Workshop lighting

[john fletcher 1Participant @johnfletcher1]

[john fletcher 1Participant @johnfletcher1]

Has any one fitted LED strip lighting in their workshop as an alternative to fluorescent lights and have they been a success. Also, how were they mounted as most seem to be self adhesive backing. I had though of buying some mini trunking, fixing it up and then the self adhesive strip to the trunking. Your thought and opinion will be much appricated. John

[Gray62Participant @gray62]

Hi John,

I have replaced a twin 5 foot batten with a single 6 foot LED batten in my lathe room, light coverage is excellent and even, no shadows. I've just built a separate grinding room and fitted the same in there as well as replacing the twin 6' fitting in my kitchen with a single 6' led batten. The ones I have used are V-TAC and come with a 5 year guarantee bought from my local electrical wholesaler. Online, they can be obtained from here.

they are slimline and mount to the ceiling with two small spring clips.

Gray

[Former MemberParticipant @formermember19781]

[This posting has been removed]

[Harry WilkesParticipant @harrywilkes58467]

Hi John

I just replaced the 'tubes' in mine two 5ft and a 4ft I very pleased with the result better light all around, i'm not that bother about them being cheaper to run so for easy I just went with the type were you just fit the LED lamps into the saame fitting and fit the starter that came with them.

H

[Enough!Participant @enough]

I have multiple fluorescent strip-lights in my shop and changed all the tubes to LED versions a while back. I recently changed them all back again because I was uncomfortable with the effect on my eyes.

I know some others have experienced this although it doesn't bother everyone. I've seen some warnings about LED devices – but the internet being what it is it's subject to Bandersnatch's Third Law of the Internet …. (for every "fact" there is an equal and opposite "fact" ).

Edited to remove phantom Smiley

Edited By Bandersnatch on 15/11/2019 18:14:54

[JasonBModerator @jasonb]

I've got these in the metalworking shed, my old fluro fittings were on the blink anyway so went for complete fittings. woodwork shop just has replacement LED tubes in the old fittings from same company. very happy with both.

[pgk pgkParticipant @pgkpgk17461]

I also converted all my 6ft floursecent fittngs to led tubes and consider it a success. Be aware that led tubes come as options that either need just live/neutral at one end or live through the length of the fitting to neutral the other end. Usually marked on the tube itself and the fitting being rewired accordingly.

[Rod RenshawParticipant @rodrenshaw28584]

LED batten lamps can be obtained from many retailers such as Screwfix and they resemble florescent tube batten lamp fittings and screw to the ceiling in the same way. They are easy to wire up (have Live, Neutral and Earth terminals), they consume little power and they start instantly and give a bright white light. Highly recommended! The active elements cannot be replaced, ( so the makers say, but an expert DIYer may think differently) the whole fitting will need to be replaced in due course but they are supposed to last a long time, so may be "fit and forget" in a mature worker's shop.

[BazyleParticipant @bazyle]

I have a strip of those LEDs that I have been meaning to attach to a length of aluminium angle to ensure cooling but haven't got round to it.
First I replaced the incandescent bub with a CFL and got used to that though it took a while to get up to brightness. Then I got a 30W LED IP35 strip from screwfix. That is great in coming instantly to full brightness but it is very stark white bright light, It provides all the light needed for 'pootling' then I use a mix of CFL and LED anglepoise lamps on each bench or machine when doing actual work.
I hove LED strips elsewhere and their light is very cold. so use CFLs when I don't need the brilliance for eg reading.

My latest acquisition is a short 8W under kitchen cupboard strip from Lidl. It has a two way switch giving either bright or mellow so it is going over the main bench to see which mode is best.

[Anonymous]

I am in the process of changing the flourescent tubes in my workshop to LED tubes. I am also changing the battens to LED specific ones. I decided to change as the original tubes were becoming increasingly unreliable and one choke was getting too hot to touch. They're 20 years old, so time to change. I chose high colour temperature LED tubes, 6500K. Impressions so far are good; the tubes start instantaneously and give a bright, almost clinical, light. I should save between a half and two-thirds the power of the flourescents.

Having had LED downlights fitted in my recent main bathroom and kitchen refurbs, and fitted new wall lights with LED bulbs in the lounge, I am now changing all my house lighting to LED. For the house I chose a lower colour temperature, 4000K.

I expect there to be a significant power saving as well as better, brighter, light.

Andrew

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