the camera here and show you the before and after so you can see what I'm talking about so on the left here this fixture is for old t12 fluorescent lights there's four lights in that fixture each one of the... Read More

Key Insights

• 🙂 Upgrading old T12 fluorescent lights to T8 fluorescent lights with electronic ballasts can result in significant power savings.
• 🙂 The new lighting system provides better light quality, with a whiter and more accurate color spectrum.
• 💨 LEDs still have a long way to go in terms of cost-effectiveness and performance for shop lighting applications.
• 🙂 T8 fluorescent lights are the recommended choice for shop lighting due to their lower cost and comparable efficiency to T5 lights.
• 🥶 Upgrading lighting fixtures with new electronic ballasts and full-spectrum bulbs offers flicker-free and hum-free lighting, improving the overall working environment.
• ⚡ Investing in higher CRI bulbs for fluorescent lights is worthwhile, as it enhances color visibility and makes tasks easier.
• 🤑 Choosing energy-efficient lighting options not only saves money but also has a positive impact on environmental sustainability.

Questions & Answers

Q: How does upgrading the shop lighting to T8 fluorescent lights with electronic ballasts improve energy efficiency?

The new T8 fluorescent lights consume only 32 watts each, compared to the old T12 lights, which used 40 watts per bulb. Additionally, electronic ballasts are more efficient in driving the tubes, resulting in overall energy savings.

Q: Does upgrading the shop lighting improve the quality of light?

Yes, the upgraded lighting system provides a whiter light with a higher color rendering index (CRI). This means that colors appear more accurate and vibrant under the new lighting, resulting in better visibility and improved working conditions.

Q: Are LEDs a viable option for shop lighting upgrades?

While LEDs have the potential to be more energy-efficient, they currently have a long way to go in terms of price and performance. The LEDs mentioned in the catalog reviewed in the video do not offer competitive lumens per dollar or lumens per watt compared to fluorescent lights.

Q: What are the advantages of using T8 fluorescent lights over T5 lights?

T8 fluorescent lights are a better choice for shop lighting due to their lower installation and bulb costs compared to T5 lights. The efficiency difference between T8 and T5 lights is marginal when comparing them with the same electronic ballast operating frequency.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• The video showcases the before and after effects of upgrading old T12 fluorescent lights in a shop to new T8 fluorescent lights with electronic ballasts.

• The new lighting system uses two tubes of only 32 watts each, resulting in significant power savings.

• The upgraded lighting system provides similar lighting intensity, but with a much whiter and better quality of light.