Poor Man’s Flea Mkt. Photos from the past- Fluorescent Shop Light Troubleshooting 

[@madamecampsalot6384]

I always feel sad when I see boxes of photos or slides in trash or tag sales. It feels like the dumping of someone's life. Thanks so much for the info on lights. You answered a lot of my questions.

[@ScoutCrafter]

Me too! I still have regrets not taking the albums I saw a while back in the trash.

[@philcappellini2820]

That was a very "enlightening" show today. It really "illuminated" my knowledge on shop lights. It brings a nice "glow" to my day. I do prefer the fluorescent lights over the LED ones, I should get them before they "Argon". Thanks for another great video!!

[@ScoutCrafter]

😂😂😂👍

[@wardman21]

Scout, you inspired me to go through my 3 dozen fluorescent tubes i got stored in my basement 😁👍🏻

[@ScoutCrafter]

Some tubes are collectable! I just paid $14 for 2 T12 lamps. 🫣😂👍

[@williamkroth9429]

Great tutorial on testing the ballast and bulbs on these lamps!

[@carldelawter8900]

My Grandmother 's house from the 50's had double circle light fluorescence chrome fixtures in kitcken & dining rooms. I loved them.

[@joseffroula7415]

Love the Poor Man's Flea Market: Thanks for sharing those beautiful photos of NYC. I come down to Flushing Meadows once a year--nice to see those shots.

[@ScoutCrafter]

You can appreciate the Unisphere having seen it in person! 😃👍

[@signalpops]

John, i have been a subscriber for a few years now. I impatiently wait for your videos to come out. I told you this a long time ago and I will tell you again. You remind me of my shop teacher i had in the 7th grade back in the mid 70's. You even favor him a bit. I have learned so much from you these past years and today was no exception. Todays show was full of information. I had to rewind the video a couple of time to really absorb the information. Thank you sir!!

[@ScoutCrafter]

Thanks so much! I guess you are like me and find these common often taken for granted things so interesting. I’m so glad you enjoy the content and thanks for letting me know! 😃👍

[@terryrogers1025]

Liked the pictures you saved, found them interesting. Great little tutorial on Fluorescent lights and fixtures, enjoyed it and actually learned something I didn’t know about them, thank you, enjoyed watching.

[@billmcclure433]

Thank you for yet another great informative video. Fantastic description of the anatomy of the fluorescent light bulb. Replaced a lot of ballasts over the years but gone exclusively LED now. Much better startups in cold weather. Some even have motion detectors and remote controls. Very spoiled with advancing technologies...

[@ScoutCrafter]

I agree- you can’t beat the new LED technology but I still appreciate the older models that got us where we are now. My first shop light really made me feel like I was serious. 😂👍

[@mikeehreth2194]

Thank for all the great information. Once you know the basics it's easier to under stand the principle. Keep up the good work. The longer I watch the better I feel.

[@hester781]

3:43 "I have a great story if you want to hear it".... I think I speak for a lot of us when I say one of the best parts of this channel ARE your stories! 👍🏻

[@horriblebastard1374]

Ditto indeed

[@johnkelley9877]

I liked the Fluorescent bulbs but when I needed to replace them I had little in the way of recycling in my state so I switched to LEDs. I actually prefer the LED lights but I found this tutorial very helpful and interesting. Thank you for making and sharing this information.

[@ScoutCrafter]

Yes- the LED’s are far superior! 😃👍

[@lotsatrains]

Wow I am so glad you saved those amazing photographs 👍 and great lesson on the fluorescent lighting indeed.

[@GeorgeWMays]

Excellent show. Thanks a bunch. It's much appreciated. Best of the Season to all....

