Fluorescent Base ID Please

[Mike OMelia]

I recently read that blog on shop lighting. Timely. I was planning on updating my shop lights. So, I purchased a bunch of fixtures (8 ft, T12, magnetic). I also bought a large box of 15 bulbs. Turns out they are the wrong base type. Here is a picture of my base. Is this for the two pin type? I've not seen this before. BTW, the bulbs I purchased were single pin bulbs.

Mike

235898

[Ken Fitzgerald]

Mike....can you give me a manufacturer name and model number for the fixture?

[Mike OMelia]

Metalux, ssf-296ho-Unv-eb21-u

Lowes: http://m.lowes.com/mt/www.lowes.com:80/pd_163725-337-SSF-296HO-UNV-EB21-U_0__?productId=3563420&Ntt=Metalux+fluorescent+strip&pl=1&currentURL=&facetInfo=&un_jtt_v_tabs=reviews#reviews

Thanks Ken, mike

[Ken Fitzgerald]

Mike,

Here's a link to Metalux's/Cooper Industries website : http://www.cooperindustries.com/content/dam/public/lighting/products/documents/metalux/spec_sheets/ssf148_adf090671_ss.pdf

On page 2 it shows that: SSF = Commercial Wide striplight......296= 2 bulbs 110 watt T12 HO (high output) ...It doesnt' indicate what the UNV means but EB2= Electronic Rapid Start...1= 1 ballast ....U = Unit pack = each light unit is packaged separately.

I'd look at the 110 watt T-12 bulbs and see it they have 2 pins like the old style T-12's do. If they do, then I'd say the contacts on these new sockets are spring-loaded. You would put one end into a socket...raise the lamp up and press towards that socket until the pins at the other end of the lamp clear the other socket....then allow the pins at the 2nd end to seat into the pins at that socket.

PS....to answer your question....yes...I believe these fixtures take 2 pin bulbs.....T-12 HO bulbs...that is.

[Ken Fitzgerald]

Mike......this link shows that type of socket and it is a dual pin plunger end socket http://www.1000bulbs.com/product/4672/FHO-096CW.html

Click on "Accessories" and scroll down and you can see and identical socket.


Let's see if this link will work: http://www.1000bulbs.com/product/5306/SOCK-16401.html

[Ken Fitzgerald]

So the answer to your question.....is yes....this type of socket is made to use 2 pin T-12 HO bulbs......

[Mike OMelia]

Thanks Ken. So, I'm off to the Borg to trade out my lights. I have never seen single pin lights before. And that is the ONLY thing Lowes sells in bulk. Argh.

I will be visiting the customer service counter to voice my angst over this.

Mike

[Mike OMelia]

Turns out it is not dual pin. It's some kind of keyed part on the end of the bulb. With two contacts.

[Ken Fitzgerald]

Mike....my apology. I mistook the Philips manufacturer's description "double-contact" to mean 2 pins.

[Greg R Bradley]

T12 HO and VHO are unique bases so that bulbs can not be interchanged with something that is not compatable and unsafe.

I can't really see from the picture but it looks like it is probably a T12 HO base. If you can confirm it is T12 HO from the model number then you need to go to a real lighting supplier to get HO bulbs. I believe you can only get 95w T12 HO bulbs readily.

Assuming the fixtures are T-12 HO, where did you get them and more importantly, WHY?

Are you telling me that you just bought new T-12 HO fixtures?

Edited to add: I followed the link to Lowes site and am amazed that they are selling these. I assume that they only sell them online so they are available for the very specific purpose where these would be a good choice. If you don't know exactly the proper use of a HO fixture, you probably don't want these.

I used a bunch of T12 HO and VHO fixtures when they made sense at the time, which is a long time ago. I vacated one of those buildings in 2010. I left the fixtures as they weren't worth taking for free.

[Mike OMelia]

Yup. I'm overly concerned that I have scewed up now. No biggie, I can take them back. The only other 8 ft fixture they sell is a Metalux with electronic ballast. Says on the box that they will not work well below 60 F. The reviews on it are bad too. So, I will either stick with these or find something else. I'm just concerend that HO lights are on the endangered species list. Anybody know?

[Mike OMelia]

You know, I am quite agravated with Lowes right now. Basically, if its a T12 light, its gonna be phased out.

[Ken Fitzgerald]

Mike,

http://www.mauriceelectric.com/AdobeDocsM/BGE_Com_T12_v10_PR.pdf


Check this out. According to it, the T12 and T12 HO lights are being phased out as of July 2012 per new federal regulations.

In the first page of Jack's article here he mentions that magnetic ballasts and T12 flourescent lights are being phased out.

He also mentioned that in his original article 10 years ago.

[Greg R Bradley]

Starting about 10 years ago, the primary use of T12 HO fixtures was for cold storage facilities. They also were used for some displays but my best guess is that has faded to about zero use.

Standard T12 bulbs and ballasts are history this year but I thought there was some alternative for the HO. I think they are going to a more efficient bulb that will still work in the fixtures but as I recall the bulb cost was going up and the wattage down.

