Shop lighting

[Carlriddle]

What do you use??

I have a 20 x 40 garage with 4' twin fluorescent fixtures.  Most are older ones with old style ballast.  Have hard time starting in cold, some buzz, and some only 1 bulb works.  I have some of the modern ones too they seem fine.  Looking to change out, thought about standard single screw in bulb fixture w/cfl bulb?  Cheap fixture, good light.  Just looking for other ideas first

[fabr]

In my shop,the best thing I ever did was to convert to screw in CFL's. I use 300watt equivalent with at least 5000K color temperature. I prefer 6000K tho. Pure white light,very few shadows. I use a place called 1000bulbs,online.

[Carlriddle]

In my shop,the best thing I ever did was to convert to screw in CFL's. I use 300watt equivalent with at least 5000K color temperature. I prefer 6000K tho. Pure white light,very few shadows. I use a place called 1000bulbs,online.

I saw them your in some of your buggy pics, thats what got me a thinkin.

[fabr]

They cost approx $30 bux each. Ouch. Best money I've spent though. IIRC,there are 42 of them in my shop. The heat gain from them is almost zero in the summer. With incandescents  however ,that would be 42 x 300 watts=12,600 watts of heat added to the shop in the summer just from lighting.Saves a ton on AC. A side benefit of using a high color temp bulb is not feeling as cooped up. Studies have shown that interior light approaching sunlight make people feel more motivated and happy. For years I used conventional 300 watt incandescent bulbs. It was getting to the point I was depressed after an hour or so in the shop and just wanted to go to the house. I just dreaded going to the shop! I remembered reading some studies about lighting in places like Alaska where it is dark for months at a time and people get depressed. Changing the color temperature of the lighting dramatically improved peoples attitudes. Guess what,it is TRUE. I noticed an immediate improvement and was ,all of a sudden,wanting to get back into the shop for hours at a time. Amazing. I HIGHLY recommend going 6000K+ CFL bulbs.

[millbilly]

What about LED ??

[Carlriddle]

What about LED ??

Definatly put you into "baller" status.  CFL are way cheaper for the lumens, I think?  LED would be probably forever.

[fabr]

Carl is correct. I looked into the big LED lights for our new showroom/office. Still too many $$ for fewer lumens than CFL's. I'm a big fan of LED's but they still have a way to go.

[dsrace]

i have the 8' fluorescent type and 5 of them in a 30x30' which at times is kind of bright for myself. now when it is nice out i usually have the door open and i have plenty of windows as well. i have wondered what the led's would be like but the cost to find out seems a little steep.

[jersdunz]

I know, I know,  old thread...
http://www.samsclub.com/sams/4ft-led-shoplight-shoplight-led/prod16460030.ip

i have 3 of these now and there fantastic...

[Yummi]

I just replaced office lighting today /  Went 4' LED.  Stupid big difference.  $10.00 retrofit works with 80% of ballasts. 

http://www.homedepot.com/p/Philips-4-ft-T8-17-Watt-Daylight-Linear-LED-Light-Bulb-456608/206278132

[Carlriddle]

So maybe I can step into LED baller status!  I worked on a few of the 4' light I have (loose ends) t-12.  Put in the white light 4000k bulbs.  Its better but still have 6 or so I need to get going.  Whoever wired the lights in this garage is same one who wads up Chistmas lights after holidays.  I may rip out and start over.  Damn.

[jersdunz]

How do those tubes work for you? Are they much brighter than the originals?... The fixtures i installed are 4200 lumens.
I have been toying with ordering some of those led tubes 2 per would be half the cost of the one i posted.

[millbilly]

Go with the LEDs, cheaper to have on, good light.

[Yummi]

How do those tubes work for you? Are they much brighter than the originals?... The fixtures i installed are 4200 lumens.
I have been toying with ordering some of those led tubes 2 per would be half the cost of the one i posted.

Much much brighter.  In my office we could have surgery.  We did an experiment in the kitchen with the typical recessed can lights of 60 watts.  Had CFL bulbs, they suck.  Tried the soft white 4k led bulbs and the bright white 5k bulbs side by side.  They 5k bulbs are the bomb for work spaces, etc. 

They only caveat is the ballast.  Like I say 80% work.  If the fixture is older plan on new ballast or fixture. 

[fabr]

I'm putting in 24 led can lights in the new house.