My primary shop is 1200+ square feet, with 14' ceiling, and is lit with nine 8' t12 double bulb fluorescent fixtures. I have replaced 3 of the original ballasts over the past couple of years, and now have a couple more that need it, so am wondering if it's time to convert to something else. I have maybe a dozen or so new bulbs in the box, so not worried about tomorrow literally, but am thinking ahead a few years, when I may or may not feel like climbing up there and messing with them. (I keep forgetting to climb up and look at one of the newer ballasts, but maybe they will work with t8's, so maybe just need to change the tombstones on those?) So the question is, what is/are my best option(s)? Convert to t8's? Convert to LED? I'm old school, still thinking that fluorescent is the best light, and that's what most of my buddy's have so nothing to compare to, but maybe some of you get into a few more places and have other ideas. Thank you.

Hello Guys, I am looking for some advice on fixing a low-voltage shower recess light fixture (Nora Lighting NL401), which uses a MR16 GU5.3 halogen bulb. I replaced the bulb but it still would not turn on. I initially thought it is an electrical problem, but when I took a multimeter and measured the voltage at the bi-pin base for the bulb, it shows 11.8v. I tried several bulbs so to make sure that it is not a random burned bulb. Do you guys have any advice on what other problem that might be? I did not think these 12v halogen bulbs requires any ballast. Could it be that even there is a voltage, a malfunctioning transformer is not providing enough current to the bulb? Thanks for any advice. -Telerik