Shop light decision: thanks!

[texasjohn]

Update.... I have installed all the flourescent lights in the building ... am exceptionally pleased with the results. Wife thinks it's as bright as day.
Net, all the calculations, bulb selections, etc. worked out just right.

[GaryBDavis]

How about some pics John?

[texasjohn]

OK... will do. Gotta take'em first.

[texasjohn]

Here's the lights. Photo taken at night, thus no light thru skylights, using mobile phone camera.




Photos taken from one end of 40X60 shop, so you see 1 bay and a half. Perimenter of shop has commercial metal rack shelving. I try to have everything on wheels so I can rearrange stuff. A friend provided over 100 plastic 5 gal buckets to put things in. Chain hoist hanging from center. One skylight per side on each bay... gives inside light about the same during day.
Ceiling and walls covered with buble radiant barrier... white inside thus reflects light very well. Ceiling lights intentionally not mounted completely symmetrically but more centered over work areas.

3 switches... one for center line of lights, one for the double row on each side.

[GaryBDavis]

Very nice. I bet using that man lift made it an easy job.

I would post pics of my lights, but I'd have to finish installing them first. I just ordered some scaffolding so I can knock that one out. My shop is 22' high in the middle. I hung the first one using a ladder and said this isn't going to work.

[bones1]

Nice work John.Can you tell us which fixtures and bulbs you used and where you got them.You see,literally,I am at this point in choosing lighting as well.Still trying to decide on which bulbs and fixtures to use.Thanks.

[texasjohn]

bones1, I suspect you saw the photos and quickly wrote your note. By the way, the pictures actually make things look darker than they actually are... the camera I used doesn't do it justice.

The first post in the thread is very explicit about what analysis technique I used ... all the hyperlinks are there.... and exactly which fixtures ultimately I selected and why.... If you have particular additional questions, just PM me and I'll be glad to answer..

[bones1]

Your'e right John,came in on the tail end of the post.Very good information, thanks.

[cj7]

here are some really nice T-5 fixtures for your shop.

2,3,4,and 6 lamp units.

Looks like they sell direct too....

Lightwings LTD - High Performance T5 Highbay lighting fixtures 400 watt HID MH HPS replacement V-wing

[woodlot]

TX JOHN - Thanks for the post. I read the whole thing, but it was a bit confusing for a novice. I'm looking for lights for my pole-barn/shop (36' x 45')(10' ceiling height). I've decided on florescent strip lights, and was thinking 3 banks, using 8' strip lights.

Do you have any tips on what I should be looking for in a shop light fixture or maybe what to avoid?

How about the tubes themselves - what makes a good one?

I was thinking I'd go down to the home store a buy whatever they had on the shelf, but your post makes me think I should do a bit more planning!