I've used 4 footers in my garage for longer than I can remember. Now
that it is a WW shop, I've got 9 of them. No matter if they have
electronic ballasts or the older types, the bulbs don't last long. I'd
venture a guess that I replace about 10 to 12 of them in a year. In the
past it seemed that one or two of the fixtures had more failures than
others, so I replaced the fixtures with electronic ballast. The
temperature at which they are turned on at seldom is below 50 degrees.
Half of them turn on automatically with a motion sensor, each time
someone enters the shop. BUT, the others are only turned on with a pull
switch when needed and they have had failures also, so I don't think
that it is the frequency of switching them on/off that's the problem.
I've used GE Residential bulbs and Phillips bulbs that HD carries now.
I've had 2 or 3 immediate failures of the Phillips bulbs (flickering) so
I returned them for refund and switched back to GE, which always work
when new.
My question is: do you guys have frequent bulb failures with the 4
footers? I'm thinking of replacing them with eights if that will solve
the problem.
Incandescent bulbs in my home last for ages, except for those little
night lights.
dave
I thought it was the cold too, Guy, but the last 3 fixtures I bought
(within just this past year) are rated to zero degrees. It's never less
than 40 when they are turned on; usually it's over 50. This puzzles me,
as there is a couple of fixtures which almost never burn out the bulbs,
and then a couple that use to burn them out frequently I replaced with
the zero degree rated electronic ballast type, and those kill the bulbs
pretty quickly. Maybe because they are cheepies? "American" is in the
brand name; I forget the EXACT name.
dave
Guy wrote:
> "Bay Area Dave" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
>
>>I've used 4 footers in my garage for longer than I can remember. Now
>>that it is a WW shop, I've got 9 of them. No matter if they have
>>electronic ballasts or the older types, the bulbs don't last long. I'd
>>venture a guess that I replace about 10 to 12 of them in a year. In the
>>past it seemed that one or two of the fixtures had more failures than
>>others, so I replaced the fixtures with electronic ballast. The
>>temperature at which they are turned on at seldom is below 50 degrees.
>>Half of them turn on automatically with a motion sensor, each time
>>someone enters the shop. BUT, the others are only turned on with a pull
>>switch when needed and they have had failures also, so I don't think
>>that it is the frequency of switching them on/off that's the problem.
>>I've used GE Residential bulbs and Phillips bulbs that HD carries now.
>>I've had 2 or 3 immediate failures of the Phillips bulbs (flickering) so
>>I returned them for refund and switched back to GE, which always work
>>when new.
>>
>>My question is: do you guys have frequent bulb failures with the 4
>>footers? I'm thinking of replacing them with eights if that will solve
>>the problem.
>>
>>Incandescent bulbs in my home last for ages, except for those little
>>night lights.
>>
>>
>>dave
>>
>
>
> I used to have problems with bulbs and fixtures I installed in a garage when
> I lived in Ottawa, Canada. They didn't work in the cold and bulbs and
> ballasts (non-electronic) would fail frequently.
>
> A sales rep at an electrical store suggested I use high output fixtures and
> bulbs, which are available in various lengths. So I installed 4' fixtures
> and bulbs, and those lights worked on even the coldest days. And they lasted
> for several years, too. They might still be working, for all I know.
>
>
>
I have 4 and they are all different types HO, cold, cheap... In 3 years
not a single replacement. I also have 9 screw in fluorescents and like
those alot also.
BRuce
Bay Area Dave wrote:
> I've used 4 footers in my garage for longer than I can remember. Now
> that it is a WW shop, I've got 9 of them. No matter if they have
> electronic ballasts or the older types, the bulbs don't last long. I'd
> venture a guess that I replace about 10 to 12 of them in a year. In the
> past it seemed that one or two of the fixtures had more failures than
> others, so I replaced the fixtures with electronic ballast. The
> temperature at which they are turned on at seldom is below 50 degrees.
> Half of them turn on automatically with a motion sensor, each time
> someone enters the shop. BUT, the others are only turned on with a pull
> switch when needed and they have had failures also, so I don't think
> that it is the frequency of switching them on/off that's the problem.
> I've used GE Residential bulbs and Phillips bulbs that HD carries now.
> I've had 2 or 3 immediate failures of the Phillips bulbs (flickering) so
> I returned them for refund and switched back to GE, which always work
> when new.
>
> My question is: do you guys have frequent bulb failures with the 4
> footers? I'm thinking of replacing them with eights if that will solve
> the problem.
>
> Incandescent bulbs in my home last for ages, except for those little
> night lights.
>
>
> dave
>
--
---
BRuce
Dave, it might be worth finding someone with a line voltage monitor and
letting it run for a day or 2. It is possible to have spikes and excess
noise on you electrical service. I would think that it would also
effect incandescent bulbs but it is hard to tell.
BRuce
Bay Area Dave wrote:
> every last one of them.
>
> dave
>
> Thompson Family wrote:
>
>> "Bay Area Dave" <[email protected]> wrote in message
>> news:[email protected]...
>>
>>> I'm buying the GE Residentials...and they burn out in months.
>>>
>>> dave
>>>
>>> --Shiva-- wrote:
>>>
>>>
>>>> being 'picked' one time to be the maintenance man at a church
>>>> has disadvantages... BUT, ther was one room that had 15-4 light 4
>>>> foot fixtures in it, and they kept complaining the bulbs would
>>>> NOT last....
