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TX-73 Samba Member
Joined: January 04, 2013 Posts: 1133 Location: Texas
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Posted: Sat Jan 06, 2018 4:58 pm Post subject: LED Garage Lighting & Floodlight |
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I thought this might be of interest. I was getting ready to do some upgrades to my 57 Chevy and wanted to upgrade the garage general lighting to LED. While I was at it I came across installation of COB LED into a halogen floodlight fixture so I gave that a shot as well with great results. There's probably other good alternatives out there as well but this is what I did.
1. GARAGE LIGHTING
I was looking for better lighting over the entire garage area, but wanted to do it economically. It seemed that the cost for 4 ft LED fixtures is still a bit high, so I poked around the internet/youtube and decided to try this route.
I first bought several 16 ft lengths of 3528 and 5050 SMD LED strips. These are 12v strips so I also bought a 10a 110v/12v transformer to power the strips. I decided to install 5 strips as overhead lighting. Each strip was to be attached to a white 7 ft long trim piece, essentially the strip was doubled up on the trim. I bought the different LED's to test the brightness level as I saw different info on that. Very cheap to get, direct from China, the strips are around $4 each and the transformer was $9. Along with about $5 for each trim piece (Lowes) this gave me about 35 ft of lighting for about $55 or so.
The numbering of the LED is the size of the LED - a 5050 LED is 5.0mm by 5.0mm for example. There are some other factors as well, such as the manner in which the diodes are used, but for this purpose I just wanted to look up and see what was the brightest version.
The strips are self adhesive but I also added spots of hot glue to mechanically hold the strips in place. I'm glad I did because the adhesive does tend to loosen up a bit. I also installed male/female connectors at the ends to make it easy to hook up each strip to the main power supply.
Here's the overall installation, each trim piece is simply screwed into every other ceiling joist.
I added a simple light switch to control the transformer.
For the final result, you can see the 3758 LED's on the left, 5050 SMD LED's on the right. Obviously the 5050 LED's are brighter but the overall lighting level is very good. However, since this installation I have bought 5730 SMD LED strips and this is the way to go. Brightness is substantially increased, so if you are wondering about what LED to get, I suggest the 5730 SMD LED strips. All of the strips have very low power draw as well. I'll need to get a picture of the 5730's as soon as I finish up installing them in place of the LED's I first installed.
The nice thing is that I can install the 3758 and 5050 LED's vertically on the shelf unit uprights and this will give me almost a paint-booth clean white level of brightness.
2. FLOODLIGHT
I got tired of fragile halogen bulbs in these little light fixtures, plus they get really hot so I found a youtube where the bulb was replaced with a COB LED module. Bought on ebay, China again, as "50w 110v COB Input Integrated IC Driver". About $4 each.
Pretty straightforward, there are 2 connection points to be soldered for load and neutral wiring. I made a little metal backing to attach the COB onto. A little fiddling here and there and done.
I left the glass off but re-installed the front grille, very low heat output.
This light is BRIGHT! Easily matches or exceeds the halogen version. I'm really happy with this $4 upgrade.
So there you go, maybe some of this can help if you're thinking about LED upgrades. _________________ My 1973 Standard Beetle Build SOLD
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gt1953 Samba Member
Joined: May 08, 2002 Posts: 13846 Location: White Mountains Arizona
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Posted: Sat Jan 06, 2018 7:43 pm Post subject: Re: LED Garage Lighting & Floodlight |
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Thumbs UP. _________________ Volkswagen: We tune what we drive.
Numbers Matching VW's are getting harder to find. Source out the most Stock vehicle and keep that way. You will be glad you did.
72 type 1
72 Squareback
({59 Euro bug, 62, 63, 67, 68, 69, 73 type ones 68 & 69 type two, 68 Ghia all sold}) |
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TX-73 Samba Member
Joined: January 04, 2013 Posts: 1133 Location: Texas
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Glenn Mr. 010
Joined: December 25, 2001 Posts: 76897 Location: Sneaking up behind you
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TX-73 Samba Member
Joined: January 04, 2013 Posts: 1133 Location: Texas
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Posted: Sat Jan 06, 2018 10:41 pm Post subject: Re: LED Garage Lighting & Floodlight |
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I saw those and similar at Lowes but I think what did was a better value. Plus it was interesting to see if it was practical. I like the lighting running the entire length of the car.