I buy lots of lights for a variety of different businesses. There are two commercial lighting places nearby and a bunch of Lowes and HDs in the same area. I have never found any lights at Lowes worth buying. HD does have several. Any of the Lithonia units at HD that have the MVolt 120-277 ballasts are good lamps at a good price. They only have a few popular items, mostly overstocks like the 6 lamp high bay T8 units that are only $85. Most high bay buyers are using T5 HO now but the difference in price can't be justified unless your power is really expensive and/or you run them 24/7.

Is there a reason you want 8' fixtures? How high is your ceiling and how high do you want to mount the lamps?

[Mike OMelia]

Hi. Thanks for the info. I ended up buying Lithonia fixtures from HD. Lowes appears to have nothing useful for shops. Their tandem 8ft (4 bulb) is now half the width of their display model. At least at the two stores I visited. I pointed that out to them. They seemed surprised that they had the wrong items in display. HD had what I needed. I don't know if that ballast is what I have. I will check tomorrow. But I don't have a lot of choice in the matter. Why do I need 8ft? Did u read that article at the homepage? That's what Jack said. Plus, less install work for the amount of light. I am not installing 16 fixtures per his calculator. 5. And I'm strategically placing them. I'm also installing pull switches so can turn some off if I don't need all of them. Just the one I got installed tonight blew my socks off! Man, this process has been stressful. But you all have been very helpful!

Thanks!

Mike

[Mike OMelia]

Btw, Lowes had no idea T12s were being phased out. HD was well aware of it. But still selling the fixtures. I realize they have to recoup their costs. But to knowingly sell things that will soon be obsolete and therefore expensive to maintain just seems wrong.

Mike

[Mike OMelia]

I've gone back and studied Jack's calculator. Entered precise room measurements and the lumen ratings for the bulbs. I know, I estimated room size from memory and had it wrong. Never the less, the one variable that is totally subjective is the 50 or 100 factor based on age. I have one fixture up, and it's bright! If I add 3 more, I'm right in the ballpark using the 50 factor. I can't begin to believe I'd need much more than that.

So, what's the lesson? Use the calculator to get a estimate started. Put up one fixture and judge for yourself whether u should go with 50 or 100. Regardless, it's a good indicator of what u will need within a factor of two.

Mike

[Rick Fisher]

T-12 fixtures where already phased out in my part of Canada. The replacement up here is T-8 and T-5.

The bulbs are smaller, but bright .. they use less power but don't seem to offer less performance, and they do cost more ..

[Mike OMelia]

Yes Rick, it's on schedule down here starting this month. One Lowes guy told me he had no warning from corporate that this was happening. He said that bill had been "nixed". But I doubt that. For me, it's no bother. The fixtures costed a bit less, the bulbs are about 20% more. But that's the way it goes when regulations direct the way forward.

Mike

[Alan Lightstone]

I just finished installing enough fixtures that I should be around the 100fc level. And I'm 50-something. And like bright light in working areas.

All that being said, it seems a little too bright to me. I'm kinda looking forward to them losing some of their brightness over time.

I agree that Lowe's is pretty useless for shop fixtures. I had to go to HD to get those 4' T-8 fixtures.

[Mike OMelia]

Yeah. I went with 50 FC and I'm old enough to go with 100. But it just was looking too bright for me. Additionally, I installed pull switches on most of them so I can turn some off if I feel the need.

Mike

[Ken Fitzgerald]

I designed mine around Jack's article from 10 years ago for 100 fc. In my 60's I like it.

But that's what he stated.....it's subjective......what's right for me may not be right for you and visa/versa......there is no right or wrong......it's a matter of personal preference.

[Mike OMelia]

Ya know, the makers of these Fixtures are definitely working on maximizing their profits. I don't blame them. After all, it's about the ballast and the bulb connectors. The rest is just support. But they are making this stuff now out of the thinnest, softest sheet metal. Wear gloves or u will end up cut up like Edward Scissor Hands got after you.

Mike

[Mike OMelia]

Btw, all my whining aside, I found Jack's article and SawmillCreek in general extremely helpful in this project. Thanks! You guys are the best.

Mike

[Barry Mabery]

Indeed they are. July 2012 is the manufacturer's cutoff date for all but a very few F96T12 HO lamps. Philips lists the F96T12/DX/HO/EW 95 watt Daylight Delux 6500K, F96T12/DX/HO 110 watt Daylight Delux 6500K and two HO-O lamps for low temperature applications (think inside freezers and coolers) as surviving the hit list. I would suspect these would be about as costly as leaded premium gasoline (were it available) in the near future.

A better choice, in my opinion, would be an enclosed fixture using a 0* or -20* electronic ballast driving F32T8 lamps. It will take a short while for them to come up to reasonably full output. But, more importantly, why would you be concerned in Huntsville, AL about low temp operation? I use open industrial 4 ft. fixtures (F32T8) in my unheated garage in New Jersey and only when the ambient is significantly below freezing does it take more than a minute or two for them to come up to full output.