>>>> they were going down to the local HW store or Walmart and pay
>>>> $1.50 a pair (this WAS some years back), and complain when in 2
>>>> weeks they would burn out....
>>>> I ordered from an electrical supply house a BOX (24?) of the
>>>> better quality GE bulbs, paid the sum of almost $3 each...
>>>> the bulbs quit burning out... there does seem to be a difference
>>>> in QUALITY.
>>>>
>>>> --Shiva--
>>>>
>>>
>> are the fixtures grounded? this is critical with rapid start type lamps
>>
>>
>
--
---
BRuce
Bay Area Dave <[email protected]> wrote:
> My question is: do you guys have frequent bulb failures with the 4
> footers? I'm thinking of replacing them with eights if that will solve
> the problem.
If your bulbs flicker for a significant time when coming on and you get
blackened ends on the tubes before they die you have crappy fixtures
that either don't make reliable contact with the bulbs, or have cheap
ballasts. The cheap T8 fixtures I bought at Lowes (or was it Home
Depot) are showing good bulb life but I think that generally you get
what you pay for. Since you have electronic ballasts, I would first
try using some T8 bulbs and see what kind of life you get. If those
burn out early too, then replace your fixtures with some higher quality
T8 fixtures from an electrical supply/lighting store. You will pay more
than at the BORG, but in the long run you will save money by putting in
better fixtures and getting longer bulb life.
This advice assumes that you don't have problems with big voltage spikes
in your feeds.
--
To email me use: sjusenet AT comcast DOT net
>From: Bay Area Dave [email protected]
>My question is: do you guys have frequent bulb failures with the 4
>footers? I'm thinking of replacing them with eights if that will solve
>the problem.
>
Dave,
I can't say anything about 4 footers, but I have 8 footers in my shop and I
haven't changed a bulb in over 3 years. (Living in FL, my shop almost never
gets below 50.)
Good Luck,
Mike G.
Tue, Jan 6, 2004, 4:57pm (EST+5) [email protected] (Bay=A0Area=A0Dave) polls
the group:
<snip> My question is: do you guys have frequent bulb failures with the
4 footers? <snip>
None in maybe 7+ years of use.
JOAT
Success consists of going from failure to failure without loss of
enthusiasm.
- Sir Winston Churchill
Life just ain't life without good music. - JOAT
Web Page Update 5 Jan 2004.
Some tunes I like.
http://community-2.webtv.net/Jakofalltrades/SOMETUNESILIKE/
Lance Spaulding said:
>Have you tried the T8 fixtures and bulbs? I used to have have the
>same short-life problem you are seeing with the older style (T12 I think)
>fixtures. When I built my new shop last year, I put in all T8 fixtures
>and haven't had a bulb fail yet (~1 year). They're cheap, put out more
>light, and use less electricity -- I'm sold on them.
>
>Lance
I use T-8s as well, with OSRAM electronic ballasts. More light, less
power, and they start reliably to 0 F. You can get them in 4' and 8'
lengths. They are bi-pin designs, but the pins must be wired together
at each end when used with electronic ballasts. Most of the bulbs are
reduced mercury, tri-phosphor designs with a broad spectrum. I love
mine as well. I pay $3.60 each locally for an ALTO850 tube - 2950
lumens, 32 watt, 5000k color temperature.
FWIW,
Greg G.
Dave,
The T-8's are thin, double pin 4 footers. They should work very well with your
electronic ballasts. They may also be available in 8 foot lengths.
Matt
Bay Area Dave wrote:
> Lance, are the T8's single pin 8 footers?
>
> dave
>
> Lance Spaulding wrote:
>
> > Bay Area Dave <[email protected]> wrote:
> >
> >>I've used 4 footers in my garage for longer than I can remember. Now
> >>that it is a WW shop, I've got 9 of them. No matter if they have
> >>electronic ballasts or the older types, the bulbs don't last long. I'd
> >>venture a guess that I replace about 10 to 12 of them in a year. In the
> >>past it seemed that one or two of the fixtures had more failures than
> >>others, so I replaced the fixtures with electronic ballast. The
> >>temperature at which they are turned on at seldom is below 50 degrees.
> >>Half of them turn on automatically with a motion sensor, each time
> >>someone enters the shop. BUT, the others are only turned on with a pull
> >>switch when needed and they have had failures also, so I don't think
> >>that it is the frequency of switching them on/off that's the problem.
> >>I've used GE Residential bulbs and Phillips bulbs that HD carries now.
> >>I've had 2 or 3 immediate failures of the Phillips bulbs (flickering) so
> >>I returned them for refund and switched back to GE, which always work
> >>when new.
> >
> >
> >>My question is: do you guys have frequent bulb failures with the 4
> >>footers? I'm thinking of replacing them with eights if that will solve
> >>the problem.
> >
> >
> >>Incandescent bulbs in my home last for ages, except for those little
> >>night lights.
> >
> >
> >
> >>dave
> >
> >
> >
> > Have you tried the T8 fixtures and bulbs? I used to have have the
> > same short-life problem you are seeing with the older style (T12 I think)
> > fixtures. When I built my new shop last year, I put in all T8 fixtures
> > and haven't had a bulb fail yet (~1 year). They're cheap, put out more
> > light, and use less electricity -- I'm sold on them.
