NEED A NEW "LIGHT".... :+}

[OCtoolguy]

On 10/23/2024 at 12:30 PM, Scrappile said:

I would be replacing a Florscant light do you need to switch the ballast in them?

Paul, it should just be a "plug n play". I ordered the bulb on Amazon and bingo, it was in and working.

[Scrappile]

But then I think a LED bulb is twice as expensive as a fluorescent.  The one I want to replace is from 2004.  Why pay double when a fluorescent will outlast me? 

Edited October 25 by Scrappile

[kmmcrafts]

1 hour ago, Scrappile said:

But then I think a LED bulb is twice as expensive as a fluorescent.  The one I want to replace is from 2004.  Why pay double when a fluorescent will outlast me? 

For me it was the poor start-up in cold weather for the fluorescent to turn on and a bonus was it was about 2 times brighter.. But some people don't like the brighter light as much. Less power consumption means you're saving energy for someone else who needs to charge their car..

Oh, and the bulb is made out of some stronger plastic of some sort instead of glass, as I haven't broken any of the LED bulbs "yet" 

Edited October 25 by kmmcrafts

[JimNC]

Like BadBob I like the  sewing machine lights. They are cheap, effective, and very versatile. I have one or two an every tool I have. Even a few extra in the drawer. 

Jim B.

[BadBob]

LEDs

• use a lot less electricity
• have little or no flicker
• instant on, even in cold weather
• produce better quality light
• environmentally friendly (No mercury) and no trips to hazardous waste disposal
• dimmable
• they are small and easy to install

I have been changing to LEDs for a long time. I replaced fluorescent ceiling lights in my shop with LEDs. The fixtures are 1-inch wide and 48 inches long, and they daisy chain together, so I have a continuous. I got 3 times the light and, instant on at full brightness, reduced the cost of electricity by about 25%.

 

 

[JTTHECLOCKMAN]

I would like to just put my 2 cents in here about LED's. They are not for everyone. LED lights can not be compared to Fillament or even fluorescent lamps because of color. It is the BLUE LIGHT effect which all LED lamps put out. Some lights filter it better than others but this effect can damage eyes. So when I read Bad Bob champing LED's  I would warn you not all people can handle them and again if buying try to get a LED light with a low blue lighting filtering system and protect your eyes.  Many people can not handle the brighter light or the different color of light that is emmitted from LED and no not all Led lights are color controllable especially these desk lamps you are all talking about so be careful what you buy. Yes LED have a plastic covering as opposed to glass because they are cooler in run temp and can allow this. They do make and I have one where I have the old flourescent lamps but it has a plastic cover on the bottom that protects the lamp. Had it for many years. Again buy cheap get cheap. Just wanted to make a point here if it is a mag light we are talking about or just some other external source lighting. Those bright lights are not good for your eyes even when they reflect off the metal table of a saw. So choose wisely the amount of lumens needed when it comes to having lights sit directly on a table like I have seen some people have here. It would be better to look at the room lighting in general and see if that can be upgraded to spread the lighting more evenly. I am not an eye doctor and nor do a want to be but be careful. Yes Led lights save money and power consumption but comes at a cost. You can relate this to computer screens. They have been refined over the years but it was a danger staring at a computer screen for so many hours. Do your homework and take suggestions here but investigate further. I just had to say something as this topic keeps unfolding. 

Edited Friday at 01:06 PM by JTTHECLOCKMAN

[OCtoolguy]

14 hours ago, Scrappile said:

But then I think a LED bulb is twice as expensive as a fluorescent.  The one I want to replace is from 2004.  Why pay double when a fluorescent will outlast me? 

Better light and longer life. It will be the last one you will buy.

 

[Scrappile]

51 minutes ago, OCtoolguy said:

Better light and longer life. It will be the last one you will buy.

 

The one I have with LED is too bright for me.  An the bulb I want to replace is 20 years old.  I do not have another 20 years of scrolling or probably living for that matter.

[kmmcrafts]

59 minutes ago, Scrappile said:

The one I have with LED is too bright for me.  An the bulb I want to replace is 20 years old.  I do not have another 20 years of scrolling or probably living for that matter.