[@crr8297]

Nice show, thank you, We used to sell fluorescent lamps where I worked, I remember the suffix HO for high output and the big T17 lamps called power groove, pretty cool bulbs

[@ScoutCrafter]

Those T17 with those crazy cups formed into the bulb! Those were awesome! T17! Monster bulbs! 😃👍

[@patjohnson3100]

Fascinating info today. That was a great tutorial on fluorescent lights. Based on what you said about how they were developed and function, I think they must have been invented by absolute geniuses from a parallel universe. Regarding the photo albums, it's sad when family memories get tossed out, but I guess you can't keep everything. When the mother of my wife's friend died the daughter sold the estate but threw away photos and scrapbooks of her mother's time in the 1930s as a "powderpuff racer" during aviation's golden age. This was actually a very dangerous activity because some of these planes were faster than front line military planes of the day. Her mother also had met Amelia Earheart. Too bad some memories and records get tossed, but that is how it goes sometimes. Great video today.

[@jackthompson2132]

Interesting show today. You find some great stuff!!Thank You for sharing John!

[@rogerstlaurent8704]

Mr John needs a part in this video Great explanation on Fluorescent Lights work Great Video Mr John

[@netsena1775]

love the fact you respect the photographers work, merry christmas and semper fi!

[@larrynelson734]

Hi John. I love florescent lights. Except mine flicker below 50 degrees. Great info on those lights though. Have a great weekend. 👍👍❤🙏🤠...

[@ScoutCrafter]

Larry- Yes some ballasts don’t perform well in the cold- I have a fixture in my pigeon coupe that won’t work below 50 degrees! 🫣😂👍

[@larrynelson734]

@ScoutCrafter 👍

[@andyc972]

Thanks John, that was very illuminating ! 😉💡

[@sebglayburg5163]

Thanks, John, now I know how to test a florescent bulb! No more going thru a stack of 'em plugging them in one by one!

[@setdown2]

Never knew exactly how the florescent light worked...till now...i changed my fixtures to LED so easy to do...to shunt or not to shunt is what I had to learn what that ment but overall it's a snap...great video...🖖

[@ScoutCrafter]

Well worth the swap to LED. 😃👍

[@Marcel_Germann]

Fun fact for the Edison base: To distinguish between the 115 and 230V light bulbs, that base was designed with different diameters. For 115V it is E26, for 230 it's E27. What was meant as a good design to prevent someone from using a bulb with the wrong voltage rating is actually not a working. Due to manufacturing tolerances the different sizes are actually interchangeable. Same is with E13 and E14 for smaller bulbs.

[@ScoutCrafter]

I always got a kick out of the European Bayonet bulb base! Quick and simple. 😃👍

[@Marcel_Germann]

@@ScoutCrafter That is actually a British thing, in most European countries Edison is common.

[@tonylenge424]

Use to able to replace the ballast, but some of the newer fluorescent fixture have a small circuit board and not the ballast you showed. Not sure how to repair that. Plus the old ballast is pretty pricey. Transitioning to led. Thanks

[@ScoutCrafter]

Tony- It really doesn’t pay to keep the fluorescent stuff anymore. I just like the vintage feel but LED’s are cheaper, work better and use even less electricity! Win win! 😃👍

[@13thworker45]

You could have been in a boom truck working for Sylvania with me. You know more then most of the guys I worked with. In my opinion the t8 is the best all around light. They last a long time and they literally right up in cold temps with no fluttering like t12s. T5 burns pretty hot and they don’t last as long. My shop is all t8’s except by my cutting table. I have t5s with great reflectors. My opinion of leds for longevity is not good. The driver burns out on the quicker side. I will stick with t8s. You should have tried the bulb tester I sent you on the bulbs. It was very valuable to me in the field. I would use it on a case of brand new bulbs in the box. You discard the ones that don’t light right from the start. It saved a lot of time testing. That fixture is not kind that you got. Trying to keep the sockets in place 16’ in the air is a challenge. Great show, thank you

[@ScoutCrafter]

Jess- You’re so right about the T-8’s good performance and less electricity too! I have your tester in my attic! Did you ever see a Tesla coil light up the entire bulb? So cool! 😂👍

[@paulsworkshop4179]

Those old photos are so interesting. So much great bulb information.

[@GuntersGarage]

Good to know about fluorescent lights. Our closets have 24" fluorescent lights with the starters. Ive replaced them a couple times over the bulbs.

[@ScoutCrafter]

Yes! Starters go pretty often but they are fascinating! I’m going to feature them soon. 😃👍

[@ed6837]

Good information about bulbs and ballasts. Thank You!!