> >
> > Lance
Interesting, I have two workshops one exclusively for wood one for rc
planes, both in my basement but 2 walls isolated from each other. My wood
shop has both 4' fixtures and 8' fixtures with 4' bulbs. I get much shorter
life out of the wood shop lights by comparison. They don't burn out, but
they start producing less light (not just from dust) and get black on the
ends. Hardly every replace the rc bulbs which are probably on more
Bay Area Dave wrote:
> I've used 4 footers in my garage for longer than I can remember. Now
> that it is a WW shop, I've got 9 of them. No matter if they have
> electronic ballasts or the older types, the bulbs don't last long. I'd
> venture a guess that I replace about 10 to 12 of them in a year. In the
> past it seemed that one or two of the fixtures had more failures than
> others, so I replaced the fixtures with electronic ballast. The
> temperature at which they are turned on at seldom is below 50 degrees.
> Half of them turn on automatically with a motion sensor, each time
> someone enters the shop. BUT, the others are only turned on with a pull
> switch when needed and they have had failures also, so I don't think
> that it is the frequency of switching them on/off that's the problem.
> I've used GE Residential bulbs and Phillips bulbs that HD carries now.
> I've had 2 or 3 immediate failures of the Phillips bulbs (flickering) so
> I returned them for refund and switched back to GE, which always work
> when new.
>
> My question is: do you guys have frequent bulb failures with the 4
> footers? I'm thinking of replacing them with eights if that will solve
> the problem.
>
> Incandescent bulbs in my home last for ages, except for those little
> night lights.
>
> dave
Bay Area Dave wrote:
>
> I've used 4 footers in my garage for longer than I can remember. Now
> that it is a WW shop, I've got 9 of them. No matter if they have
> electronic ballasts or the older types, the bulbs don't last long. I'd
> venture a guess that I replace about 10 to 12 of them in a year. In the
> past it seemed that one or two of the fixtures had more failures than
> others, so I replaced the fixtures with electronic ballast. The
> temperature at which they are turned on at seldom is below 50 degrees.
> Half of them turn on automatically with a motion sensor, each time
> someone enters the shop. BUT, the others are only turned on with a pull
> switch when needed and they have had failures also, so I don't think
> that it is the frequency of switching them on/off that's the problem.
> I've used GE Residential bulbs and Phillips bulbs that HD carries now.
> I've had 2 or 3 immediate failures of the Phillips bulbs (flickering) so
> I returned them for refund and switched back to GE, which always work
> when new.
>
> My question is: do you guys have frequent bulb failures with the 4
> footers? I'm thinking of replacing them with eights if that will solve
> the problem.
>
> Incandescent bulbs in my home last for ages, except for those little
> night lights.
>
> dave
How cold? I have three cheap 4 foot double bulb lamps that
I use a lot. The one above my work bench is used the most
and the bulbs have been in it for over 20 years. Another is
hasn't had a bulb change in at least 15 years. The third is
closer to the door (garage door that doesn't seal real well)
and outside wall and doesn't work well in the cold, has a
bad tube, and is unplug at present. Bulbs lasted about 6
years with a lot of use but I haven't used it much in recent
years.
Bay Area Dave <[email protected]> wrote:
> I've used 4 footers in my garage for longer than I can remember. Now
> that it is a WW shop, I've got 9 of them. No matter if they have
> electronic ballasts or the older types, the bulbs don't last long. I'd
> venture a guess that I replace about 10 to 12 of them in a year. In the
> past it seemed that one or two of the fixtures had more failures than
> others, so I replaced the fixtures with electronic ballast. The
> temperature at which they are turned on at seldom is below 50 degrees.
> Half of them turn on automatically with a motion sensor, each time
> someone enters the shop. BUT, the others are only turned on with a pull
> switch when needed and they have had failures also, so I don't think
> that it is the frequency of switching them on/off that's the problem.
> I've used GE Residential bulbs and Phillips bulbs that HD carries now.
> I've had 2 or 3 immediate failures of the Phillips bulbs (flickering) so
> I returned them for refund and switched back to GE, which always work
> when new.
> My question is: do you guys have frequent bulb failures with the 4
> footers? I'm thinking of replacing them with eights if that will solve
> the problem.
> Incandescent bulbs in my home last for ages, except for those little
> night lights.
> dave
Have you tried the T8 fixtures and bulbs? I used to have have the
same short-life problem you are seeing with the older style (T12 I think)
fixtures. When I built my new shop last year, I put in all T8 fixtures
and haven't had a bulb fail yet (~1 year). They're cheap, put out more
light, and use less electricity -- I'm sold on them.
Lance
Bay Area Dave <[email protected]> wrote:
> Lance, are the T8's single pin 8 footers?
No, mine are all 4' dual-bulb fixtures. I think I got them at either Lowes
or Home Depot for about $12 each. I also bought a case of the T8 bulbs for
about $3 each as I recall.
Lance
Lance Spaulding <[email protected]> wrote:
> Bay Area Dave <[email protected]> wrote:
>> Lance, are the T8's single pin 8 footers?
> No, mine are all 4' dual-bulb fixtures. I think I got them at either Lowes
> or Home Depot for about $12 each. I also bought a case of the T8 bulbs for
> about $3 each as I recall.
> Lance
Sorry, I forgot to answer your other question. They have two pins on each
end not just one. The T8 bulbs are a smaller diameter than the older bulbs
and have green ends (at least mine do).
Lance
every last one of them.
dave
Thompson Family wrote:
> "Bay Area Dave" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
>
>>I'm buying the GE Residentials...and they burn out in months.