I'd go with the cheap bulb then.. I will say the LED is super bright and some people are sensitive to light.. mostly vampires I think  .. but sometimes I will swap mine out for the one fluorescent one I have left especially if I happen to have a cold virus or not feeling 100% then I too am a bit sensitive to the bright light.. As I said earlier.. not everyone likes those LED's

The light output I don't think is a lot different but the color temperature is what makes it bright.. 

[OCtoolguy]

1 hour ago, kmmcrafts said:

I'd go with the cheap bulb then.. I will say the LED is super bright and some people are sensitive to light.. mostly vampires I think  .. but sometimes I will swap mine out for the one fluorescent one I have left especially if I happen to have a cold virus or not feeling 100% then I too am a bit sensitive to the bright light.. As I said earlier.. not everyone likes those LED's

The light output I don't think is a lot different but the color temperature is what makes it bright.. 

I bought 4 of the HF 48" overhead shop lights that were prior to the ones that could be daisy chained. I have 2 on each side of my small shop. I turn 2 of them off at times because of their brightness. But I've never experienced any kind of "blue light" syndrome. I do like having plenty of light when working or reading or ???. I could never go back to the flourescent bulbs again. I have 2 of the LED worklights for my scrollsaws. 

[Scrappile]

@OCtoolguy, you flagged my last comment as sad... I am not sad.  I am not ready to go just yet.  But I have had a chance to live during a great time, and I have no regrets other than my Grandchildren did not live closer.  But they have always been in touch and included me in their lives, so I am very grateful.    A week ago I got to go to a party for my oldest Grandchild, my Granddaugter's engagement to a very fine man.  I now have hope for great-grandchildren.  If they are not too slow on the draw if you know what I mean.  This thread is about light, so I will end by saying there is a ray of light for great-grandchildren.

[JTTHECLOCKMAN]

6 hours ago, OCtoolguy said:

I bought 4 of the HF 48" overhead shop lights that were prior to the ones that could be daisy chained. I have 2 on each side of my small shop. I turn 2 of them off at times because of their brightness. But I've never experienced any kind of "blue light" syndrome. I do like having plenty of light when working or reading or ???. I could never go back to the flourescent bulbs again. I have 2 of the LED worklights for my scrollsaws. 

How do you know if the blue light hasn't effected your eye sight. Everyone can do as they please but my point was to make others aware that it is a thing and a serious thing. We try to improve on things but they can lead to other problems. 

[JTTHECLOCKMAN]

Again I will make a comment here because of Ray's thoughts. he said better light longer life. That is not always true so please do not say things like this. Again Not all LEDs are made the same I have seen Leds blow out and flicker in 6 months. I have seen Fluorescents last for years. Every time you throw a switch on you jolt electronics or filaments and depending how heavy duty they are they will absorb this. Take a look at your saws. Every time you start and stop the saw you jolt that motor. The better saws have better motors plain and simple. If you are fine with old fluorescents then do not let anyone here talk you out of them. There are still plenty around for replacement. What works for one is not for all. 

[kmmcrafts]

12 minutes ago, JTTHECLOCKMAN said:

Again I will make a comment here because of Ray's thoughts. he said better light longer life. That is not always true so please do not say things like this. Again Not all LEDs are made the same I have seen Leds blow out and flicker in 6 months. I have seen Fluorescents last for years. Every time you throw a switch on you jolt electronics or filaments and depending how heavy duty they are they will absorb this. Take a look at your saws. Every time you start and stop the saw you jolt that motor. The better saws have better motors plain and simple. If you are fine with old fluorescents then do not let anyone here talk you out of them. There are still plenty around for replacement. What works for one is not for all. 

I don't know when LED's came out but I can say I bought one and it wasn't no cheap purchase back then.. I wanna say like $25 - 30 for one bulb back then.. thinking this was around 2007-8 maybe? anyway that bulb is still going strong and is in one of the most used light fixtures in my house.. ( now that I jinxed myself I guess I better find a replacement for it LOL ).. My wife bought a package of bulbs from somewhere with about 8? bulbs in it for less than that one bulb cost us.. those bulbs replaced some of those old twisted looking fluorescent bulbs which also lasted quite a long time.. also replaced a few of those that must have been in a area where there was too much heat or too little air flow because I replaced some of those twisted bulbs that still worked but were melting and looked like a fire hazard with these cheaper LED's. anyway.. I've been slowly replacing these cheaper LED's because of blowing out or flickering already.. One of them lasted almost a week.. .. so you're right.. they are not all made the same, LOL..