Interestingly enough I found that some of the 4ft LED tubes were just acrylic tubes with similar SMD LED strip as I had bought running inside the tube. _________________ My 1973 Standard Beetle Build SOLD
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mark tucker Samba Member
Joined: April 08, 2009 Posts: 23937 Location: SHALIMAR ,FLORIDA
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Posted: Sat Jan 06, 2018 11:50 pm Post subject: Re: LED Garage Lighting & Floodlight |
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thats too much works for me.... I buy the 4' led 6500k bulbs cheep at lowes...and there on clearance now too!!!!the 6500k are bright white, the 3500k are yeller...so pick the brightness that you want 3500,4000,4500,5000 6500. and are all the same wattage...18 watts I think |
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Busstom Samba Member
Joined: November 23, 2014 Posts: 3838 Location: San Jose, CA
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Posted: Mon Jan 08, 2018 12:35 pm Post subject: Re: LED Garage Lighting & Floodlight |
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mark tucker wrote: |
thats too much works for me.... I buy the 4' led 6500k bulbs cheep at lowes...and there on clearance now too!!!!the 6500k are bright white, the 3500k are yeller...so pick the brightness that you want 3500,4000,4500,5000 6500. and are all the same wattage...18 watts I think |
Shhhh! Don't tell anybody. They're also liquidating the 4' LED shop lamp assemblies. Glad I noticed they're closing them out before they RAN out. I'm just finishing my garage lighting project.
I think they were unpopular because they were designed to be "hard wired" to boxes, and that's beyond most DIY homeowners who are strolling through Lowe's and think that may be a nice light to have. Over the last couple years, I've see a lot of returned (opened) boxes in which the lamps haven't even been touched. Remember the old flourescent "shop lamps" that everybody carried? They had a plug on the end...hang it up by chains, run a cord to it and BAMM!
Well, for most peeps, these new ones require an electrician, and there goes your cost! |
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crukab Samba Chef
Joined: December 13, 2002 Posts: 6116 Location: Vermont
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Posted: Mon Jan 08, 2018 2:56 pm Post subject: Re: LED Garage Lighting & Floodlight |
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One of our local lumber yards got a Grant & got a truck load of 4' led lights, $5 each, they went real quick !!! _________________ Tom
My Pops:
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=604100&highlight=
I know you will always be with me, rest in peace with no more pain. 8/13/14.....
In the yard right now:
'51 Dodge 5 window truck
'65 Bug
'66 Singlecab
'82 Rabbit Truck Diesel from CALI
'86 Doublecab W/T
'91 Vanagon carat/wolfsbrg.Tiico
'88 Dodge Ram pickup
'11 Jetta Wagon |
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Brian Samba Moderator
Joined: May 28, 2012 Posts: 8340 Location: Oceanside
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Posted: Mon Jan 08, 2018 3:09 pm Post subject: Re: LED Garage Lighting & Floodlight |
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Damn that looks good. My only suggestion would be diffuses. Even a white sheet would make it look nicer. _________________ Wash your hands
'69 Bug
'68 Baja Truck
'71 Bug
'68 Camper
Only losers litter |
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marklaken Samba Member
Joined: March 19, 2004 Posts: 2416 Location: fort collins, CO
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Posted: Wed Jan 10, 2018 10:13 am Post subject: Re: LED Garage Lighting & Floodlight |
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I got several 4' 4-bulb florescent light fixtures (for free on CL) and rewired them (ballast bypass) for 6500k 22W LED bulbs. The LED T8 replacement bulbs online were $7.33 each, so it wasn't a very cheap project, but man the light output and quality of the light was worth the $220 I spent on 30 bulbs. I've only wired up 5 fixtures thus far (20 bulbs) to replace twelve 2 bulb florescent fixtures (24 bulbs) in poor condition. The difference is literally night and day - for the first time, I don't mind working in the shop after dark. No buzzing ballasts, instant full brightness regardless of temperature, and so much brighter.