>>
>>dave
>>
>>--Shiva-- wrote:
>>
>>
>>> being 'picked' one time to be the maintenance man at a church
>>>has disadvantages... BUT, ther was one room that had 15-4 light 4
>>>foot fixtures in it, and they kept complaining the bulbs would
>>>NOT last....
>>> they were going down to the local HW store or Walmart and pay
>>>$1.50 a pair (this WAS some years back), and complain when in 2
>>>weeks they would burn out....
>>> I ordered from an electrical supply house a BOX (24?) of the
>>>better quality GE bulbs, paid the sum of almost $3 each...
>>>the bulbs quit burning out... there does seem to be a difference
>>>in QUALITY.
>>>
>>> --Shiva--
>>>
>>>
>>
> are the fixtures grounded? this is critical with rapid start type lamps
>
>
Good idea, Greg. I've got some of the lights on a power strip so that'd
be easy. thanks.
dave
Greg Neill wrote:
> "Bay Area Dave" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
>
>>Nope. they are split into two circuits. bulbs fail frequently in all
>>but one fixture. there is an old fixture mounted over the W/D that
>>almost never burns out a bulb.
>>
>
>
> Ah. I was thinking that perhaps some electrical hash
> from a motor was getting onto one circuit but not
> another. Voltage spikes could shorten the life of
> the bulbs.
>
> Try rigging a small incandescent light on each circuit
> and watch for brightness changes while you're going
> about doing what you do. You might uncover a problem
> with a ground loop.
>
>
Nope. they are split into two circuits. bulbs fail frequently in all
but one fixture. there is an old fixture mounted over the W/D that
almost never burns out a bulb.
dave
Greg Neill wrote:
> "Bay Area Dave" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:%[email protected]...
>
>>I thought it was the cold too, Guy, but the last 3 fixtures I bought
>>(within just this past year) are rated to zero degrees. It's never less
>>than 40 when they are turned on; usually it's over 50. This puzzles me,
>>as there is a couple of fixtures which almost never burn out the bulbs,
>>and then a couple that use to burn them out frequently I replaced with
>>the zero degree rated electronic ballast type, and those kill the bulbs
>>pretty quickly. Maybe because they are cheepies? "American" is in the
>>brand name; I forget the EXACT name.
>>
>>dave
>
>
> Are all the fixtures on the same circuit?
>
>
I'll check the voltage later today. Thanks.
dave
Mike wrote:
> Dave you might check the voltage at the source. It sounds like you may have
> a low voltage problem.
> Typically fluorescent lamps last a good long time. What gives me this
> impression is that you said your incandescent
> lamps last a long time. If you operate incandescents at reduced voltage ,
> the filament life is greatly increased.
> Just a thought.
>
> Mike
>
>
Wow! Everyone says their bulbs last a long time. Sometimes my four
footers don't last even 6 months. I checked voltage to them
today--115V. I haven't had any problems with all of my electronic
equipment or power equipment; just those bulbs.
dave
George E. Cawthon wrote:
>
> Bay Area Dave wrote:
>
>>I've used 4 footers in my garage for longer than I can remember. Now
>>that it is a WW shop, I've got 9 of them. No matter if they have
>>electronic ballasts or the older types, the bulbs don't last long. I'd
>>venture a guess that I replace about 10 to 12 of them in a year. In the
>>past it seemed that one or two of the fixtures had more failures than
>>others, so I replaced the fixtures with electronic ballast. The
>>temperature at which they are turned on at seldom is below 50 degrees.
>>Half of them turn on automatically with a motion sensor, each time
>>someone enters the shop. BUT, the others are only turned on with a pull
>>switch when needed and they have had failures also, so I don't think
>>that it is the frequency of switching them on/off that's the problem.
>>I've used GE Residential bulbs and Phillips bulbs that HD carries now.
>>I've had 2 or 3 immediate failures of the Phillips bulbs (flickering) so
>>I returned them for refund and switched back to GE, which always work
>>when new.
>>
>>My question is: do you guys have frequent bulb failures with the 4
>>footers? I'm thinking of replacing them with eights if that will solve
>>the problem.
>>
>>Incandescent bulbs in my home last for ages, except for those little
>>night lights.
>>
>>dave
>
>
> How cold? I have three cheap 4 foot double bulb lamps that
> I use a lot. The one above my work bench is used the most
> and the bulbs have been in it for over 20 years. Another is
> hasn't had a bulb change in at least 15 years. The third is
> closer to the door (garage door that doesn't seal real well)
> and outside wall and doesn't work well in the cold, has a
> bad tube, and is unplug at present. Bulbs lasted about 6
> years with a lot of use but I haven't used it much in recent
> years.
Dave you might check the voltage at the source. It sounds like you may have
a low voltage problem.
Typically fluorescent lamps last a good long time. What gives me this
impression is that you said your incandescent
lamps last a long time. If you operate incandescents at reduced voltage ,
the filament life is greatly increased.
Just a thought.
Mike
I've used lots of the GE Residentials and a few (crappy) Phillips.
Don't think I've seen the Sylvania's at the stores I frequent.
dave
Mark Jerde wrote:
> Bay Area Dave wrote:
>
>>Wow! Everyone says their bulbs last a long time. Sometimes my four
>>footers don't last even 6 months. I checked voltage to them
>>today--115V. I haven't had any problems with all of my electronic
>>equipment or power equipment; just those bulbs.
>
>
> Maybe it's the brand? I have 3 each 4' duals in my office, burning bright
> nearly 24/7 for several years. "Sylvania Cool White Deluxe 40W" I read on
> one of them above my head.
