Florescent lighting

heehaw · Oct 2, 2002

i put the elcheapo fixtures from walmart in my garage, unheated area, they had @6ft cords on the fixture; i didn't like the light output, but i had bought the cheapest bulbs too, so i replaced them with the higher output bulbs, and they work great, with no starting problems in the winter.
heehaw

alan40 · Oct 2, 2002

Thanks for all the replies. Now that I'm armed with a little more knowledge I'm ready to go. The lights will be mounted at 10 ft. so I'll proberly still go with 8 ft. lamps. One contracter gave me a quote of $350.00 for six lights.
Well time to fire up the Ford and head for town. Will let you all know how it turns out.

dmccarty · Oct 3, 2002

Alan40,

Have you considered regular socket fixtures and putting in the
new florecent bulbs instead of the long tube fixtures?

We have been replacing our incadesent light bulbs with the
newer florescent bulbs that fit the standard sockets. The
new bulbs turn on instantly and I'm getting a 60-100 watt
light source for 15-27 watts or there abouts. The bulbs
last 5-7 years depending on how much I want to spend. /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

I don't know how they perform in cold weather though since
I started replacing this summer. And for the interior we are
really sold on these new lights. We seem to burn through
our most used light bulbs in 30-60 days. And they are track
lights and a PITA to change. I'll be long gone from the house
before we had to change those lights again. I spent big
dollars on new fixtures that use halogen bulgs in our kitchen.
I'll never make that mistake again. The bulbs burn out
somewhat quickly, are expensive and a PITA to change. I'm
almost certainly going to put in regular bulb fixtures in the
new house and fill them with these new florescent bulbs.

I was pricing the inclosed fixtures and they seemed to run
from 7 to 30 dollars. I never figured out WHY there was such
a price difference. But if you figured 30 dollars per fixture/bulb
combination, the 7 year 100 watt bulbs are $15, you could get
11 fixtures for the price you are talking and not have to worry
about changing the bulbs for at least 7 years.... /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

Another option to think about. /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

Later,
Dan McCarty

cj7 · Oct 3, 2002

I would install all 4' - t-8 lamps with an electronic ballast rated for 0 degree start temperature. Approximatly 8-10 fixtures. Mount then with chain and plug them in to receptical boxes mounted near the fixture. You will get better light out-put over time. HO lamps have a sharp depriciation factor over time. The T-8 lamps are the replacement for the old T-12 system with a magnetic ballast. The Electronics are the most energy effiecient flourescent lighting system at the current time. They cost very little to operate as compared to HO's. I would also recommend a light duty Industrial style fixture as oposed to a basic strip fixture. The Industrial will direct the light down towrd your work. I have installed many of these fixtures at heights up to 15' although they do work best at 10-12'.

btw. Electronic ballasts have a 5 year warenty
lamps have a 2 year warrenty

The HO equipment does not have this warrenty only 2 years on a magnetic ballast.

Good luck.

Let us know what you do.

bmabe · Oct 4, 2002

These are commonly known as ' SlimLine ' lamps - 425 m.a. (I think) - typically instant start vs the more common rapid start type. If needed a cold weather ( O F) ballast can be used.

Barry

bmabe · Oct 4, 2002

Excellent advice. May I also suggest you consider a fixture with a wrap around lens, especially if your mounting height is low enough that you just might nail an exposed lamp with a long handled tool, ladder, screen door or something else you might be moving in the garage (Don't ask).

Barry

alan40 · Oct 4, 2002

Alot of good input here. Went to the local elec. store and priced 4 8 footers, electronic,cold weather and energy efficent bulbs. $328.00 total. About what I thought they would be but going to the big city to see if I can do a little better.
And Barry I won't ask but my son wants a basketball hoop and a dart board in the garage already. He's only six./w3tcompact/icons/shocked.gif /w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif

Anonymous Poster · Oct 5, 2002

I've just finished a new barn/work shop (50X34) w/scissor rafters giving me a platform height through the center of about 14 feet. It's located in E Texas so cold is not a major problem. I know that I want florescent lighting hung through the center core of the building and one fixture over my workbench on one of the long walls. The rafters are on 10 foot centers. Interior wiring has not be done so any suggestions will be greatly appreciated.

ChuckinVA · Oct 5, 2002

Beenthere,

I would bet if it is humming that it is magnetic. Electronic ballast will say on the label that they are electronic. You can replace the magnetic ballast with an electronic one. There are different ones for different lamp types. The most common electronic ballast takes a T8 type lamp.( F32T8- color) Different lamp than the standard F40 type which is a T12 lamp. Be sure you match your lamp with your ballast correctly.

JATO_RaT · Oct 7, 2002

There have been many advances in flourescent lighting. Besides electronic ballast which have been used now for about 15 years, there are also various types of dimable electronic ballast that are very nice for home use. There are even T2 bulbs which are about the diameter of a #2 pencil. The color or temperature of the bulbs is much improved over the old cool white. Years ago I would lnot have used much if any flourescent lighting in my house, now it would be used extensively not only because it is so efficient compared to incandescent and low voltage MR16 type lighting, but because of its long life, ability to be dimmed, color corrected, various shapes and sizes for many uses. Rat...