[@nvz357]

Wow john that was a lot of info that I wish I knew many years ago…using LEDs now…thanks

[@scottwallace5180]

I do remember that the T12 lamps in the uk was like hens teeth to find 20 years ago and the T8s are becoming the same. I think of some of the stuff I have ripped out and thrown away. You would cry. I did save some lovely dolly switches from the 1940s that we do have in are at deco house now. Great show tonight. Regards Scott

[@ScoutCrafter]

Scott- It’s funny how so many everyday items from years ago are desirable again today- I think people long for that familiarity of days long gone. 😃👍

[@jeffreykindron7162]

My father was a bit of an amateur photographer, He left behind thousands of photos. After going through them with my siblings i was left with disposing of the rest. I couldn't stand the thought of throwing them in the trash so I ended up burning them. Im not sure why, but this felt like the most respectful way . I learned more about fluorescent bulbs in this video than any other way

[@ScoutCrafter]

Sometimes you have to create your own closure. I have all my Dad’s speakers but won’t toss them because they meant a lot to him.

[@jeffreykindron7162]

@ScoutCrafter I kept the photos of family and anything relevant. I have most of my dad's tools, all of his guns and all of his things related to his job where he worked for 40 years, I work at the same company for going on 43 years.

[@joe-uc2bx]

I noticed one of those thick plastic carpet mats people use under office chairs - those are GREAT for leather work. They work a bit like one of those self-healing mats for leather cutting. I scoop those up whenever I see them and cut 'em down to the size I need.

[@ScoutCrafter]

Joe- You’ve got good eyes!!! I didn’t even notice that! 🫣😂👍

[@rge2410]

Nice video. In the electrical trade we call the lamp holders tombstones. Just an fyi.

[@ScoutCrafter]

Yes! What a fantastic nickname! 😃👍

[@johnroberts7280]

Thank you John

[@stephendoherty1275]

Another thing to know about the T lamps is they are in a strong vacuum. The amount of Argon in each lamp is minimal. You can place the end of a tube in a bucket of water and break off a pin with pliers to break the seal. The vacuum will suck up water all the way to the top, leaving only a tiny amount of gas!

[@ScoutCrafter]

Stephen- I saw that demonstration on KZbin from a gentleman in the UK! I was amazed at the vacuum strength! I never thought it would be able to pull heavy liquid up those tubes!!! Fascinating! 😃👍

[@truthreigns7]

Great video. I normally take out the ballast and change the tombstones and put in new led light bulbs. Thank you for sharing. I drove through a near by city and I was looking at the trash cans thinking poor man's flea market, HA!HA!

[@ScoutCrafter]

The best trash comes from homes that are moving- It’s so expensive to take it with you! 🫣😂👍

[@truthreigns7]

@ScoutCrafter cool

[@joeschulz7997]

Good video, I learned a lot about the florescent bulb and ballast. I go to lots of estate sales looking for treasure. But if you stop and think about it, it's kinda sad that people's lives are either sold or thrown out with the trash. I guess it's a path that happens to all of us. 😃👍🏻🇺🇲

[@ScoutCrafter]

Joe- Lots of stuff that is overlooked is quite collectible to certain people. 😃👍

[@maxgo1d]

Just what I thought was an amusing FYI, those sockets on fluorescent lights are called tombstones.

[@ScoutCrafter]

Yes! The similarity is perfect! 😂👍

[@ko2fjb]

John as always very educational, I learned something about fluorescent bulbs I didn't know. I have several in my shop but turn some off when working on AM radios because of interference. Also I remember going to the NY Worlds Fair when I was around 12.

[@ScoutCrafter]

Fred- I would love to see a modern world’s fair! 😃👍

[@spencereagle1118]

Some of those old 70s photos can be pretty valuable, especially street scenes featuring period fashions and sought after vehicles such as muscle cars.

[@ScoutCrafter]

Sometimes I experience a degree of guilt leaving certain items behind. Especially when they are nice and still useable. A few years ago there was a vintage dining room table thrown out that to this day I kick myself for not grabbing it. 🫣😃👍

[@pt4242]

did i miss the part about more info about the starter? we had those when i was a kid, but i haven't seen one used in years now...