>
> -- Mark
>
>
"Bay Area Dave" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Nope. they are split into two circuits. bulbs fail frequently in all
> but one fixture. there is an old fixture mounted over the W/D that
> almost never burns out a bulb.
>
Ah. I was thinking that perhaps some electrical hash
from a motor was getting onto one circuit but not
another. Voltage spikes could shorten the life of
the bulbs.
Try rigging a small incandescent light on each circuit
and watch for brightness changes while you're going
about doing what you do. You might uncover a problem
with a ground loop.
Lance, are the T8's single pin 8 footers?
dave
Lance Spaulding wrote:
> Bay Area Dave <[email protected]> wrote:
>
>>I've used 4 footers in my garage for longer than I can remember. Now
>>that it is a WW shop, I've got 9 of them. No matter if they have
>>electronic ballasts or the older types, the bulbs don't last long. I'd
>>venture a guess that I replace about 10 to 12 of them in a year. In the
>>past it seemed that one or two of the fixtures had more failures than
>>others, so I replaced the fixtures with electronic ballast. The
>>temperature at which they are turned on at seldom is below 50 degrees.
>>Half of them turn on automatically with a motion sensor, each time
>>someone enters the shop. BUT, the others are only turned on with a pull
>>switch when needed and they have had failures also, so I don't think
>>that it is the frequency of switching them on/off that's the problem.
>>I've used GE Residential bulbs and Phillips bulbs that HD carries now.
>>I've had 2 or 3 immediate failures of the Phillips bulbs (flickering) so
>>I returned them for refund and switched back to GE, which always work
>>when new.
>
>
>>My question is: do you guys have frequent bulb failures with the 4
>>footers? I'm thinking of replacing them with eights if that will solve
>>the problem.
>
>
>>Incandescent bulbs in my home last for ages, except for those little
>>night lights.
>
>
>
>>dave
>
>
>
> Have you tried the T8 fixtures and bulbs? I used to have have the
> same short-life problem you are seeing with the older style (T12 I think)
> fixtures. When I built my new shop last year, I put in all T8 fixtures
> and haven't had a bulb fail yet (~1 year). They're cheap, put out more
> light, and use less electricity -- I'm sold on them.
>
> Lance
"Bay Area Dave" wrote in message
> I've used 4 footers in my garage for longer than I can remember. Now
> that it is a WW shop, I've got 9 of them.
> My question is: do you guys have frequent bulb failures with the 4
> footers? I'm thinking of replacing them with eights if that will solve
> the problem.
>
> Incandescent bulbs in my home last for ages, except for those little
> night lights.
I am one of those who subscribe to the theory of leaving most sorts of
electrical equipment (without motors, of course) ON, if you don't have to
turn it off ... this specifically includes fluorescent fixtures.
I leave my 8, four footers in the shop on 24/7 and haven't burned out a
single bulb in 2 years at the current location. I do the same with
computers, amplifiers in the studio, etc. ... we have an old BBS computer at
the office that has been on for almost 8 years... afraid to turn it off,
now.
Even leaving the shop lights on all the time, electricity for the shop is
still less than $30/month ... and this in an area of high electrical costs.
Strictly FWIW and YMMV ...
--
www.e-woodshop.net
Last update: 1/02/04
I think it's the bulbs. I haven't fared well at all with the borg Phillips
"contractor pack" T12 bulbs, even though the box says "average life 20,000
hours". Replaced a couple after about 20 hours, most others at around 200
hours, which leaves me to believe that Philllips learned how to measure an
hour from lawyers working on class action lawsuits. Further I think the
"contractors pack" has nothing at all to do with number of bulbs in the box
but rather refers to bulbs designed to give just enough life for the
contractor to move onto the next job. Good news is that there are only 2
left in the last box I will ever buy.
Latest adds have been with T8 fixtures since it gets cold (like real cold)
here and the cold start is nice. Too early to say about bulb longevity but
they seem to be holding up well.
"Mark Jerde" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Bay Area Dave wrote:
> > Wow! Everyone says their bulbs last a long time. Sometimes my four
> > footers don't last even 6 months. I checked voltage to them
> > today--115V. I haven't had any problems with all of my electronic
> > equipment or power equipment; just those bulbs.
>
> Maybe it's the brand? I have 3 each 4' duals in my office, burning bright
> nearly 24/7 for several years. "Sylvania Cool White Deluxe 40W" I read on
> one of them above my head.
>
> -- Mark
>
>
<g> but I don't have a Menards!
dave
Dave wrote:
> Menards has em.
>
> "Bay Area Dave" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
>
>>I've used lots of the GE Residentials and a few (crappy) Phillips.
>>Don't think I've seen the Sylvania's at the stores I frequent.
>>
>>dave
>>
>>Mark Jerde wrote:
>>
>>
>>>Bay Area Dave wrote:
>>>
>>>
>>>>Wow! Everyone says their bulbs last a long time. Sometimes my four
>>>>footers don't last even 6 months. I checked voltage to them
>>>>today--115V. I haven't had any problems with all of my electronic
>>>>equipment or power equipment; just those bulbs.
>>>
>>>
>>>Maybe it's the brand? I have 3 each 4' duals in my office, burning
>
> bright
>
>>>nearly 24/7 for several years. "Sylvania Cool White Deluxe 40W" I read
>
> on
>
>>>one of them above my head.
