Shop lighting

[Spook50]

Fairly soon I'm having the electric company come out to run a 100A circuit directly from the meter to my shop, and once they do I'm pulling the drywall off the walls to rewire it and redo the lighting at the same time. Right now it's got tube fluorescent fixtures in place with T12 tubes. Initially I was just thinking I might replace them with new fixtures using T8 tubes evenly placed with a couple others mounted right above work areas (benches, tables, etc.). But before I commit to anything I'm just curious what some of you guys have done for lighting in your shops. Just trolling for ideas here more than anything.

 

[LandCruiserPhil]

IF your ceiling is 10' or less fluorescent is still the best bang for the buck.

July 2010 is the cutoff date to import T-12 magnetic ballast. Distributors can sell inventory past the import date but look for prices to rise.
July 2012 T-10 & T-12 lamps will be leaving the market area except for a few specialty lamps. The remaining stock of these discontinued lamps will see steep price increase.

With that said I would change all your fluorescents to T-8 with electronic ballast now rather then later. Instant start, longer life, and better efficiency

 

[Spook50]

IF your ceiling is 10' or less fluorescent is still the best bang for the buck.

July 2010 is the cutoff date to import T-12 magnetic ballast. Distributors can sell inventory past the import date but look for prices to rise.
July 2012 T-10 & T-12 lamps will be leaving the market area except for a few specialty lamps. The remaining stock of these discontinued lamps will see steep price increase.

With that said I would change all your fluorescents to T-8 with electronic ballast now rather then later. Instant start, longer life, and better efficiency

If I stuck with tube style florescent fixtures I'd definitely lose the T12 ones and go with T8 type, for the exact reasons you mentioned (though I didn't know about the cutoff dates).

Was considering six or eight of these if I go that route
Shop Utilitech 48" 2-Light Utility Fluorescent Shoplight at Lowes.com

Though I'd mount them directly to the joists rather than use the chains. Not sure whether I'd want to retain the cords or hardwire them in either.

 

[LAMBCRUSHER]

check out the T5 family of flo lights.....Ask Calstyl

 

[Trollhole]

I've got 6 t-12 8ft fixtures in my shop. Cheap and easy. Was unaware of the t-12 change.

 

[hammer1]

T5 fitures are gaining im use, but mostly as replacements for HIG lighting in high ceilings.
T8 are the way to go. I have 2 light industials with shades all over my shop. one thing to keep in mind is if you have dirty electricity coming in, like flucuations in voltage, the electronic ballasts with crap out.

 

[Spook50]

T5 fitures are gaining im use, but mostly as replacements for HIG lighting in high ceilings.
T8 are the way to go. I have 2 light industials with shades all over my shop. one thing to keep in mind is if you have dirty electricity coming in, like flucuations in voltage, the electronic ballasts with crap out.

Yeah I think that's what's killed the fixtures that are in there now. They don't look old, but new bulbs won't light up for s*** in them (doubled checked first to make sure I got the right wattage, which I did) so I figure the ballasts (new enough to be solid state) are toast. So at this point I'm leaning towards going with all dual tube T8 fixtures, and I'm looking to see if there's some sort of filter I can put in either the line feeding the shop (100A 240V coming from the meter), or something I can put in the lighting circuit itself.

After some searching around, I found this: http://www.fruitridgetools.com/storefrontprofiles/DeluxeSFItemDetail.aspx?sfid=136763&i=13220181&c=0
Think this would be suitable for putting on the lighting circuit after the switch to protect the ballasts?

 

[Dirtsquirt]

rip out the sheet rock?

I would run EMT around the shop before ripped out sheet rock.

Thats just me cause I hate doing sheet rock and rather suck at it.

T8 are the appropriate lite for you application. I recommend
getting Tubes that are above 5000k in the color range.
These are considered daylight. I changed my over in my shop it is no longer a dungeon.

 

[Spook50]

I would run EMT around the shop before ripped out sheet rock.

Thats just me cause I hate doing sheet rock and rather suck at it.

T8 are the appropriate lite for you application. I recommend
getting Tubes that are above 5000k in the color range.
These are considered daylight. I changed my over in my shop it is no longer a dungeon.

There's no ceiling sheetrock, but walls yes. EMT was a consideration, but the wiring in the walls was very halfassed and I'd much rather rip it out completely and do it right the first time. I've got the circuits all planned out. At this point I just need to measure, acquire supplies, and dive into it. Gonna be a big project, but fortunately there's nothing pushed up against the walls yet as far as my equipment, and I can do the wiring in segments.

The lighting circuit will come first since that'll be easy and I can have the lights on while I run new wire before connecting it to the service panel.

 

[D'Animal]

I have 8 T-8 Hi Output w electronic ballasts in my shed. They work Great.

The electrician talked me into them instead of the single bulb sodium versions that take awhile to warm up. I have not been disappointed.

 

[toy4xfun]

i have 10, 4 tube lights + 4, 2 tube lights in my 24x24 garage, all have been retrofitted to t-8 tubes, and there is a huge difference in the light output!

 

[calstyl2]

Dont screw around with the old s***................
T-5 High output.........four bulb fixture, the place is bright, thats all Im gonna say.

 

[Spook50]

Dont screw around with the old s***................
T-5 High output.........four bulb fixture, the place is bright, thats all Im gonna say.

Jebus.

What tube wattage are you using?

 

[LandCruiserPhil]

Even with T5 lamps producing ~50% more light given the same length T8 lamp, the best Lumens per dollar still comes from T8 lamps and fixtures.

If used for growing the T5 wins hands down. More Lumen output in the same size fixture and cooler then HID.

 

[bkfj40]

I am using these in my garage....

Amazon.com: Eiko 81180 - SP105/50/MED Twist Screw Base Compact Fluorescent Light Bulb: Home Improvement

Note that they screw into a standard base, come on instantly, and are relatively cheap...mission accomplished.

 

[calstyl2]

Even with T5 lamps producing ~50% more light given the same length T8 lamp, the best Lumens per dollar still comes from T8 lamps and fixtures.

If used for growing the T5 wins hands down. More Lumen output in the same size fixture and cooler then HID.

Those fixtures were 127$ each with bulbs.........

 

[LandCruiserPhil]

Those fixtures were 127$ each with bulbs.........

For comparison - You can purchase at retail a 2 tube 4 foot T8 fixture with a 3 sided covered lens with lamps for ~$25

Dont interrupt my posting wrong. T5 are great fixtures Im just presenting options for the DIY guy for general lighting needs where cost and availablity is an issue.

 

[haystax]

We went with T5 Lithonia I-Beam 6 bulb fixtures in our shop and can't believe we ever got along without them. They were around $150 per fixture and haven't had any issues even in the middle of winter they come on pretty quickly.

 

[-Spike-]

Dont interrupt my posting wrong...

Uh, interpret? Why would we do such a thing?

 

[LandCruiserPhil]

Uh, interpret? Why would we do such a thing?

spell check without it, ebonics. OK for you but other could struggle

BTW-You need a job more then me.