Slickdeals is community-supported.  We may get paid by brands for deals, including promoted items.
Heads up, this deal has expired. Want to create a deal alert for this item?
expired Posted by xfiles4484 • Jan 18, 2021
expired Posted by xfiles4484 • Jan 18, 2021

Lowes - GE 2 Pack 32W Equivalent Daylight 6500k T8 LED Tube Light Bulb $3.28

$3.28

Lowe's
32 Comments 37,540 Views
Visit Lowe's
Good Deal
Save
Share
Community Notes
About the Poster
Deal Details
Community Notes
About the Poster

Community Voting

Deal Score
+24
Good Deal
Visit Lowe's

Leave a Comment

Unregistered (You)

32 Comments

Sign up for a Slickdeals account to remove this ad.

Jan 18, 2021
261 Posts
Joined Sep 2007
Jan 18, 2021
though
Jan 18, 2021
261 Posts
Ballast required?
Jan 18, 2021
1,851 Posts
Joined Jun 2003
Jan 18, 2021
69ragtop
Jan 18, 2021
1,851 Posts
Quote from though :
Ballast required?
fluorescent bulbs using the existing fixture and electronic ballast

It is just ridiculous to buy an LED bulb that requires a ballast. Best case is that your ballast is compatible and never fails. Just rewire it and ditch the ballast.
Jan 18, 2021
305 Posts
Joined Mar 2014
Jan 18, 2021
Frd_Chckn
Jan 18, 2021
305 Posts
Thanks! $.29 near me. Got 12 packs for less than $4!
Jan 18, 2021
11,997 Posts
Joined Oct 2008
Jan 18, 2021
RUsum1
Jan 18, 2021
11,997 Posts
Quote from 69ragtop :
fluorescent bulbs using the existing fixture and electronic ballast

It is just ridiculous to buy an LED bulb that requires a ballast. Best case is that your ballast is compatible and never fails. Just rewire it and ditch the ballast.
Are you saying that these can somehow work by bypassing the ballast? Like send the hot wire to one side tombstones and the neutral to the other side? And it will work with lED lights?
Jan 18, 2021
1,851 Posts
Joined Jun 2003
Jan 18, 2021
69ragtop
Jan 18, 2021
1,851 Posts
Quote from RUsum1 :
Are you saying that these can somehow work by bypassing the ballast? Like send the hot wire to one side tombstones and the neutral to the other side? And it will work with lED lights?
Bypassing the ballast will NOT work for these unless I missed that in the description. I have seen some LED bulbs that work with or without a ballast. I personally don't want the liability nor extra power of a ballast. When I transition a fixture to LED, the ballast goes away.


EDIT - There are a lot of 4 ft led bulbs that do not require a ballast and are one-sided. As long as you have a non-shunted tombstone, you are good. Non-shunted tombstones are cheap in case you need them as well (for the hot side only).
Jan 18, 2021
11,997 Posts
Joined Oct 2008
Jan 18, 2021
RUsum1
Jan 18, 2021
11,997 Posts
Quote from 69ragtop :
Bypassing the ballast will NOT work for these unless I missed that in the description. I have seen some LED bulbs that work with or without a ballast. I personally don't want the liability nor extra power of a ballast. When I transition a fixture to LED, the ballast goes away.


EDIT - There are a lot of 4 ft led bulbs that do not require a ballast and are one-sided. As long as you have a non-shunted tombstone, you are good. Non-shunted tombstones are cheap in case you need them as well (for the hot side only).
Thanks. That's something I'll be sure to look for.
Jan 18, 2021
1,324 Posts
Joined Apr 2008
Jan 18, 2021
jimates
Jan 18, 2021
1,324 Posts
Quote from RUsum1 :
Are you saying that these can somehow work by bypassing the ballast? Like send the hot wire to one side tombstones and the neutral to the other side? And it will work with lED lights?
An answer in the Q&A says no, it cannot be direct wired
1

Sign up for a Slickdeals account to remove this ad.

Jan 18, 2021
1,324 Posts
Joined Apr 2008
Jan 18, 2021
jimates
Jan 18, 2021
1,324 Posts
Quote from 69ragtop :
Bypassing the ballast will NOT work for these unless I missed that in the description. I have seen some LED bulbs that work with or without a ballast. I personally don't want the liability nor extra power of a ballast. When I transition a fixture to LED, the ballast goes away.