>>>
>>> -- Mark
>>>
>>>
>>
>
>
Mine used to burn out a lot, and now that I realize why, and how much money
I wasted, it makes me sick. In my case, the bulbs would barely light or not
light at all until lunchtime. In the link I provide, it said if this
happens in high humidity (which is what we have in the San Antonio area),
clean off the bulbs with a wet rag. Yeah? What does that have to do with
anything. It seems that there is an interaction between the grounded casing
and the surface of the bulb to get it going. I cleaned my bulbs off and
nearly all of them started working again. Also, a good ground is important.
The article also tells how to check the ballasts with a volt-meter.
So for more than you ever wanted to know about flourescent fixtures check
out -
http://www.summit.com/Industry-resources/Industry_techinfo/lamp-ballasts.html
Preston
"Bay Area Dave" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> <g> but I don't have a Menards!
>
> dave
>
> Dave wrote:
>
> > Menards has em.
> >
> > "Bay Area Dave" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> > news:[email protected]...
> >
> >>I've used lots of the GE Residentials and a few (crappy) Phillips.
> >>Don't think I've seen the Sylvania's at the stores I frequent.
> >>
> >>dave
> >>
> >>Mark Jerde wrote:
> >>
> >>
> >>>Bay Area Dave wrote:
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>>Wow! Everyone says their bulbs last a long time. Sometimes my four
> >>>>footers don't last even 6 months. I checked voltage to them
> >>>>today--115V. I haven't had any problems with all of my electronic
> >>>>equipment or power equipment; just those bulbs.
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>Maybe it's the brand? I have 3 each 4' duals in my office, burning
> >
> > bright
> >
> >>>nearly 24/7 for several years. "Sylvania Cool White Deluxe 40W" I read
> >
> > on
> >
> >>>one of them above my head.
> >>>
> >>> -- Mark
> >>>
> >>>
> >>
> >
> >
>
"Tom Kohlman" writes:
> I think it's the bulbs. I haven't fared well at all with the borg
Phillips
> "contractor pack"
<snip>
Back when it was Westinghouse which was pre Phillips, never considered them
to be a serious competitor.
Looks like little has changed.
--
Lew
S/A: Challenge, The Bullet Proof Boat, (Under Construction in the Southland)
Visit: <http://home.earthlink.net/~lewhodgett> for Pictures
being 'picked' one time to be the maintenance man at a church
has disadvantages... BUT, ther was one room that had 15-4 light 4
foot fixtures in it, and they kept complaining the bulbs would
NOT last....
they were going down to the local HW store or Walmart and pay
$1.50 a pair (this WAS some years back), and complain when in 2
weeks they would burn out....
I ordered from an electrical supply house a BOX (24?) of the
better quality GE bulbs, paid the sum of almost $3 each...
the bulbs quit burning out... there does seem to be a difference
in QUALITY.
--Shiva--
On Tue, 06 Jan 2004 16:45:49 -0600, Phil <[email protected]> brought
forth from the murky depths:
>Interesting, I have two workshops one exclusively for wood one for rc
>planes, both in my basement but 2 walls isolated from each other. My wood
>shop has both 4' fixtures and 8' fixtures with 4' bulbs. I get much shorter
>life out of the wood shop lights by comparison. They don't burn out, but
>they start producing less light (not just from dust) and get black on the
>ends. Hardly every replace the rc bulbs which are probably on more
I had no trouble with the last set of dual 4-footers. Bulbs would last
years and years. But I switched to new, electronically ballasted
models (at twice the price) in March of 2002 and just replaced my
18th effin' bulb within these 4 units. I'm not at all impressed. As
I replaced 2, I thought it might be a good idea to take the bad ones
back to the Ace store and let them run some tests on them. Maybe they
had a bad lot. I got a box of 30 which is now almost gone. Those in
the standard fixtures in the house haven't needed changing, so it
might be the stupid cheap electronics doing it. Either way, I need to
get it straightened out. One fixture just stopped working yesterday.
Grrrrr!
=========================================================
The Titanic. The Hindenburg. + http://www.diversify.com
The Clintons. + Website & Graphic Design
=========================================================
In article <[email protected]>,
[email protected] says...
> I think it's the bulbs. I haven't fared well at all with the borg Phillips
> "contractor pack" T12 bulbs, even though the box says "average life 20,000
> hours". Replaced a couple after about 20 hours, most others at around 200
> hours, which leaves me to believe that Philllips learned how to measure an
> hour from lawyers working on class action lawsuits. Further I think the
> "contractors pack" has nothing at all to do with number of bulbs in the box
> but rather refers to bulbs designed to give just enough life for the
> contractor to move onto the next job. Good news is that there are only 2
> left in the last box I will ever buy.
>
So I'm not the only one having to replace those bulbs more often than
should be expected. The last ones (note plural) were in a new fixture,
I double-checked my fixture connections because I was surprised that
both lights could have gone out simultaneously and so quickly. I've
replaced at least 4 others in the past year.
I'll have to start looking for a different brand after the remaining
bulbs are gone.
> Latest adds have been with T8 fixtures since it gets cold (like real cold)
> here and the cold start is nice. Too early to say about bulb longevity but
> they seem to be holding up well.
>
>
> "Mark Jerde" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
> > Bay Area Dave wrote:
> > > Wow! Everyone says their bulbs last a long time. Sometimes my four
> > > footers don't last even 6 months. I checked voltage to them
> > > today--115V. I haven't had any problems with all of my electronic
> > > equipment or power equipment; just those bulbs.
