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  1. #1
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    New lighting project finished - PAR 38 - 5000K LED Upgrade

    Been thinking about doing a lighting upgrade for a while. So while CarMomma was off for the week, and we were going around running errands, I decided to bring it up.

    We happened to be in Lowes and noticed that they'd put all their PAR38 5000°K LED "outdoor rated" floodlights on clearance. They were normally $38 each, marked down to $28 each.

    When we noticed them our local store didn't have but 4 (bought them all). Along with the bulbs I bought single gang outdoor plastic boxes, metal flood fixtures, and a switch for the boxes. All in all there are 8 boxes, 1 on each end of the 4 fluorescent fixtures. I put the switch there so that we can still turn on the fluorescent lights without all the LED's running.

    The next day she went to the town north of here and found 3 more.
    Then I went to yet another town about 35 minutes out and picked up 7 more.

    Problem is, I planned on mounting at least 8, then changed that to 12, with the ability to have 16. (Don't need the extra 4 over at one side of the garage because I don't work on that side.) As it ended up I put 14 total lights up.

    The bulbs are 5000°K 1400 lumen 23 watts. Much cooler, much less current than a similar (120 watt) filament type flood, and REALLY bright!

    It wasn't exactly a cheap upgrade, I'd say a good $500 spent (if not $550). But the results mean I don't have to worry about pulling tons of current, making tons of heat, and dragging a twin-head, single head, or any other type halogen around over my shoulder or putting third-degree burns on my back anymore. Not to mention if you bump the darned things wrong you blow the bulb! The best part is I won't have to be replacing any bulbs pretty much during my lifetime!

    Still haven't played around with aiming for the best coverage, but it's plenty bright. (As CarMomma has said she needs to wear her sunglasses to go through the garage to take the darned trash out!)

    Compared to what it was like before (and it wasn't bad) it's freaking awesome now.
    The fluorescents are a mix of 6000°K and 4000°K (cool whites). There are two 5000° (or maybe even 5500°K CFL (swirly type) bulbs in the garage opener.

    All the photos are with my Samsung S4, without any flash, without any halogens. One I think might have the added LED work light. If it's there, you'll see it sitting on top of the far side cabinet.






















  2. #2
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    Re: New lighting project finished - PAR 38 - 5000K LED Upgrade

    The neighbors are going to think you are setting up a Grow House

  3. #3
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    Re: New lighting project finished - PAR 38 - 5000K LED Upgrade

    Quote Originally Posted by allenk4 View Post
    The neighbors are going to think you are setting up a Grow House


    Yeah I thought about that as I cleaned out three different Lowes stores!
    Already brought over the garage side neighbor to check them out while I was working on them. You know what they say, if you can't see it from space it's not worth doing.

    With remote power meter monitoring I'm glad they are LED's for sure.

    OTOH.... (grow house wise) Georgia might be one of the next "medical" states. Hmmmm......

  4. #4
    Super Member FUNX650's Avatar
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    Re: New lighting project finished - PAR 38 - 5000K LED Upgrade

    "Let there be light"!

    Nice job Tony.


    Bob
    "Be wary of the man who urges an action in which he himself incurs no risk."
    ~Joaquin de Setanti

  5. #5
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    Re: New lighting project finished - PAR 38 - 5000K LED Upgrade

    Quote Originally Posted by FUNX725 View Post
    "Let there be light"!

    Nice job Tony.


    Bob
    Thanks Bob!

    I know I'm glad I don't have to climb that darned ladder anymore!!!!!

    Oh... forgot about the bulbs over on the other side of the Caddy.
    Those are 5000°K CFL floods, only $7.98 for those puppies.
    I still have a couple extra of those LED's that I could put over there, as well as 2 more flood heads should I decide to throw light all the way across.

    I know I went over in the other side (3rd car side) of the garage last night and even with a 4 bulb fixture and 2 bulbs in the garage opener it seemed like walking into a CAVE.

  6. #6
    Super Member SameGuy's Avatar
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    Re: New lighting project finished - PAR 38 - 5000K LED Upgrade

    Great idea!

    Yeah, when I went to the closest Lowes in October they had one single Utilitech bulb left, on clearance at $28. They now only stock the Sylvania 5000K PAR38 bulbs.
    Francesco

  7. #7
    Super Member Tato's Avatar
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    Re: New lighting project finished - PAR 38 - 5000K LED Upgrade

    Quote Originally Posted by allenk4 View Post
    The neighbors are going to think you are setting up a Grow House
    Quote Originally Posted by FUNX725 View Post
    "Let there be light"!

    Nice job Tony.


    Bob
    Great job, agreed with second comment / laughed with first, but both relates my thoughts here.

    Would you mind taking a look at my 'lighting indecision' thread and give me a 0.02$?
    http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum/...-included.html

    Thank you so very much in advance.

    Kind Regards.
    “Nature is pleased with simplicity. And nature is no dummy”

    ― Isaac Newton

  8. #8
    Super Member rms64's Avatar
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    Re: New lighting project finished - PAR 38 - 5000K LED Upgrade

    Quote Originally Posted by cardaddy View Post


    You know what they say, if you can't see it from space it's not worth doing.


    I will be using that one in the future.

    Nice job on the new lighting!

  9. #9
    Super Member Klasse Act's Avatar
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    Cool Re: New lighting project finished - PAR 38 - 5000K LED Upgrade

    Looks great in there, have you been contacted about a GA detail day, LOL
    2022 Elantra N Cyber Gray
    Some say..."He likes Swedish fish because they're made with caranuba wax"

  10. #10
    Super Member dad07's Avatar
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    Re: New lighting project finished - PAR 38 - 5000K LED Upgrade

    Looking good Tony!
    Tim
    "I have done so much with so little for so long.
    Now I can do anything with nothing"

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