Customer Reviews

Lithonia Lighting SB 232 120 GESB Two-Light T8 Fluorescent Ceiling Fixture, White

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

This light fixture looks great when it's up but it'll take two of you to mount it - at 4' long it's virtually impossible to do alone. The installation was easy enough although when the unit arrives it's packaged in such a way as to be confusing as to what goes where and you're not babied with inconsequential things like an instruction sheet. So take a few moments to put it together while it's on the ground so you know how it will go together once it's up. The diffuser on mine was slightly cracked where it attaches to the light and of course sod's law meant I didn't notice that until the light was up - damage I'm sure caused by the inadequate packing that this light is sent in from the manufacturer (nothing to do with Amazon's packing as Amazon sends it in the OEM box), so rather than take it down and send the whole lot back I gaffer taped it up... which is a shame for a light that other wise looks perfect.

Recommended - but take the time to check it all out before starting to mount it!

I've put three of these light fixtures up all by myself and considering that I am a 56 year old woman who is well below the legal limits of blindness, then I would say just about anyone could do it. Use the top of your head, cushioned of course (a fluffy car buff pad works nicely), as a support when you need both hands free. I have full spectrum bulbs installed and the area below the fixture is just flooded with glorious light. This particular model is quiet and does not buzz like some others do. The very first one of these that I installed lasted about eight years before something died in it. Because it could have been the ballast, the starter, or the power supply I decided to buy a whole new fixture instead of trying one fix after another. I don't like to be wasteful, it's not the "green" thing to do, but I did it anyway. Even though these fixtures are meant for commercial or utility use, I put them in my kitchen and to me they look fine. They are white and my ceilings are white so everything just sort of blends in. I don't spend much time studying my ceilings anyway.

I couldn't be more pleased with this purchase. This fixture was easy to install (you will need someone to help hold it) and relatively inexpensive. I bought two T8 4 foot bulbs at Lowes for $7.00 and this fixture really lights up the area. T8 is the newer energy efficient light fixture, so it will save you money as well.

This light is good looking, manufactured decently well and is pretty easy to install. The materials used are the minimum quality that would do the job(thinnest metal, least reinforcement etc), but that said, they *are* sufficient. The main drawback is the packaging it is shipped in. It arrived in the shelf display packaging and no actual shipping packaging. The box was crushed and edge areas of the lens were cracked off. Some of the metal was bent. It is usable, and nothing that can be seen from the ground but it is a pretty shoddy way to ship.

The light arrived quickly and in good condition. It was easy to install. The low profile is much more appealing than typical shop lights. The light comes on immediately without the flicker of traditional florescent lights. I'm very satisfied.

I can't believe they shipped these fixtures super saver cheap. I put 5 of these in my garage,,, Nice... T8 electronic balast oh did I mention a great price.

The ballast in my old fixture melted. I took one look at the ball of wires coming from it and decided that I didn't want to tackle replacing it. This fixture solved my problem handily at a price little more than the cost of a replacement ballast alone. Installation took about fifteen minutes. No mounting hardware comes with the fixture. In my case, I needed two wood screws to attach it to a plywood soffit.

A word to the wise: pay attention to the wattage of the fluorescent tubes in your fixture. The supported bulb sizes are printed on the ballast. I think the reason my ballast melted was that I had been using two 40-watt bulbs when the maximum supported configuration was two 32-watt bulbs.

These are great: Instant-on, easy to install, hugs my basement's exposed floor joists with the slim-profile. MUCH better than the antique T12's. I don't think they are super cold-temp rated but fine for an inside area.

A nice looking, quiet, light that has two major issues,

First, as others noted, the plastic diffuser can't withstand shipping. After reading the reviews, I gambled and ordered six- only 2 arrived intact, 3 were usable with cracks, 1 was unusable.

Second, the sheet metal fixture has a center raised rib maybe 2-1/2" wide where the mounting holes are. Depending on your J-box, centering the knockout on the J-box, you miss the rafter and will need to use anchors...making installation even more difficult (trying to hold it up against the ceiling, AND parallel to the wall, etc.).

On a trip I was able to go to Home Depot (none near me) and they have the same fixture for about the same price AND replacement diffusers (pricey at about $25)

Amazon is great but this didn't work out.

These are nice, once they are installed, but they are among the most difficult lights I've ever installed. First, the "hinged design" on the diffuser mean you have to bend and tweak the diffuser to get it off. Next you will notice that not only does it not come with bulbs, it comes with absolutely no hardware at all. Not even wire nuts are included. Once you get the T8 Bulb, wire nuts, and screws to mount it with, and wire it up, you realize that the only way to install the wiring shield is to disassemble the connectors for the light-bulbs. Disassembly is easy, but getting the little machine screws to bite to reinstall it is non-trivial once the light is hanging. A nut driver is *highly* recommended for this job as you will drop the screws, and probably lose them, using a flat-head screw driver.

Once up, they are OK, but I'd prefer something that is simpler to install.