> >
> > Maybe it's the brand? I have 3 each 4' duals in my office, burning bright
> > nearly 24/7 for several years. "Sylvania Cool White Deluxe 40W" I read on
> > one of them above my head.
> >
> > -- Mark
> >
> >
>
>
>
Could it be that they are manufacturing them so they burn out quicker?
Everything is motivated by profit in this country. Would it be in the best
interest of a company to produce a bulb that last longer or shorter?
FWIW
Rich
"Bay Area Dave" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> just checked. 115V with all 9 of them on.
>
> dave
>
> Mike wrote:
>
> > Dave you might check the voltage at the source. It sounds like you may
have
> > a low voltage problem.
> > Typically fluorescent lamps last a good long time. What gives me this
> > impression is that you said your incandescent
> > lamps last a long time. If you operate incandescents at reduced voltage
,
> > the filament life is greatly increased.
> > Just a thought.
> >
> > Mike
> >
> >
>
Bay Area Dave wrote:
> Wow! Everyone says their bulbs last a long time. Sometimes my four
> footers don't last even 6 months. I checked voltage to them
> today--115V. I haven't had any problems with all of my electronic
> equipment or power equipment; just those bulbs.
Maybe it's the brand? I have 3 each 4' duals in my office, burning bright
nearly 24/7 for several years. "Sylvania Cool White Deluxe 40W" I read on
one of them above my head.
-- Mark
Me too. I still have the original 16 flourescent tubes, all over 12
years old with daily use. Bought the cheapest kind I could find.
On Tue, 06 Jan 2004 13:12:56 -0500, LP <[email protected]> wrote:
>Quite the opposite of my experience. Have about a dozen 2-tube
>4-footers and cant remember having to replace a single bulb in about
>five years now...
>
>Incandescents, on the other hand.....
>
>Those suckers pop on me at the rate of about 2 a month. I'm slowly
>replacing them with screw-in fluorescents. Pricey, but worth it if
>they last as long as the advertising says they will. The sylvania
>90-watt equivalents (pull about 25 watts of power) give a brighter,
>whiter light than the other brands, which are yellowish.
>
>On Tue, 06 Jan 2004 16:57:57 GMT, Bay Area Dave <[email protected]> wrote:
>
>>I've used 4 footers in my garage for longer than I can remember. Now
>>that it is a WW shop, I've got 9 of them. No matter if they have
>>electronic ballasts or the older types, the bulbs don't last long. I'd
>>venture a guess that I replace about 10 to 12 of them in a year. In the
>>past it seemed that one or two of the fixtures had more failures than
>>others, so I replaced the fixtures with electronic ballast. The
>>temperature at which they are turned on at seldom is below 50 degrees.
>>Half of them turn on automatically with a motion sensor, each time
>>someone enters the shop. BUT, the others are only turned on with a pull
>>switch when needed and they have had failures also, so I don't think
>>that it is the frequency of switching them on/off that's the problem.
>>I've used GE Residential bulbs and Phillips bulbs that HD carries now.
>>I've had 2 or 3 immediate failures of the Phillips bulbs (flickering) so
>>I returned them for refund and switched back to GE, which always work
>>when new.
>>
>>My question is: do you guys have frequent bulb failures with the 4
>>footers? I'm thinking of replacing them with eights if that will solve
>>the problem.
>>
>>Incandescent bulbs in my home last for ages, except for those little
>>night lights.
>>
>>
>>dave
Menards has em.
"Bay Area Dave" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> I've used lots of the GE Residentials and a few (crappy) Phillips.
> Don't think I've seen the Sylvania's at the stores I frequent.
>
> dave
>
> Mark Jerde wrote:
>
> > Bay Area Dave wrote:
> >
> >>Wow! Everyone says their bulbs last a long time. Sometimes my four
> >>footers don't last even 6 months. I checked voltage to them
> >>today--115V. I haven't had any problems with all of my electronic
> >>equipment or power equipment; just those bulbs.
> >
> >
> > Maybe it's the brand? I have 3 each 4' duals in my office, burning
bright
> > nearly 24/7 for several years. "Sylvania Cool White Deluxe 40W" I read
on
> > one of them above my head.
> >
> > -- Mark
> >
> >
>
Mark & Juanita wrote:
> I double-checked my fixture connections because I was surprised that
> both lights could have gone out simultaneously and so quickly. I've
> replaced at least 4 others in the past year.
>
> I'll have to start looking for a different brand after the remaining
> bulbs are gone.
I've been using Wal-Mart's finest el-cheapo GE two-packs in Wal-Mart's
finest el-cheapo bottom of the line $5 shop light fixtures. I have some
bulbs out there that have been working since 1999, through all kinds of hot
and all kinds of cold. (The fixtures themselves are all new, owing to a
little wiring rectocranial inversion that fed their predecessors 220V for a
short time. BTW, don't try that at home.)
--
Michael McIntyre ---- Silvan <[email protected]>
Linux fanatic, and certified Geek; registered Linux user #243621
http://www.geocities.com/Paris/Rue/5407/
Quite the opposite of my experience. Have about a dozen 2-tube
4-footers and cant remember having to replace a single bulb in about
five years now...
Incandescents, on the other hand.....
Those suckers pop on me at the rate of about 2 a month. I'm slowly
replacing them with screw-in fluorescents. Pricey, but worth it if
they last as long as the advertising says they will. The sylvania
90-watt equivalents (pull about 25 watts of power) give a brighter,
whiter light than the other brands, which are yellowish.