I still like the LED's better than those fire hazard twist looking fluorescents that they pushed for us to replace the old incandescent bulbs with.. those also generated heat but was not melting themselves kinda heat.. yeah if you're not to smart and have a lamp shade on any of them they'll likely start a fire.. maybe not the LED's  but I still wouldn't recommend that, LOL  Anyway, LED's have come a long way with filtering out the blue color output but they've also IMO have cut corners to cheapen the long life that they used to offer too maybe.. could also be just the cheap light package we got but the newer what would be name brand ones have shown some flicker issues already as well.. Maybe I'm just not finding the $25 each quality bulbs no more like my first ones were. 

The T5 and T8 style LED bulbs in my shop have been good.. original ones from when I built the shop back in 2012.. the fluorescent T5's I had to replace bulbs a few times already but blame that on making them try to work in the cold.. I hear the cold is harsh on them which is why I've now switch those to LED's now too. Of coarse now that I have heat in the shop,  I could have kept a few of them fluorescents going.  

[JTTHECLOCKMAN]

18 minutes ago, kmmcrafts said:

I don't know when LED's came out but I can say I bought one and it wasn't no cheap purchase back then.. I wanna say like $25 - 30 for one bulb back then.. thinking this was around 2007-8 maybe? anyway that bulb is still going strong and is in one of the most used light fixtures in my house.. ( now that I jinxed myself I guess I better find a replacement for it LOL ).. My wife bought a package of bulbs from somewhere with about 8? bulbs in it for less than that one bulb cost us.. those bulbs replaced some of those old twisted looking fluorescent bulbs which also lasted quite a long time.. also replaced a few of those that must have been in a area where there was too much heat or too little air flow because I replaced some of those twisted bulbs that still worked but were melting and looked like a fire hazard with these cheaper LED's. anyway.. I've been slowly replacing these cheaper LED's because of blowing out or flickering already.. One of them lasted almost a week.. .. so you're right.. they are not all made the same, LOL..

I still like the LED's better than those fire hazard twist looking fluorescents that they pushed for us to replace the old incandescent bulbs with.. those also generated heat but was not melting themselves kinda heat.. yeah if you're not to smart and have a lamp shade on any of them they'll likely start a fire.. maybe not the LED's  but I still wouldn't recommend that, LOL  Anyway, LED's have come a long way with filtering out the blue color output but they've also IMO have cut corners to cheapen the long life that they used to offer too maybe.. could also be just the cheap light package we got but the newer what would be name brand ones have shown some flicker issues already as well.. Maybe I'm just not finding the $25 each quality bulbs no more like my first ones were. 

The T5 and T8 style LED bulbs in my shop have been good.. original ones from when I built the shop back in 2012.. the fluorescent T5's I had to replace bulbs a few times already but blame that on making them try to work in the cold.. I hear the cold is harsh on them which is why I've now switch those to LED's now too. Of coarse now that I have heat in the shop,  I could have kept a few of them fluorescents going.  

You are proving my point. Not all LED lamps are equal. Many of these coming from China are just cheap garbage. How did we live so long with old fashion incandescent and fluorescents? You learned the hazards and you stayed away from them There are now hazards with new technology also and LEDs are on that list. Do not get me started on Electric cars because that is another fallacy that is suppose to save energy. I will leave this note, stop and think how was each part made for electric cars. How is charging done. Lithium Ion batteries how safe are they? Go to trade in an electric car and see how much value is lost with each year. Alot more than a combustion engine. Are we going in the right direction? depends how you look at things I guess. OK I am off my soap box and happy light shopping. 

This is for you Kevin. You may not believe this but LED lights degrade faster in warmer temps than in cold and in cold the light output is brighter than warmer temps. You may not notice this but again things that do not get mentioned much when sales are involved. As far as flickering that would make this thread alot longer to give all the reasons LED can flicker as well as stay lit even with the light switch off. You will see lots of this when you are in a power shortage situation like summer times when they drop voltages to save power. This can damage LEDS as well as motors and so many other things. The life expectancy of those LED lights can be compromised and now you are replacing more often. I know this has gone in a different direction and all but it gets overlooked many times with progress.  

