I have 10 foot ceilings and would like something different than the suckass florescent lights I have...I hate them honest!!
any other ideas?
any other ideas?
Shop Lights
- Thread starter bull
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Before I say anything why do you say "suckass florescent lights"? Not bright enough, wrong color...
splitshot
Head cook, Bottle washer, and Peace keeper.
X2 on the f-tubes.
There are a bunch of different variations of low bay fixtures, I have found they put out superior light vs florescents.
Just one example from Graingers, little pricey at $185. 250w metal halide:
There are a bunch of different variations of low bay fixtures, I have found they put out superior light vs florescents.
Just one example from Graingers, little pricey at $185. 250w metal halide:
splitshot
Head cook, Bottle washer, and Peace keeper.
What color works best? The other problem I have is sometimes I have to fire up the woodstove because it's too cold for the ballasts to start.
Opps, my bad, 100 to 150 watts for 10'
250's for 12 to 15'
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I use a lot of Excella lamps best way to describe the color, they work like a sky light. The color is that close to natural light.
http://www.atlantalightbulbs.com/excella.html
Use electronic ballast and you get instant start.
Still an 18" tall fixture in a 10' ceiling. If the goal is for even distrubution of light in a 10' ceiling you are going to be challenged using any vapor light. Also any vapor lamp needs start up time to reach full output and a cool down time for restarts.
splitshot
Head cook, Bottle washer, and Peace keeper.
Hmmm, maybe thats why I have to use the light on the drill press (it's in the corner).
- Thread starter
- #8
I just don't like dealing with the F tubes, ballasts, etc.
I have bought 6 f-tube light fixtures and had to return 2 do to faulty wiring etc..
I just want a quality, low maintanence light
I have bought 6 f-tube light fixtures and had to return 2 do to faulty wiring etc..
I just want a quality, low maintanence light
Then you want fluorescent.
The reality is fluorescent lamps have an average life of ~10,000 hours of life verses ~750 hours from an 100 watt incandesent lamp. The average life of a ballast used every day is ~10 years. Fluorescent lamps produces the least amount of heat of any lamp source except LED. Fluorescent do loose there full output with time as the fluorescent (powder inside) burns up. When the end of a fluorescent becomes blacken its time to replace. With a ceiling height of 10' fluorescent is the best choice.
If you buy Home Depot POS lamps (kitchen & bath, shop) yes you have a good chance of having problems. If you buy POS Home Depot shop fluorescent fixtures (9.99) you WILL have problems. Electronic ballast will provide you with lowest power usage and instant start even in cold weather with no hum or noise when on.
6' florescent are costly and rarely used unless its the only size that will fit. Never buy 6' fixtures it uses the same amount of power as an 8' (6' and 8' ballast are the same)
Faulty wiring...my guess is who ever put the fixtures together did not know and did not alin the black socket with the blue socket as is the red alin with the white.
If you use 4' fixture there is no phasing of the fixture ends.
There are several types of fluorescent lamps that will give you different color output. You can also get the same size lamp in HO (high output), and SVO (super high output) but you will pay a lot more all the way around.
But in the end the choice is yours..you are paying for it.
Then you want fluorescent.
There are several types of fluorescent lamps that will give you different color output. You can also get the same size lamp in HO (high output), and SVO (super high output) but you will pay a lot more all the way around.
But in the end the choice is yours..you are paying for it.
x2
You want to look at CRI and color temp , HO will light a 10 garage very nicely.
I run flourescents in my 10-12' ceiling shop and love them. Low power consumption, and fairly cheap so you can put enough up to light every square inch. Shadows are nonexistent that way too. I'm not overly picky about light color as long as it's whiteish, so I use the cheap bulbs, but like Phil says you can get any color you want, and probably a lot cheaper than retrofitting HPS or some other type. Although, with most other types, you get heat too. Sounds like you could use some.
-Spike
Sounds like you could use some.-Spike
Then you want fluorescent.
There are several types of fluorescent lamps that will give you different color output. You can also get the same size lamp in HO (high output), and SVO (super high output) but you will pay a lot more all the way around.
But in the end the choice is yours..you are paying for it.
I run Very high outputs in my joint with 13foot ceilings . They came out of my old garage .( I think the PO of my house was using the garage for more then parking his car
) If I had to buy them new It would hurt a little (they have come down a bunch though) at the price but damn do they really light the place up nicely 
In a 30x50 I have 8 8foot 2bulb units ( http://www.grainger.com/Grainger/items/4LB75 )The other thing thats nice is they handle the cold very well so I dont have any problems with start up or low output when its below freezing.
Well worth it as you'll never buy another again
I've got a 40x40 shop w/12' ceiling. Initially installed 6 - 8' double fixtures and standard 60 watt tubes (= 720 total watts). The light was acceptable but then I swaped in high output 75 watt flourescents (= 900 total watts) with a different color than the old tubes and the difference was huge. Sure, if its cold they take a few minutes to reach full illumination but I've never had them fail to start like the old tubes would do on occasion.
fj40charles
SILVER Star
That is what I use. Get the electronic ballast.
I have e ballast with flouro and it's fine. Work light on the important areas like lathe and mill help though.
I have 4 8ft cheapo Home Depot dual fluorescent fixtures and the cheapest bulbs I could find. Hanging about 2ft down from a 10ft ceiling. It's bright and cheap. I never turn them off. Just because I wired the switch to an area I cannot get to now. 1 year later they are still burning. No issues.
I run Very high outputs in my joint with 13foot ceilings . They came out of my old garage .( I think the PO of my house was using the garage for more then parking his car
The other thing thats nice is they handle the cold very well so I dont have any problems with start up or low output when its below freezing.
Well worth it as you'll never buy another again
In the specs those say "Max Ambient Temp 95 F" so would they not be recommended for a garage in Florida?
True, but where I live I need something that can handle low temps.(more below 40 then above 90 through the year) In a place where 60deg is "cold" then most reg 8 footers would do fine .
