High Bay Fluorescent for Arena

Chilly807 · Oct 28, 2011

Late posting, but these are the ones we installed in our new barn, very nice light.

Sean

jimgerken · Oct 28, 2011

When you guys recommend T8 for 12 foot and T5 for 15 feet and higher, are you saying the T5 HAVE to be mounted higher since they are so crazy bright? I have a 12 foot white ceiling and white walls and want to evenly light the space for automotive work and general fabrication, with the smallest number of fixtures and with an eye on electrical efficiency. The temp will run as low as 45 in winter. Sometimes when I am not working in this building, but just popping in to get something or open up and get out the tractor, I might want to hit a seperate switch for some reduced output incandescent type fixtures, so I am thinking about sprinkling in a few of these too (see attached pic of pendant barn light):

Anybody know a less expensive place to buy light fixtures???

grsthegreat · Oct 28, 2011

The recommend 15 feet for T5, but i have one about 10' above my work bench...its like working in sunshine. I love it. I can get 4 lamp t5 High Output (4 x 54 watt lamps) fixtures for about $119 including lamps. Not sure what your area gets for them. I just dont know how a T5 will work at 12'. You might have to install one and then judge the light output. then you could figure out how many youll need and the spacing. You could always wire one of them to a separate switch for small amt of light to just pop in.

Chilly807 · Oct 30, 2011

The T8's are good at 9 feet, depending of course on how many you install. We went a bit heavy on light density, based on my premise that you really can't have too much light! We don't need sunglasses in the barn, so it must be about right. The clear shades and built in reflectors make a huge difference in light output.

I don't know how well they'd do at 12 feet, a lot depends on wall colouring, reflectivity, etc. It might be cheaper in the long run to go with T5's and a lower density.

Sean

BMod · Oct 30, 2011

t5-t8 height is mostly based on the type of fixture, not so much the type of lamp. t5 lamps are used in office spaces with 8' ceiling heights, and to contrast that, I have used t8's in high bay fixtures in ceilings about 30' tall. I think t8 high bay fixtures are the best thing to come out in the last 10 years, they are cheap and save energy. Now for a cold use climate the same fixture in t5 is the way to go, as t5's give better light in cold temps. One bad thing with t5's in the added cost of lamps, lamps are about twice the price of t8's, that can add up quickly in a big building...........

BMod · Oct 30, 2011

grsthegreat said:
Thats about the same cost as i can get from my supply house, but these are T8 lights, and i can get T5 fixtures for about $10/ each more than this price. Below say 15 feet these would do OK, above 15' id use the T5 fixtures.

t8 = 32 watt lamps
t5 = 54 watt lights

if you look at Home Depot lighting in their store, they have for the most part replaced their HID metal Halide lighting with T5 light fixtures which have an on-board switchable light ballast that can cut the output in half during daylight hours. I have been told that these fixtures can pay for themselves in as little as 2-3 years due to the fact that there running 24/7. After 2 years theres a net savings to the store over what they would have paid with the metal halide fixtures. Again this is what the Public utility here in Idaho have determined.

Watch out, not all t5's are 54 watt, some are only 28 watt I believe. I was on a job that had both wattage's of t5 lamps, and the guys mixed them up in multiple fixtures through out the job, PS the printing on the lamps is small and hard to read too.........

grsthegreat · Oct 30, 2011

BMod said:
Watch out, not all t5's are 54 watt, some are only 28 watt I believe. I was on a job that had both wattage's of t5 lamps, and the guys mixed them up in multiple fixtures trough out the job, PS the printing on the lamps is small and hard to read too.........

yup. i should have stated T5HO = 54 watts. high output.

horsinaround · Oct 31, 2011

BMod said:
t5-t8 height is mostly based on the type of fixture, not so much the type of lamp. t5 lamps are used in office spaces with 8' ceiling heights, and to contrast that, I have used t8's in high bay fixtures in ceilings about 30' tall. I think t8 high bay fixtures are the best thing to come out in the last 10 years, they are cheap and save energy. Now for a cold use climate the same fixture in t5 is the way to go, as t5's give better light in cold temps. One bad thing with t5's in the added cost of lamps, lamps are about twice the price of t8's, that can add up quickly in a big building...........

GE makes a ballast for T8's that will light down to -22F.

horsinaround · Oct 31, 2011

Chilly807 said:
The T8's are good at 9 feet, depending of course on how many you install. We went a bit heavy on light density, based on my premise that you really can't have too much light! We don't need sunglasses in the barn, so it must be about right. The clear shades and built in reflectors make a huge difference in light output.

I don't know how well they'd do at 12 feet, a lot depends on wall colouring, reflectivity, etc. It might be cheaper in the long run to go with T5's and a lower density.

Sean

I have T8's in a high bay at 18 feet and they are great. It all depends on how the reflector is designed. Mine are specifically high bay fixtures with mirror finish reflectors, designed for high bay.

SteaveAustin · Jan 1, 2020

Hello, I am just about to the lighting stage of my pole barn. it is a 40x48x16 barn, I will be using it for an automotive shop. I know these questions have been beaten to death but I would like some recommendations on good brands of lights, spacing and anything else anyone could share, Thank you!!