[@ScoutCrafter]

No- I’m going to do an in depth starter segment. They are amazing little devices! 😃👍

[@bigvicsworkshop]

That macro of the dollar is great! Have a great weekend!!!

[@ScoutCrafter]

Vic- Back in the day that was very slick- Today our Smart phones can do everything! 🫣😂👍

[@timgovan1]

Good show I sat through it and enjoyed it , very much, great teaching and reminiscing. Happy Holidays, John

[@wardman21]

December sure does fly and then January- March can't end soon enough!

[@ScoutCrafter]

I’m with you! The Winter months can wear on you. 😃👍

[@jwoutdoors]

Hey John, very interesting about the fluorescent bulbs and fixtures. I converted my fluorescent fixtures in the basement and installed Type A+B LEDs in them. You can use them with either the ballast or non-ballast. When the ballast go out rewire them and should be good to go. Those ballast are really expensive. Thanks, your fellow transit retiree, Jack and LuAnn from Central Illinois.

[@ScoutCrafter]

Jack- Yes- I prefer the non-ballast type as it’s one less item to worry about. The LED fixtures with bulbs are very inexpensive now! 😃👍

[@jwoutdoors]

Also John, thanks for showing how to test the bulbs. Got to break out my Tesman and go through what I have. Cheers

[@michaellindsay8934]

I was in the Osram plant in Kentucky many times doing service calls on the feeder bowls. We fed the end caps at 80 parts a minute. Each machine was about the length of a football field. Really interesting to watch at that speed. I believe they are shut down now. Great show, thanks for sharing

[@ScoutCrafter]

That's incredible! The speed is amazing! 80 caps per minute! 😃👍

[@57WillysCJ]

I have been to auctions for so many years and watched a persons collection/hobby go for pennies on the dollar. Those decorative plate collections that were popular for ladies believing there was collector values and nobody would pay .50 a piece. Now I have a son so he gets everything I have and knows if there is value and also knows if he needs the money to sell it. Sadly most don't know or care and toss it. Have a plan for your stuff to go where it's appreciated. When I was young I just thought of the deal, now I think of who had it.

[@ScoutCrafter]

Philip you’re so right- My father’s collection was a perfect example- he collected vintage Hi-Fi equipment and although some items are collectible many aren’t like my attic full of huge speakers! 🫣😂👍

[@frankg3072]

I have fluorescent lights in my basement and garage. They’re T12. I didn’t know that I could replace them with LEDs. I thought it was a big project to do that like removing the ballast and rewiring etc or do they now have bulbs that just slip in to the fixture without all that extra work?

[@ScoutCrafter]

Hi Frank- They make two kinds- one you just replace the bulbs with new ones however that uses your existing ballast and many times those are a problem- The second type you open the fixture and cut the wires to the ballast and splice them to the power cord- Very simple diagrams showing how on the box- The bulbs simply run off house voltage. 😃👍

[@danieldumaine6139]

Another great video. Those old ballasts were always fascinating, looking at the sparks in the hole. Now I know my T designations.

[@beerdrinker6452]

You are the best votech teacher on KZbin.

[@Chevyv8man1]

Hey John, The shop that I retired from was changing over to LED lights and was changing all their light bulbs. They had hundreds of them and was going to throw them out so I asked them if I could have some and so I've got a box of 50 in my garage so I'm setup for a while now. Frees for me. lol

[@ScoutCrafter]

One day Fluorescent bulbs will be old school cool again like rotary telephones and manual can openers! You got a great score! 😃👍

[@edwardmartin3069]

The lights that were installed in my basement when we moved here in 1990 were commercial, 8-foot fluorescents with individual switches on the end of each fixture. Over the years several have slowly given up the ghost. The fixtures are still up there but are no longer used. I have several sets of new bulbs for them, but each has its own problems. One works, but has a very loud hum - almost a buzzing sound. Another also works, but if you touch the metal fixture you get a sharp tingle, so there is some kind of short inside. The rest have bad ballasts. I have installed many new fixtures to replace them. The first round of new shop lights have stopped working due to bad bulbs or ballasts (mostly ballasts) and have been replaced by LED units.

