but they're still constrained to the existing fixture and the light diffuser panel attached to it, whereas the tri-panel version can be aimed at various angles within the room. So I was wondering if the ability to aim the panels at various angles is a plus or not.
The tubes are not expensive regardless of which style you go with compared to the tri-panels.
I find with their diffusers (and more about being high enough) they work fine in the front garage.
The fixture's diffusers / reflectors do little as the LED's face downward in the tube and not all the way around it vs a tube that throws light 360 degrees.
The LED strip lights are another option
and are a bit more expensive but can plug into a standard 120v u-ground socket and sometimes have a remote, can be daisy chained and may be dimmable. They usually hang from the ceiling with the included support chains. No existing fluorescent fixture is required and you can put them wherever you can run an appropriate cord to (best to wire in a plug though.)
I have a couple of the single row models over workbenches and a couple of double row models yet to install in the central areas.
The back garage has the tri panels in standard sockets. It's 24'x44' (4 car) and has 8 tri-panels (2 per bay.) The walls are roughed in only and not painted white.
Because the sockets were there and I didn't need to buy new fluorescent fixtures I gave them a try.
The ability to aim is just ok if you have dark spots but my model only tilts the arms on a single axis.
If the panel doesn't hit the dark area you want by just tipping it up you're SOL as it doesn't rotate.
Other models may rotate too but like I said mine do not.
I find the tri-panels create a hot spot that in a standard height ceiling draws your eyes in a way a longer LED tube does not.
All were brighter than what was in there but I have to admit it's also because there are more lumens coming from the same area and the old tubes were not as bright as when new.
The tubes or strips may be the better option if you want an even distribution of light over a larger area. Part of why stores usually choose tube style lights over single/spot lights for the general space I'd reckon. You can see in the others photos above that the strip lights work well.
Either way though you'll end up with more light than you have with regular tubes or single bulbs.
Two of the tri-panels:
Strip light over workbench (ceiling light was 2 standard LED bulbs in a Y socket - this is what I had before the tri-panels to give me more light)