On Tue, 06 Jan 2004 16:57:57 GMT, Bay Area Dave <[email protected]> wrote:
>I've used 4 footers in my garage for longer than I can remember. Now
>that it is a WW shop, I've got 9 of them. No matter if they have
>electronic ballasts or the older types, the bulbs don't last long. I'd
>venture a guess that I replace about 10 to 12 of them in a year. In the
>past it seemed that one or two of the fixtures had more failures than
>others, so I replaced the fixtures with electronic ballast. The
>temperature at which they are turned on at seldom is below 50 degrees.
>Half of them turn on automatically with a motion sensor, each time
>someone enters the shop. BUT, the others are only turned on with a pull
>switch when needed and they have had failures also, so I don't think
>that it is the frequency of switching them on/off that's the problem.
>I've used GE Residential bulbs and Phillips bulbs that HD carries now.
>I've had 2 or 3 immediate failures of the Phillips bulbs (flickering) so
>I returned them for refund and switched back to GE, which always work
>when new.
>
>My question is: do you guys have frequent bulb failures with the 4
>footers? I'm thinking of replacing them with eights if that will solve
>the problem.
>
>Incandescent bulbs in my home last for ages, except for those little
>night lights.
>
>
>dave
"Bay Area Dave" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> I've used 4 footers in my garage for longer than I can remember. Now
> that it is a WW shop, I've got 9 of them. No matter if they have
> electronic ballasts or the older types, the bulbs don't last long. I'd
> venture a guess that I replace about 10 to 12 of them in a year. In the
> past it seemed that one or two of the fixtures had more failures than
> others, so I replaced the fixtures with electronic ballast. The
> temperature at which they are turned on at seldom is below 50 degrees.
> Half of them turn on automatically with a motion sensor, each time
> someone enters the shop. BUT, the others are only turned on with a pull
> switch when needed and they have had failures also, so I don't think
> that it is the frequency of switching them on/off that's the problem.
> I've used GE Residential bulbs and Phillips bulbs that HD carries now.
> I've had 2 or 3 immediate failures of the Phillips bulbs (flickering) so
> I returned them for refund and switched back to GE, which always work
> when new.
>
> My question is: do you guys have frequent bulb failures with the 4
> footers? I'm thinking of replacing them with eights if that will solve
> the problem.
>
> Incandescent bulbs in my home last for ages, except for those little
> night lights.
>
>
> dave
>
I used to have problems with bulbs and fixtures I installed in a garage when
I lived in Ottawa, Canada. They didn't work in the cold and bulbs and
ballasts (non-electronic) would fail frequently.
A sales rep at an electrical store suggested I use high output fixtures and
bulbs, which are available in various lengths. So I installed 4' fixtures
and bulbs, and those lights worked on even the coldest days. And they lasted
for several years, too. They might still be working, for all I know.
just checked. 115V with all 9 of them on.
dave
Mike wrote:
> Dave you might check the voltage at the source. It sounds like you may have
> a low voltage problem.
> Typically fluorescent lamps last a good long time. What gives me this
> impression is that you said your incandescent
> lamps last a long time. If you operate incandescents at reduced voltage ,
> the filament life is greatly increased.
> Just a thought.
>
> Mike
>
>
I'm buying the GE Residentials...and they burn out in months.
dave
--Shiva-- wrote:
> being 'picked' one time to be the maintenance man at a church
> has disadvantages... BUT, ther was one room that had 15-4 light 4
> foot fixtures in it, and they kept complaining the bulbs would
> NOT last....
> they were going down to the local HW store or Walmart and pay
> $1.50 a pair (this WAS some years back), and complain when in 2
> weeks they would burn out....
> I ordered from an electrical supply house a BOX (24?) of the
> better quality GE bulbs, paid the sum of almost $3 each...
> the bulbs quit burning out... there does seem to be a difference
> in QUALITY.
>
> --Shiva--
>
>
"Bay Area Dave" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> I'm buying the GE Residentials...and they burn out in months.
>
> dave
>
> --Shiva-- wrote:
>
> > being 'picked' one time to be the maintenance man at a church
> > has disadvantages... BUT, ther was one room that had 15-4 light 4
> > foot fixtures in it, and they kept complaining the bulbs would
> > NOT last....
> > they were going down to the local HW store or Walmart and pay
> > $1.50 a pair (this WAS some years back), and complain when in 2
> > weeks they would burn out....
> > I ordered from an electrical supply house a BOX (24?) of the
> > better quality GE bulbs, paid the sum of almost $3 each...
> > the bulbs quit burning out... there does seem to be a difference
> > in QUALITY.
> >
> > --Shiva--
> >
> >
>
are the fixtures grounded? this is critical with rapid start type lamps
"Bay Area Dave" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:%[email protected]...
> I thought it was the cold too, Guy, but the last 3 fixtures I bought
> (within just this past year) are rated to zero degrees. It's never less
> than 40 when they are turned on; usually it's over 50. This puzzles me,
> as there is a couple of fixtures which almost never burn out the bulbs,
> and then a couple that use to burn them out frequently I replaced with
> the zero degree rated electronic ballast type, and those kill the bulbs
> pretty quickly. Maybe because they are cheepies? "American" is in the
> brand name; I forget the EXACT name.
>
> dave
Are all the fixtures on the same circuit?