EDIT - There are a lot of 4 ft led bulbs that do not require a ballast and are one-sided. As long as you have a non-shunted tombstone, you are good. Non-shunted tombstones are cheap in case you need them as well (for the hot side only).
And some people have the cheap shop lights that dont have a real ballast.
I have a couple of those. The ballast over heats and the light shuts down
Jan 18, 2021
3,715 Posts
Joined Mar 2017
Jan 18, 2021
AlexS2465
Jan 18, 2021
3,715 Posts
Quote from jimates :
And some people have the cheap shop lights that dont have a real ballast.
I have a couple of those. The ballast over heats and the light shuts down
It not about "real" sometimes either, old T12 lamps have older style "rapid start" ballasts which are magnetic type instead of newer electronic type ones.
One reason you would want LEDs that feed off ballasts is so you can still use both types of bulbs without worrying to have spare LED ones on hand (assuming you have electronic ballast already so you don't have to replace it)
Lowe's sells both types actually (at least in GE brand boxes of 10 packs), box has clearly labeled each so it's easier to find. I personally prefer 5K temp ones since they're not too bluish in color but GE recommends in line fuse to be installed on 120V ones (I guess in case there's a short and it starts drawing more than it should).
It's easier to use ones without ballast though since wiring is simplified and eliminates need to buy electrical ballast if fixture still has magnetic type still.
Last edited by AlexS2465 January 17, 2021 at 05:52 PM.
Jan 18, 2021
1,324 Posts
Joined Apr 2008
Jan 18, 2021
jimates
Jan 18, 2021
1,324 Posts
Quote from AlexS2465 :
It not about "real" sometimes either, old T12 lamps have older style "rapid start" ballasts which are magnetic type instead of newer electronic type ones.
One reason you would want LEDs that feed off ballasts is so you can still use both types of bulbs without worrying to have spare LED ones on hand (assuming you have electronic ballast already so you don't have to replace it)
Lowe's sells both types actually (at least in GE brand boxes of 10 packs), box has clearly labeled each so it's easier to find. I personally prefer 5K temp ones since they're not too bluish in color but GE recommends in line fuse to be installed on 120V ones (I guess in case there's a short and it starts drawing more than it should).
It's easier to use ones without ballast though since wiring is simplified and eliminates need to buy electrical ballast if fixture still has magnetic type still.
Yes, I did order 10 of these but only because they are 29 cents a pack.
For all others I buy the bypss type. It s easy to find old fixtures without worrying whether the ballast is good or not.
Jan 18, 2021
1,362 Posts
Joined Jul 2016
Jan 18, 2021
AG1802
Jan 18, 2021
1,362 Posts
Quote from RUsum1 :
Are you saying that these can somehow work by bypassing the ballast? Like send the hot wire to one side tombstones and the neutral to the other side? And it will work with lED lights?
Some require a ballast (electronic ballast) such as these, some can run without a ballast and are directly wired, others are hybrid meaning they can run direct or with a ballast, and there are some that work with LED Drivers. Having done a ton of research on this topic for a project your best bet if at all possible is to go with direct wire bulbs. The ballast factor makes LED bulbs use more power than would a traditional fluorescent. For example a traditional philips alto 32 watt t8 will use 28.18 watts but when an led rated at 14 watts is put into a ballast it will use 16 watts. Removing the ballast also reduces the risk of that failing so better energy savings and less hassle down the line. The only downside is that the labor associated with removing the ballasts can be costly if you don't intent on replacing all the wires yourself
1
Pro
Jan 18, 2021
695 Posts
Joined Dec 2013
Jan 18, 2021
NathanN4958
Pro
Jan 18, 2021
695 Posts
Showing .29 near me and in stock. Thanks OP!
Jan 19, 2021
1,506 Posts
Joined Nov 2013
Jan 19, 2021
Rand4
Jan 19, 2021
1,506 Posts
good deal,
not really a fan of the 6500 color temp though prefer ~~4k

also found this funny
Quote :
Saves 67 dollars on energy costs per bulb vs. 32-Watt incandescent over the bulb's life
Jan 20, 2021
532 Posts
Joined May 2011
Jan 20, 2021
krunk619
Jan 20, 2021
532 Posts
Worked with an electrician years ago, and yea avoid ballasts, they will go out all the time, because magnets, lose magnetism.
1

Sign up for a Slickdeals account to remove this ad.

Jan 20, 2021
177 Posts
Joined Dec 2017
Jan 20, 2021
billb2520
Jan 20, 2021
177 Posts
The last time I tried one of these that "worked with your ballast" it turned on and off at what appeared to be 5 or 10 times a second for about three seconds and then was RIP. Pretty sure it wanted a electronic ballast and my fixtures were older than I thought. Or it wanted the old style ballast and my fixtures were newer than I thought. Either way, no ROI.
I rewired the 2 fixtures I had for 'no ballast needed'
tubes. I like 6500K for shop/task lights.
These are $0.32 at 'my store' and of course OOS.
Last edited by billb2520 January 19, 2021 at 06:36 PM.

Leave a Comment

Unregistered (You)

Popular Deals

View All

Trending Deals

View All