Shop(ceiling) light

[iwannadie]

I am looking for a decent yet inexpensive ceiling light for my garage. Just the simple florescent fixture that hangs from the ceiling and plugs into an outlet. I saw a Craftsman light that looks just like what I want but it is pricey and has really poor reviews.

I am sure these are common light but can anyone recommend a brand/type to look for that will last me?

 

[ChiXJeff]

$80? That better come with a reach around and a kiss.

I picked up 8 4' fluorescent cold-start fixtures at Lowes' for under $20 each, but I don't remember the brand. It also turned out to be cheaper to buy a case of tubes rather than buying enough to fill the fixtures.

 

[xcm]

WHAT are you doing, reading reviews? goto home depot or equivelant, buy enough light, and install... it should not have a major name on it, its shop lighting...


some people take the whole user review crap waaay too far...

 

[hubs97xj]

$80 for a 2 tube fluorescent fixture? :roll:

Unless you just have to have a light that looks cool (I only look at them when they don't work ), go to Home Depot and get something like this or this.

I like Lithonia as they haven't caused me any unnecessary headaches, and they have a plant here in town as well. Nothing in those fixtures is very expensive, or difficult to replace. I think a ballast is $20 by itself; J hooks, jack chain, pull switches and lamps are a couple of bucks each. You could buy 3 and keep 2 for spares for what the "Craftsman" light costs.

 

[iwannadie]

WHAT are you doing, reading reviews? goto home depot or equivelant, buy enough light, and install... it should not have a major name on it, its shop lighting...


some people take the whole user review crap waaay too far...

I want to try and avoid headaches by not buying a crappy light...

I am liking the Lithonia diamond plate setup though sofar. I don't know how craftsman can charge so much for their light and then have horrible reviews. If it was a great light and lasted I wouldn't have an issue with the price.

 

[ChiXJeff]

<shrug> The fixtures I bought 2 years have been working fine, I'm having no problems seeing under them.

 

[xcm]

I don't know how craftsman can charge so much for their light and then have horrible reviews.

whats so hard to grasp? companies try to make superior products, and fail, all the time. that light has a nice extruded aluminum housing, and all that jazz.... which is cool, i guess. but i never look at my shop lights, especially not the top, so i could care less. as hub mentioned... you can buy 2 or 3 regular fixtures for this price... I have 3 lights in my shop... thats $300 in lights that have cool extruded housings.... OK if your building a vanity garage...

Furthermore, based on my knowledge of compact flourescant reflectors... that things got a shitty reflector...

 

[OverdriveXJ]

if you want it to plug in, then you are probably talking about a 4' light so go buy a 4' light from Home Depot or lowes make sure it uses T-8 bulbs and put daylight deluxe T-8 bulbs in it

I'm just finishing up my garage remodel (another thread) and heres a pic of some diamond plated lights I bought a few years ago so they use a T-12 bulb, these lights have Daylight bulbs in them.

these are the only ones on in the picture, I have 2 8' HO lights on my ceiling that are not on.

 

[iwannadie]

I was browsing home depots site and I saw the day light bulbs and thought that would be a good way to go, good to hear someone with them comment.

 

[OverdriveXJ]

I was browsing home depots site and I saw the day light bulbs and thought that would be a good way to go, good to hear someone with them comment.

I use to work at Home Depot for about 3 yrs, I was the head electrical guy in the electrical/Lighting dept..(25 yr electrician)

When I sold shop lights to guys they went home with Daylight bulbs...they are my favorite...