[@ScoutCrafter]

Yeah those big 8’ fixtures were great but over time the ballasts can wear out. You don’t see many large fixtures today. 😃👍

[@jimjohnston7688]

John, I’ve noticed some videos showing how to convert the fluorescent fixtures to LEDs. Is this something you have tried or recommend?

[@ScoutCrafter]

Jim- Absolutely- fluorescent bulbs are expensive and ballast tend to go so it pays to convert to LEDs or just buy new LED fixtures. 😃👍

[@alexstools]

I refuse to think about what happens to my hobbies when I'm out😅

[@ScoutCrafter]

Me too! 🫣😂👍

[@Ricopolico]

My pal, The Tube Guru, would do you know what for those slides. He collects them. Usually he has no idea who took the image. He even has a freezer in his basement filled with slide film for future use. He's already paying through the nose for processing. I wonder what he's going to do when processing creeps up to 1K$/roll.

[@ScoutCrafter]

I was one of the last guys shooting film in my area. It did get prohibitively expensive and with the advent of the smart phone I just gave up! 😂👍

[@Dalesworkshop]

I am replacing all my fixtures with LED. All the florescent bulbs burned out and the bulbs were too expensive to replace with new ones.

[@ScoutCrafter]

Smart- It doesn’t pay to use fluorescent anything today. LEDs are cheaper more efficient, and are not affected by the cold. 😃👍

[@garyjones2582]

As i was growing up, everything was candle power.. and then some idiot decides that wasn't good enough and decided to change it to Lumens.. Same thing with engines, for 50 years it was ft. lbs. of torque and then some moron decided to change it to lb feet of torque... Sounds stupid.. Oh well they just won't leave anything alone.. That was sad about that guy's photo albums.. i was into photography and had taken pictures everywhere that I was stationed in the military.. Well to make a long story short, they all disappeared and I have none.. S.C. thx for bringing us along and sharing the information about the florescent bulbs.. Take care and see you Monday...

[@ScoutCrafter]

Candle power made so much more sense to me. What the hell is a lumen? 😂. Next they will want us to go to metric after I finally know what size 5/8 is. Not me! 😂👍

[@johnhannon]

I replaced the 4 fluorescents in my garage with LED types about a year and a half ago. I have since had two fail completely. The nice thing about them is that you can connect one to another in a chain. They are certainly brighter but I am not sure if they last longer.

[@ScoutCrafter]

John- There was a big problem with some Chinese manufacturers selling inferior equipment. Even regular light bulbs! They were so bad even the Chinese government cracked down on them! Lots of inferior stuff out there still. 😃👍

[@joeheilm]

The electricians at work built a pneumatic light bulb launcher....lol it is funny and scary watching a florescent bulb hit a brick wall at mach 1. They launched a bulb into the air...I think it went into orbit. Who says you can't have fun at work 😂.

[@ScoutCrafter]

Imagine when that bulb landed 1/2 a mile away! 🫣😂👍

[@larryborkstrom3580]

Good info on florescent lights

[@rolfdabrowski8871]

Lets us hear about the state Pavilion

[@John..18]

We don't have the poor man's flea market here in England,, we aren't allowed to put our rubbish on the pavement outside our houses.. Anything not in the wheely bin doesn't get collected,,. We have to take our rubbish to the local council disposal sites,, 😱

[@danieldumaine6139]

It's the same here in Calgary, Alberta. There are three different wheely bins. It's hard to believe that when I was a boy, one of my jobs was burning the garbage.

[@1Barrett50]

Communism sucks.

[@ScoutCrafter]

They are doing that here now! Only bins started last month! 🫣

[@williammcguire3rd]

How do you turn fluorescent bulbs to led.

