Shop lighting

[chevynut]

I'm going to be looking for lighting for my new 1300 square foot shop addition. The existing 1140 square foot shop has 12 four foot fluorescent fixtures with 4 bulbs each, for a total of 48 bulbs. These are the "normal" 40W fluorescent bulbs that have been around for decades.

Is there a better setup to use now? I have seen some really bright smaller diameter bulbs used. Is there a rule of thumb for how many bulbs or how many watts to use per square foot of floor space to provide good bright lighting? I have 34' x 38' that I need to light. I'm thinking I'll again use 3 rows of 4 fixtures, but would increase that if it made sense.

Any suggestions?

[Rick_L]

I've put a few 8' long twin bulb fixtures in my shop as the 4' ones expire. The bulbs in mine are T12, about 1-1/2" diameter, like most 4' bulbs. Less fixtures, less hassle. Bulbs seem to last longer, but that may just be new ballasts/better bulbs.

But T12 bulbs are going the way of the do-do bird. They are being replaced by T8 bulbs which are about 1" diameter. They take different ballasts and they put out a bit more light. So that's probably the right thing to get if you're buying new. This is part of the "green" deal where they are outlawing 100W incandescent bulbs. But at least in this instance, the replacement is better and it's not terribly more expensive if at all, and you get something for your trouble (for you, not the regulators).

[chevynut]

Thanks for the input Rick. I'm not sure if the 8-footers are the way to go, but that is a consideration. Seems like they'd be a lot harder to handle. I think it's the T8 that I've been seeing...I'll probably go that route. It's what I usually order at Taco Bell too....LOL!

[56-210Sedan]

Laszlo you at least need to stay with the t8 for your area, i know you heat your shop which helps. They do make the t8 and other series in 8ft units with 4/4ft bulbs which may be easier if changing out on a high ceiling. here is a place i am getting some quotes from for my shop, Randy Owen
Office - (425) 806-9200
Cell - (509) 680-3314
www.nwedison.com

, in fact the person i am dealing with which is the vice president to the company is in your state now on a hunting trip. If you want give them a call just have the dimensions of your shop ready and they will put together a package for you. good luck.

[stroker]

Chevynut, I just replaced my shop lites with new 8' 4 bulb T8 fixtures with the electronic ballasts. What a difference they mke. No noise or radio interference. The bulbs are the white daylight and boy are they bright. I only have a 750 sq.ft. shop (that's as large as the city would allow) wish I had space like you. Anyway, I put three rows of two 8'ers five feet apart and one at right angles beneath the roll-up door. It's fantastic !! The fixtures were under $50 apiece, although the bulbs are a bit pricy. The total cost though is worth it. I'll try to get my son to take a picture of the shop lit so you can see the result.

[chevynut]

I went to HD the other day looking for some new fixtures. They have 4 foot T8 lights that fit into suspended ceiling frames, BUT THAT'S ALL THEY CARRY!

I'm a little confused on the brightness stuff too. My current bulbs are 2800 lumens and 40 watt, 4100K temperature color. I see some T8 bulbs that are 6500K color, 35 watts, but only 2300 or so lumens. Why do they look brighter if the lumens are that much lower? I thought the lumens was the actual light output. The 6500K bulbs look whiter and brighter to me.

This is what I have in my old shop now. Oh, and I only have 8 now, not 12, in 2 rows of 4 and 4 bulbs each.

[Maddog]

How high will they be mounted? 8' bulbs are the way to go if your mounting height is higher then 8 feet. Don't buy the low cost "industrial" fixtures as they come with noisy ballasts, unless you don't care about the buzzing. The ballasts have ratings, I don't have the numbers on hand but you can look up the different ratings by class for the quuiet ones. Generally Home Depot etc will onlky have the cheap, noisy ones.

[chevynut]

The height will be almost 11 feet. But I want them recessed. I haven't seen ANY recessed 8 foot fixtures. I bought my fixtures from HD 10 or more years ago, and they're fine. The noise doesn't seem to be a problem and I never notice anything. They have them now with T8 bulbs, but not for recessed mounting between trusses. I plan to check Lowes too.

[chevynut]

Still looking for recessed fluorescent fixtures like in my picture above for the new shop. I looked in Grainger's and Lowes, and all they have also is the troffers for suspended ceilings just like HD.

Now I'm not sure how I installed my lighting...I need to go take a look. I don't recall having any problem finding 2'x4' fixtures that are designed to fit between trusses and have a trim ring. All of them I can find now are too wide to fit and aren't designed for permanent mounting.

Marty, what have you decided to do? My guess is you're going with some suspended fixtures, since I don't think you plan to put a drywalled ceiling in your shop. I don't want those.

[56-210Sedan]

take a look at these links and see if any of them are close to what you are after i did not go through them thoroughly http://www.alibaba.com/showroom/fluo...d-mounted.html http://www.lightolier.com/products/i...=N&CAT_ID=8026 http://hewilliams.com/catalog/?tab=r...)#.ULI-49fRZro http://www.sustainablesupply.com/Lit...70&cagpspn=pla http://www.cooperindustries.com/cont...uminaires.html http://www.homedepot.com/webapp/cata...yc1vZbvmcZ1xr5