Best Garage Lighting
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WilliamTO-35
Silver Member
I tried my first T-8 two lamp 4 foot fixture last year. I bought it from Wally World ( under $20) and it's marked Lights America ( and made in USA). It started well in cold temperatures, and the 32 watt bulbs gave off a nice amount of light. Sadly, the electronic ballast soon started acting up , and the light went out after about 20 minutes. If I unplugged the fixture and plugged it back in, the light would work for another 20 minutes, and then go out again. I got tired of that, and replaced the fixture with an older T-12 fixture. I've seen some other complaints about that brand fixture, and I hope the problem has been solved by now. I've also found that, whether it's tube style or compact fluorescent bulbs, the color temperature is just as important as the wattage in providing the lighting that appeals to you. Exact color temperatures, such as 3000K, are being replaced lately by descriptions such as " soft" or "daylight" , which makes selecting bulbs more confusing. I've heard the government is to blame. There are other factors such as color rendering ability that can make a difference. Incidently, the terms T-12 and T-8 and T-5 refer to the diameter of the tube in eighths of an inch. Hence, a T-8 tube is nominally one inch in diameter, and the older T-12 is an inch and a half in diameter.
grsthegreat
Super Star Member
you get what you pay for.......a $20.00 t8 fixture cant be good. i pay over $50.00 wholesale for a good lithonia light fixture. have been installing them for years, and i cant remember a single call back about the fixture failing.
rmully
Gold Member
I would put your light on 2 switches (more if needed) so that you can have good overall lighting in the shop but when you need to work flip on the other lights and have plenty. I did my shop like this and it has been so handy because I can leave some light on and see well but have 3-4 times the light when working.
ultrarunner
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I have a hospital full of Lithonia T8 installed December 1995.
I would say they are quality fixtures... even then, I replace 6 to 8 ballasts a month.
Some fixtures have been on 24/7 since day one and others are seldom used... all depends on location.
Use only GE bulbs because they have the lighting contract... better bulbs for high profile areas and less expensive for storage closets and attic areas.
I would say they are quality fixtures... even then, I replace 6 to 8 ballasts a month.
Some fixtures have been on 24/7 since day one and others are seldom used... all depends on location.
Use only GE bulbs because they have the lighting contract... better bulbs for high profile areas and less expensive for storage closets and attic areas.
rvaitor
Platinum Member
Excellent suggestion.
boggen
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*rubs chin*
to be honest. i end up 50% of the time near walls of the shed. either to store stuff or to work on something. while florescent lights are good. i have opted for regular metal box light fixtures with incandescent bulb plats that go right over the top of the metal eletrical box.
i will end up having 3 switches. one switch to control one side of lights down the wall. another switch for the other side going down the wall. then another switch for some middle lights.
while the electrical metal boxes and incandescent, i could of used florescent lights. but i tend to go into the shed. and grab something off of a shelf. say load up some tools in a couple 5 gallon bucket. then i am done ready to turn off lights and lock things up again. and weighting for florescent lights to be bright enough to see clearly was not an option.
i also find myself in situations. working up near the walls. say storing some lumber, or cleaning up push mower, wead eater, perhaps greasing something, or perhaps measuring some old lumber lengths to see if it will fit the job i had in mind. and in that shadows are a big thing for me. and not having to drag out some sort of corded clip on light or light on a stand to see what i am doing.
which brings me to looking at the 4 bulb or even 2 bulb florescent light fixtures. there just to much light concentration in a single spot. i prefer to have my lights spread out so i can get better usage out of the lights and help to remove shadows. regardless in what direction i am facing or getting myself into.
a single tube florescent light for me does a better job placed end to end to the next one. vs having 2 bulbs directly behind me and casting a large shadow on what i am trying to work on. granted for the central lights (see diagram). i have double bulbs. but for me these lights are clear up in the peak of the building. and i can get just enough clearance for light to get past rafters for aerial lighting.
to be honest. i end up 50% of the time near walls of the shed. either to store stuff or to work on something. while florescent lights are good. i have opted for regular metal box light fixtures with incandescent bulb plats that go right over the top of the metal eletrical box.
i will end up having 3 switches. one switch to control one side of lights down the wall. another switch for the other side going down the wall. then another switch for some middle lights.
while the electrical metal boxes and incandescent, i could of used florescent lights. but i tend to go into the shed. and grab something off of a shelf. say load up some tools in a couple 5 gallon bucket. then i am done ready to turn off lights and lock things up again. and weighting for florescent lights to be bright enough to see clearly was not an option.
i also find myself in situations. working up near the walls. say storing some lumber, or cleaning up push mower, wead eater, perhaps greasing something, or perhaps measuring some old lumber lengths to see if it will fit the job i had in mind. and in that shadows are a big thing for me. and not having to drag out some sort of corded clip on light or light on a stand to see what i am doing.
which brings me to looking at the 4 bulb or even 2 bulb florescent light fixtures. there just to much light concentration in a single spot. i prefer to have my lights spread out so i can get better usage out of the lights and help to remove shadows. regardless in what direction i am facing or getting myself into.
a single tube florescent light for me does a better job placed end to end to the next one. vs having 2 bulbs directly behind me and casting a large shadow on what i am trying to work on. granted for the central lights (see diagram). i have double bulbs. but for me these lights are clear up in the peak of the building. and i can get just enough clearance for light to get past rafters for aerial lighting.
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moe7404
Guest
you may think this is strange but i check that the bulbs are easy to get. years ago my dad found some odd ball fixtures. now 15 years after hes gone i had to replace 8 fixtures, just so i can get bulbs.
allen in texas
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Hmm, this thread is interesting in that I just finished lighting my barn.
I made my decision on fixtures based on the fact that I got the fixtures free.
All the conduit too and a lot of the boxes. About the only thing I bought were wire nuts and wire and of course bulbs
Because of a wreckout and rebuild of an old grocery store, I came up with about 50 eight foot fictures that took two t8 bulbs and had electronic ballasts. They were throwing them in the trash along with the conduit and everything else out of the store.
My barn is 40x84 (four 21 ft bays) with twelve foot walls. I only lit the two middle bays because one end is a built up room and the other end just doesn't need light.
I mounted two fixtures to each of the roof perlins in both bays for a total of 32 bulbs in each bay, in other words, I have 32 bulbs lighting 840square foot. I split each bay up on two switches for a total of 4 switches to turn them all on.
I wanted to have to put my shades on when I have them all lit up and I came pretty close. With 64 5000k bulbs, it's bright. :thumbsup:
I'l post some pics this afternoon when I get home.
I made my decision on fixtures based on the fact that I got the fixtures free.
All the conduit too and a lot of the boxes. About the only thing I bought were wire nuts and wire and of course bulbs
Because of a wreckout and rebuild of an old grocery store, I came up with about 50 eight foot fictures that took two t8 bulbs and had electronic ballasts. They were throwing them in the trash along with the conduit and everything else out of the store.
My barn is 40x84 (four 21 ft bays) with twelve foot walls. I only lit the two middle bays because one end is a built up room and the other end just doesn't need light.
I mounted two fixtures to each of the roof perlins in both bays for a total of 32 bulbs in each bay, in other words, I have 32 bulbs lighting 840square foot. I split each bay up on two switches for a total of 4 switches to turn them all on.
I wanted to have to put my shades on when I have them all lit up and I came pretty close. With 64 5000k bulbs, it's bright. :thumbsup:
I'l post some pics this afternoon when I get home.