[@ScoutCrafter]

They sell replacement bulbs. 2 types- 1 you just replace the old with the new using your existing ballast. And 2 you cut the wires to the ballast and attach them to the bulb wires inside the light fixture- simple procedure eliminates the ballast. 😃👍

[@troyb1733]

Cool pictures. So sad no one cares, it happens alot anymore. You need to take a wagon and then send one of us a big prize box every month to a new random winner. Most of us that watch you are tool and cool hoarders(collectors)

[@fabianflores2339]

The ballast boys😂

[@ScoutCrafter]

😂😂😂😂

[@bigpete4227]

No more florescent here in the uk. Mandated into obsolescence.

[@ScoutCrafter]

Pete- It’s coming here too- I think that’s why they fascinate me! 🫣😂👍

[@tomdale1313]

"Snoop" abides, thxs for sharing...

[@lotharfunke8749]

Again a great video.I have replaced my fluorescent s with led except one an 8 footer 4 bulb which I also found. I love that fixture but the ballasts seem to get quite hot around 120 degrees is that normal ?

[@ScoutCrafter]

From what I understand ballasts should be warm to the touch but not excessively hot- in other words you should be able to leave your hand on the ballast without screaming in pain. 🫣😂👍

[@dandecl5843]

Are the LED bulbs a direct replacement or is there modification to the fixtures required? Ty.

[@ScoutCrafter]

They sell direct replacements and ones you disconnect your ballast. The new fixtures are 4 for $40 with bulbs! 😃👍

[@kadmaster]

TGIF!...You are working like dedective... You inspect lamb and You said "That guy had woodworking shop." someone call feds. 😂Slience of the lamps...😂

[@corydriver7634]

Good stuff.

[@josaonline09]

Ya feel that!

[@594bolt]

With fluorescent bulbs in my shop, I could never listen to amplitude modulation unless they were turned off. Switched to light emitting diodes and the signal is clear.

[@ScoutCrafter]

Today there are so many dirty circuits and with broadband and other inexpensive unshielded electronics AM is really under attack!

[@aguycalledlucas]

I always feel like those ballasts consume lots of energy, that’s the main reason why I switch the T-bulbs to LED. It would’ve been interesting to connect it y to the power meter.

[@ScoutCrafter]

You’re right- They are better than incandescents but LED’s are the way to go! 😃👍

[@JohnMurphy-dw6ml]

No matter how important something is it’s eventually garbage!

[@stevesager4032]

I never got to see the twin towers since I was born in 2000

[@markrandall1456]

Photos are fast disappearing. When my step dad passed he had albums and albums of vacation photos. His kids didn’t want them and they weren’t anything that I could relate to. So to the dump they went. The sad part is the historical items photographed at that moment in time are gone. Digital images have ruined the historical information of this generation. The images are lost and deleted into digital hell never to be found. Pictures in the attic-gone.

[@petejandrell4512]

We've got a big storm coming in to the UK tonight. Storm Darragh is going to be a doozy apparently. Thoughts and prayers would be much appreciated. Cheers and stay safe.

[@Dino_Buk]

If you can, go somewhere else where is yellow alert. Or stay in the basement.

[@ScoutCrafter]

I’ve always found the hours before a storm are much worse than the actual storm! Anxiety levels off the chart! All the best… 😃👍

[@robfalcon3404]

It's a bit of bad weather

[@horriblebastard1374]

🙏🙏🙏

[@petejandrell4512]

@@robfalcon3404 That's what Gorden Kaye said!

[@williamcarroll3807]

T12 Ballasts contain PCB's just be careful if you see any staining on the ballast.

[@Reggyontheroad]

Gotcha boom…I’m back

[@ScoutCrafter]

Hope you’re 100%! 😃👍

[@thewise3551]

It's almost criminal throwing those photos away 😢

[@ScoutCrafter]

I know! Believe it or not sometimes my walks are very conflicting! 😃👍

[@tmillsaz]

👍

[@kimbishop4734]

Sorry, I never liked fluorescent fixtures. They were always going out for one reason or another. LED is much more reliable. 😢

[@geraldschrader8511]

I'm not a fan of fluorescent lights. Much prefer LED.

[@ScoutCrafter]

LED’s are the better choice however soon all the fluorescent bulbs will be gone, and I always get a kick out of old Timey stuff. 😂👍