I have successfully overdriven T8 32watt bulbs for this purpose. This is especially good if you are pressed for space but need lots of light with low heat output. Everyone was saying how hard it was to reuse the plastic ends. But I figured out how to get out the wires to reuse my parts for this project. Once you setup your shoplight with dual electronic ballasts (one for each bulb), you get really bright lights for starting seeds. It voids the warranty on the ballasts, but only if you tell them what you are doing. And it shouldn't harm the ballast if you only overdrive the T8 32wat bult 2X. It is safe if you follow the diagrams and instructions. I used the Advance ICM2P32SC electronic ballast from my local electrical supply store. It is 110/220v. DO NOT try using magnetic ballasts!!! The trick to removing the wires from the end caps is as follows: Cut the wires back 1", then twist the sheathing until you can pull it from the solid copper wire, leaving just the solid copper wire in the end. Then, I used a radio shack 1/32" flat screwdriver (tinyest one in the set) to gently push the tab in enough to release the wire, while pulling the bare wire gently. Do not push too hard, or you will bend the tab inside and render it unusable. The wire should release and you can reuse the plastic end. I had really old T-12 shop lights, which had pcb laden ballasts(magnetic). And they always ran hot. When you replace the single ballast with dual electronic ballasts you overdrive the tubes. The 32Watt T8's were much brighter. The T-12's also work with the new config, and are brighter as well. If you use T12 fixtures for this project, you can alternate between T8 and T12 bulbs for whatever. This shortens the tubes life span, but tubes are cheap enough. My electrical supply store had the ballasts at 15.00 each, and tubes were only a couple of bucks each (T8). For under 100.00, I now have 3 flourescent fixtures, using 6 tubes, probably equivalent to a 250watt hps light, with far less heat. I have tons of T-12 bulbs leftover, so I'll overdrive them till I burn through them. This lighting setup works well for studio photography as well. You can get nice bright lights at the right temperature for film (Yes, I still shoot film, but produce 22megapixel images using a professional film scanner). I'm planning on a light box using these overdriven lamps after the garden is up. Who says you can't use flourescent lights for growing and photography? The tubes get a bit warmer, so it is recommended to run a fan across them during your seed sprouting. Get that headstart on those beefsteak tomatoes and hot peppers!! Here is a link that might be useful: Overdriving Flourescent Lamps

There is actually no problem in running artificial lights together with a good amount of sunlight especially if you are getting good results from it. Although I have not tried doing that with my lettuce plants, I just stick to the MH grow lights since they can closely resemble the rays of the sun and give them 18 hours on and 6 hours off cycle.

That is my question, HU-773166389. My late husband, deceased 9 years now, built a brick will with 6 pillars and wired 2 for lighting along with landscape lighting. Sadly he passed before completing everything. I purchased limestone caps and 120v pillar lighting fixtures a couple of years ago but just located a brick layer pointer who will place the caps. He noticed that the wiring is LV in the pillars. As he revisited it, I recalled the questions that I had when I originally purchased the fixtures. I would want to use LV-LED bulbs anyway. Nothing is wired into the breaker box yet, but to run new wire would be a major investment as there are brick walkways that run from the house to the the where the pillars are. I am hoping from reading this that I will be able to have the electrician wire the 120 fixture directly to the 12 volt landscape wire that ia wired to a transformer and install a 4-10 watt bulb in each. and be done. Just need confirmation.

Yes,I noticed the trim on the shade was little uneven & the back looks like they might have used a cut off cutting board or paintbrush. Probably made out of necessity as in "necessity is the mother of invention" maybe by a college student or young married guy. But I'm sure it served its purpose well. I would have put the trim on straight & on the back used either paneling with smooth side out or at least a piece of felt to enclose the "inside of the workings" Would get dusty in there & attract spiders! TFS Jan