[OCtoolguy]

17 hours ago, Scrappile said:

@OCtoolguy, you flagged my last comment as sad... I am not sad.  I am not ready to go just yet.  But I have had a chance to live during a great time, and I have no regrets other than my Grandchildren did not live closer.  But they have always been in touch and included me in their lives, so I am very grateful.    A week ago I got to go to a party for my oldest Grandchild, my Granddaugter's engagement to a very fine man.  I now have hope for great-grandchildren.  If they are not too slow on the draw if you know what I mean.  This thread is about light, so I will end by saying there is a ray of light for great-grandchildren.

You misunderstood. I would be sad to lose you. I am still very sad over losing Rockytime and Scrollsaw703 but it's life. Congrats on your great family. 

[Jim McDonald]

On 10/23/2024 at 3:30 PM, Scrappile said:

I would be replacing a Florscant light do you need to switch the ballast in them?

Don't know about the circular bulbs, but in normal tubes, they make two types: one that works with your existing ballast and the other you clip the ballast out of the circuit and just use your 117VAC supply wires.

[rafairchild2]

I got this from Amazon for under $30.

5x magnifier and adjustable LED (Brightness, temperature)

https://amzn.to/4hlNNBt

[OCtoolguy]

17 hours ago, JTTHECLOCKMAN said:

Again I will make a comment here because of Ray's thoughts. he said better light longer life. That is not always true so please do not say things like this. Again Not all LEDs are made the same I have seen Leds blow out and flicker in 6 months. I have seen Fluorescents last for years. Every time you throw a switch on you jolt electronics or filaments and depending how heavy duty they are they will absorb this. Take a look at your saws. Every time you start and stop the saw you jolt that motor. The better saws have better motors plain and simple. If you are fine with old fluorescents then do not let anyone here talk you out of them. There are still plenty around for replacement. What works for one is not for all. 

I humbly bow to your superior knowledge JT. 

[JTTHECLOCKMAN]

17 minutes ago, OCtoolguy said:

I humbly bow to your superior knowledge JT. 

I know that is a jab, Ray but that is OK. I just wanted add some knowledge being an electrician for over 50 years and have seen this side of innovation expand over the years. Like I said with new things comes new problems and maybe some are not aware of. Someday I will let you in on the downside of solar panels that everyone likes too.  So watch the bowing stuff it hurts the back.

[OCtoolguy]

9 minutes ago, JTTHECLOCKMAN said:

I know that is a jab, Ray but that is OK. I just wanted add some knowledge being an electrician for over 50 years and have seen this side of innovation expand over the years. Like I said with new things comes new problems and maybe some are not aware of. Someday I will let you in on the downside of solar panels that everyone likes too.  So watch the bowing stuff it hurts the back.

Not a jab at all. You are far smarter than I will ever be. I prove my lack of knowledge on a daily basis. Just ask my wife.

[kmmcrafts]

4 hours ago, JTTHECLOCKMAN said:

I know that is a jab, Ray but that is OK. I just wanted add some knowledge being an electrician for over 50 years and have seen this side of innovation expand over the years. Like I said with new things comes new problems and maybe some are not aware of. Someday I will let you in on the downside of solar panels that everyone likes too.  So watch the bowing stuff it hurts the back.

I absolutely hate the solar panel farms.. They have bought out several cattle farms in my area and have been making the fields into solar farms and making a mess of the fields.. be interesting how the snow or hail will affect these. Sad to see what was crop fields and now all you see is rows and rows of solar panels.. don't get me wrong they may have a small place for if a homeowner would like to sub some alternative energy more power to them.. but ruining farmlands to do this just doesn't seem all that smart to me. This is probably getting too much into political talk but I've not been a supporter of this electric car push or the solar and wind farms.. I don't know a much about these things but hear that the solar panels are bad for the environment.. maybe they'll circle back after my time is gone and realize this was a bad idea.. tax the people again to clean up the land and mess they made and go back to nuclear power plants or coal.. I'd be curious what many people that know way more than I really think about this stuff.. This site probably not the place for discussion as it'd likely turn too politics in the process.. I'd be open to hear anyones thoughts in a PM on some of this stuff push for the direction they're taking our kids too though.  

