OT/Shop Lighting

Anonymous-0 · Jun 29, 2009

I have three out buildings one workshop,one for Tractor,and One for lawnmowers.I have Walmart Shoplights in all of them but I need somthing a little better.Floresent bulbs and starters are just not dependable espically in cold weather.What do you guys use, have they served you well, are they expensive and where do you get them. R.M. IN AL

omahagreg · Jun 29, 2009

When I built my garage in 2005, I considered having 2 lighting circuits, because the fluorescents worked so poorly in the cold. My electrician said that was 'crazy', and installed high output fluorescents. They are bright as the sun, instantly, even in the cold Nebraska winters! Greg

MarkB_MI · Jun 29, 2009

I use the T8 fixtures from Home Depot (Lithonia brand). The electronic ballasts are supposed to be good down to zero degrees F. I back them up with halogens, although the T8s will start in cold weather, they take a little time to warm up.

kyhayman · Jun 29, 2009

I got tired of cold ballasts and failed flourescent tubes from grinding sparks. When I re-did my shop lighting I went with regular old incadescent bulbs. The light is warmer and brighter. In a 36X60 shop I've got 18-100 watt bulbs. They seem to do a good job and no trouble to replace. I usually get a 36 pack at Sams Club, lasts me a couple of years.

Fawteen · Jun 30, 2009

What omahagreg said.

GOOD electronic ballast flourescents are hard to beat. MUCH cleaner light than incandescents.

Sodium, Metal Halide, Mercury Vapor and similar bulbs give out a lot of light but are slow to start, expensive to buy (bulbs over $40 each alone...) and expensive to run.

Factory where I work has literally hundreds of Sodium and MH lights, and corporate is working on a plan to replace them all with flourescents for the reasons listed above.

Anonymous-0 · Jun 30, 2009

I'm cheap and like to see.. Can buy a 3ft single tube florescent fixture w/ bulb for about 3 bucks when the big box stores have their sale. Can put up a tube that pulls 18 watts and get the light of a bunch of screw in bulbs.
And I like the light much better. Another plus is, if you are a crabby person in winter (not a joke), you can use green house lights and help improve your mood.

Dave

Paul from MI · Jun 30, 2009

I use three lighting circuits. One with four incandescent bulbs plenty of light just for walking around. Instant on & cheap to install. Two other circuits are fluorescents. They are a little slow in the winter but it's not a problem. Shop is 24 x 32.
Paul

Bud in FLA · Jun 30, 2009

Will changing to a new electronic ballast fix the problem? I have six 8 foot 2 bulb T12 lights in my shop. Thanks!

GordoSD · Jun 30, 2009

I built my shop 10 years ago. 12 foot white tin ceiling. Installed 12 high output cold weather florescents fixtures. Each has 2 8 foot bulbs. Haave replaced one bulb. They are instant on and extremely bright.
Installed on two circuits to divide shop in half. Remeber to install them in rows offset from the vehicle parking spots. In other words you want a fixture on each SIDE of that space, not one directly over it.

johndeerefan · Jun 30, 2009

I built a 30x40 garage in 2003 with 12' ceiling height and I installed 9 8' cold start florescent lights spaced evenly. You can get them at Lowes for $50 each. Well worth the extra money. I can go into the garage in below zero weather and the lights instantly come on. Having 9 of them really lights it up too. Almost blinding... I have since moved and built another 30x40 with a lean to shed on the back. I will install the same lighting scheme on the interior and install screw in incandescent lights in the shed portion. I very seldom work in the shed portion after dark. Take my advice...spend the $50 and buy the cold start lighting from Lowes, you won't regret it.

Fawteen · Jun 30, 2009

It should, yes. I'd have to do a little research to get a specific recommendation. You may also have to change bulbs.

cjk · Jul 3, 2009

I have had no trouble with 8' fluorescent lights in our shed in the cold here in Wi. They arent even the fancy cold start ones.

I think they were $50 per fixture at Menards.

OT/Shop Lighting

Anonymous-0

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omahagreg

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MarkB_MI

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kyhayman

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Fawteen

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Anonymous-0

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Paul from MI

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Bud in FLA

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GordoSD

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johndeerefan

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Fawteen

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cjk

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