One other thing - lesson learned - when I put in my first LED bulb to test the system, I think I broke the bulb. My best guess is that I just turned off the power at the switch, so the neutral and grounded fixture must have shorted the bulb as I was installing it (the metal poles of the bulb scratched the surface of the fixture, because the bulbs were a slightly tight fit). Once I turned the circuit off at the breaker panel, and then installed a bulb to test, everything worked great. So I put a sticker on the switch to remind myself in the future to turn off the circuit before replacing LED bulbs. _________________ Wish List:
1967 Wesfalia SO-42 Parts Needed: Kitchenette, Cot Poles
'65 rear left beetle fender
15" Bus Wheels in fair condition
Mark Laken
Fort Collins, CO |
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esde Samba Member
Joined: October 20, 2007 Posts: 5967 Location: central rust belt
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Posted: Thu Jan 11, 2018 7:48 pm Post subject: Re: LED Garage Lighting & Floodlight |
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Those produce good light, but the ballast is still using juice. If you want the cost savings of LED lights, you need the ballast bypass bulbs. We have about 50 4 bulb fixtures at my shop, and just replace the bulbs with LED systems as the ballasts fail. Works well, move the good bulbs to the remaining lights, and rewire what needed a new ballast anyway with the LED bulbs. The cost is about the same. _________________ modok wrote:
Bent cranks are silent but gather no moss. I mean, ah, something like that. |
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heimlich VWNOS.com
Joined: November 20, 2016 Posts: 6593 Location: Houston, Texas
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Posted: Sat Jan 13, 2018 1:12 pm Post subject: Re: LED Garage Lighting & Floodlight |
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Where'd you get that halogen replacement?
Sam's has some nice LED shop lights They are about $34 each and you can string them together. _________________ www.vwnos.com [email protected]
Classic Brands. Classic Quality.
Not all parts are made the same. NOS OE/OEM parts made mainly in West Germany, Early Germany, and Early Brazil are where VW produced the best quality parts and best fitting products.
5% Off your order with coupon code: 5%OFF
Restored Distributors Available (<--Click here) |
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vwwestyman Samba Member
Joined: April 24, 2004 Posts: 5688 Location: Manhattan, Kansas, USA
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Posted: Sun Jan 14, 2018 8:08 am Post subject: Re: LED Garage Lighting & Floodlight |
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I just put up 3 LED shop light fixtures in my garage, replacing some beat up old fluorescent fixtures.
I wish I had seen this thread first! That is pretty neat.
The fixtures I bought are basically 3 strips of leds just like you used inside a housing that looks similar to any other fluorescent fixture. _________________ Dave Cook
President, Wild Westerner Club
1978 Champagne Edition Westy, repowered to '97 Jetta TDI
1973 Wild Westerner
My Thing |
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busman78 Samba Member
Joined: August 17, 2004 Posts: 4520 Location: Oklahoma City, OK
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Posted: Sun Jan 14, 2018 10:59 am Post subject: Re: LED Garage Lighting & Floodlight |
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When the four 4' twin florescent fixtures began failing I went with Trouble Free Lighting LED 20W E26 bulbs, they are equivalent to 400W at 6500K. First pictures are with the doors shut, nice and bright, ignore the van it is now gone.
More room when van gone
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mark tucker Samba Member
Joined: April 08, 2009 Posts: 23937 Location: SHALIMAR ,FLORIDA
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Posted: Mon Jan 15, 2018 6:08 pm Post subject: Re: LED Garage Lighting & Floodlight |
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another great feature of the LED's is that they dont kill or fade the rubber &plastic &other things like the florescent do. and yes they use less power and make more brighter light. I like em. of coarse in 13 years we will probably learn how they cause rectal cancer and our fat asses are gonna fall off....but our grand kids will be able to make some$$$ on our dead asses. also I did notice working in my shop around 40m degrees today befor I uped the heater the lights come right on...unlike the others that dont work in the cold so well. |
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helowrench Samba Member
Joined: August 27, 2003 Posts: 567 Location: dallas texas
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Posted: Wed Jan 17, 2018 9:28 pm Post subject: Re: LED Garage Lighting & Floodlight |
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I bought a few of these to replace halogen units, as I got tired of replacing bulbs.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01BEHTOYU/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1
I have contemplated wiring up the garage and shop with a few more. _________________ Current VWs:
70 bug vert for wifey
73Thing bucket o rust
73 914 1.7
12 Passat 2.5 Highway cruiser |
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67CarGuy Samba Member
Joined: April 01, 2017 Posts: 46 Location: Boston area, USA
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Posted: Sun Feb 11, 2018 3:19 pm Post subject: Re: LED Garage Lighting & Floodlight |
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Thanks for the write-up! This looks like a fairly easy upgrade for garage lighting... and seeing as how my current garage lighting is the bare bulb in the overhead door opener, anything will be an upgrade!