The electric cars are pretty dangerous for the firefighters for not only the fire hazards but also electrocution in car crashes and the firefighters having to cut people out of a car is pretty bad stuff to mess with.. especially if it's in the rain, snow etc.. I guess I just see them as way more dangerous and hazardous.. not to mention what happens to all these batteries in 20+ years.. maybe they've got this all thought out but also seems like bad ideas to me.. Wonder what the health effects are of the self charging roads they're making in in Michigan.. I heard they was building a electric road that somehow charges the car as you drive on it or something.. and here they talk about cell phones causing cancers etc.. Just what we need is more of this garbage to ruin the human population..  

[OCtoolguy]

20 minutes ago, kmmcrafts said:
I absolutely hate the solar panel farms.. They have bought out several cattle farms in my area and have been making the fields into solar farms and making a mess of the fields.. be interesting how the snow or hail will affect these. Sad to see what was crop fields and now all you see is rows and rows of solar panels.. don't get me wrong they may have a small place for if a homeowner would like to sub some alternative energy more power to them.. but ruining farmlands to do this just doesn't seem all that smart to me. This is probably getting too much into political talk but I've not been a supporter of this electric car push or the solar and wind farms.. I don't know a much about these things but hear that the solar panels are bad for the environment.. maybe they'll circle back after my time is gone and realize this was a bad idea.. tax the people again to clean up the land and mess they made and go back to nuclear power plants or coal.. I'd be curious what many people that know way more than I really think about this stuff.. This site probably not the place for discussion as it'd likely turn too politics in the process.. I'd be open to hear anyones thoughts in a PM on some of this stuff push for the direction they're taking our kids too though.  
The electric cars are pretty dangerous for the firefighters for not only the fire hazards but also electrocution in car crashes and the firefighters having to cut people out of a car is pretty bad stuff to mess with.. especially if it's in the rain, snow etc.. I guess I just see them as way more dangerous and hazardous.. not to mention what happens to all these batteries in 20+ years.. maybe they've got this all thought out but also seems like bad ideas to me.. Wonder what the health effects are of the self charging roads they're making in in Michigan.. I heard they was building a electric road that somehow charges the car as you drive on it or something.. and here they talk about cell phones causing cancers etc.. Just what we need is more of this garbage to ruin the human population..  

 

Without being political, it ain't gonna work. They already are realizing that they should have stayed with nuclear and clean burning coal and natural gas. The power demands of the A.I. computer farms will far exceed what they can get from solar/wind generation. Not to mention what happens if we have a few weeks of cold foul weather. Of course there is also darkness for about half the day too. 

Edited Sunday at 01:53 AM by OCtoolguy

[JTTHECLOCKMAN]

Yes this comes close to running up to the political lines so I will not push it but can tell you as I said before with LED lights. Every new technology comes with its own set of problems. I have installed miles of solar panels on solar panel farms as well as on top of many factory roofs which seem to be a great place because they are out of site and those roofs are dead space anyway. But there are so many problems that come up with the installation no matter where they are put and they still are developing newer versions all the time so the ones installed become outdated and lose percentage of power every year. Electric cars is a joke where they put the horse before the cart. The electric grid can not sustain the totals of those cars they propose in the time limits. As I mentioned every part weather on a solar panel or electric car or wind turbine was made using fossil fuels so the irony is somewhat laughable. Weather it be electric cars or solar panel or other environmentally used projects does not fit all areas of the world. Alternatives are needed for sure but at what cost. I will not be around to see the answers to these things so let me know how it turns out in another decade or two.  

[rafairchild2]

5 hours ago, kmmcrafts said:

I absolutely hate the solar panel farms.. They have bought out several cattle farms in my area and have been making the fields into solar farms and making a mess of the fields.. be interesting how the snow or hail will affect these. Sad to see what was crop fields and now all you see is rows and rows of solar panels..

Well, earlier this year in TX

https://www.foxnews.com/politics/hailstorm-destroys-massive-solar-farm-sparking-fears-of-chemical-contamination

Quote

An onslaught of hail in southeastern Texas that destroyed large portions of a massive solar farm is highlighting the perils of trading traditional power sources for vulnerable "green" alternatives and sparking concern about the potential for chemical leaks from the broken panels.

 

Edited Sunday at 07:11 AM by rafairchild2