Deaconblue
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We have a light out in our garage. Before we have somebody come out and just fix it, is there any sort of updated technology we should be exploring to replace a standard fluorescent set up?
Current fixture is probably 20 years old.
LED could be an option depending on the fixture.
After 20 years the fixture itself may be bad. The ballast/starter is probably done. As noted by Left Coast, LED is the way to to go.
I would replace what you have with a new LED fixture rated for approximately the same light output (lumens) as your existing fluorescent lighting. Adjust up if your garage is dark. And replace your switch with a dimmer. More details than you probably want follow.
Two new terms in buying LED lights.
1. Color temperature. This is a number between 2000 and 10,000 followed by letter K. It is a way of expressing whether a white LED looks slightly red or yellow or blue. Technical explanation at the following link:
https://www.ledlightexpert.com/understanding_led_light_color_temperatures_ep_79
Go to someplace that has LED fixtures for sale and look at several different color temperatures and find what you like. Most people like something between 3000K ("warmer" look) and 7000K ("cooler" look). There isn't a right answer here. It is what your eyes like.
2. Light output. This is measured in lumens. This is now the way to measure how bright the light is. How many lumens you need wil be influenced by how high is the garage ceiling, how bright you want the light for getting people/stuff out of vehicles and whether or not you are lighting other activities, like a garage work area.
Old incandescent bulbs were only rated by the amount of electricity they used, measured in watts. Every manufacturer's bulb was about the same in efficiency of converting electricity into light. With all the newer technologies, this is no longer true. The different technologies (e.g. incandescent, fluorescent, LED) are a lot different in conversion efficiency.
A garage probably needs a few thousand lumens, depending on size of said garage. About 2000 lumens from LED fixture per car space is a good brightness for many people.
A note on lumen measurements between LED and fluorescent tubes. Light output is measured 360 degrees around the bulb ot tube. Fluorescent tubes emit equally in all directions. LED's emit in one direction. So LED's will give more light in the direction they point than the same lumens from a fluorescent tube.
LED's (like all lights) produce less as they age. Wasn't a big deal when bulbed were changed frequently. LED's can last 20 years. One solution is to get brighter LED's and install a dimmer switch in place of the on/off switch. Make sure the dimmer is rated for use with LED lighting. Also, make sure the LED fixture you get us "dimmable." I prefer the dimmer switches that are mostly switch with a tiny dimmer slide on the side or bottom. There are other options that have you go through the dimming range from 0 on up each time you turn it on. Again this is personal preference.