....Time to start planning. _________________ 1967 Beetle (Family car - 2nd owner) ...What have I gotten myself into?!
1967 Plymouth Barracuda (Family car - 2nd owner) ...See a pattern yet?
rcooled wrote: |
On the other hand, if what the OP really wants is a project that'll take up all of his free time for a couple of years, relieve his bank account of many thousands of dollars and frustrate the living hell out of him, then this car is a good place to start. |
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andk5591 Samba Member
Joined: August 29, 2005 Posts: 16757 Location: State College, PA
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Posted: Sun Feb 11, 2018 4:55 pm Post subject: Re: LED Garage Lighting & Floodlight |
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I have been using a variety of sizes and styles of those cheap LED floodlights for the last couple years. Gradually replacing halogen and conventional spots.
And you can buy LED "halogen" replacement bulbs on amazon....Starting to use those as well and if you dont mind direct from china - 30 watt R7 (used in halogen floods) for about $10 each. _________________ D-Dubya Manx clone - 63 Short pan,1914.
Rosie 65 bug - My mostly stock daily driver.
Woodie 69 VW woodie (Hot VWs 7/12).
"John's car" 64 VW woodie - The first ever
Maxine 61 Cal-look bug - Cindy's daily driver.
Max - 73 standard Beetle hearse project - For sale
66 bug project - Real patina & Suby conversion
There's more, but not keeping them... |
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BIGMIKEY Samba Member
Joined: September 24, 2007 Posts: 1104 Location: North East Pennsylvania
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Posted: Mon Feb 12, 2018 2:31 pm Post subject: Re: LED Garage Lighting & Floodlight |
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esde wrote: |
Those produce good light, but the ballast is still using juice. If you want the cost savings of LED lights, you need the ballast bypass bulbs. We have about 50 4 bulb fixtures at my shop, and just replace the bulbs with LED systems as the ballasts fail. Works well, move the good bulbs to the remaining lights, and rewire what needed a new ballast anyway with the LED bulbs. The cost is about the same. |
The ones that I bought at Lowe's said "Works with MOST ballast". Right. Figures that they wouldn't work with my 20 year old fluorescent fixtures. Also a Lowe's product.
No matter. I went to Home Depot and got the conversion type where you rewire the fixture and dump the old Ballast. ONE LED bulb puts out as much light as 2 of the old 4' fluorescent bulbs.
I also use the LED screw in bulbs and I have more light now that ever.
Thank you OP for the LED strip idea. I will use that in my dim and flickering attached garage so Wifey T can find her car now.
Mike T _________________ BIGMIKEY
Deserter Series 1 project.
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=787047&highlight=
1973 Beetle Driver, Marina Blue. |
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kingkarmann Samba Member
Joined: November 05, 2003 Posts: 4111
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Posted: Sun Feb 18, 2018 2:10 pm Post subject: Re: LED Garage Lighting & Floodlight |
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My garage had the old fluorescent strip fixtures. I'm sure they were almost 30 years old. I was constantly fighting burnt out bulbs and ballasts. They were not cold start ballasts or tubes so they didn't work well when it got cold in my unheated garage.
I replaced them with 4ft. LED fixtures I found at Sams Club. They are equipped with grounded 3-prong cords and a pull chain. The old fixtures were hard wired so I just strategically wired in duplex outlets then simply plugged in the new lights. I bought 20 fixtures at $35 plus the outlets I think I have about $750 in the project. A much better illuminated garage, more reliable and much more energy efficient
_________________ "Depression is a malfunction of the instrument we use to determine reality.”
Mike Gerson
What is your "Bespoke Reality"? |
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