Lighting for the pole barn

[hslogger]

Just my two cents regarding T-8 fixtures. I like the light they put out. I upgraded old T-5 lights the last couple years as they began to fail. I have found that the least expensive T-8 lights, and the middle of the road T-8 Lights all have CRAP ballasts the might work wellf or a while. They will kill your FM radio reception. If you want nice T-8 lights and want to listen to your boom box, you gotta go to an electrical supply house and indicate you want the best. To reinforce what I say, google flourescent lights and FM Radio reception.

 

[Jasonc87]

Just for curiosity I went after some basic specs and didn't look real hard or do many comparisons..

A dual 8 foot T8 fixture requires approx. 75 watts to continually run two 8 ft 32 watt bulbs, with 5800 lumens light output. 77.3 lumens per watt.

A comparable 70 watt HPS averages 4500 lumen output. 64.2 lumens per watt.

A double ended 150 watt halogen makes 2400 lumens output. 16 lumens per watt.

A 150 watt LED highbay light claims 11,200 lumens. 74.6 lumens per watt.

A 250 watt metal halide claims 23,800 lumens. 95.2 lumens per watt.

Wow. Didn't think that was gonna turn out like that.

 

[Midniteoyl]

Yep... But , As far as the halogens, what they dont put out in light, they put out in heat. Thus the reason for their winter use :thumbsup:

 

[crowbar032]

Timely thread....was just at Lowe's looking to do the same thing. Lowe's had LED floodlights that were designed to be put on a switch for $49.99. I forget the exact height, but the light radius was 13'. A 4' flourescent fixture was $25 and then you had to buy the bulbs, not to mention the fact that they don't work for crap when it's cold. I'm going to get one of the LED floodlights and install it, then make the final decision on what fixtures to finish out the barn.

 

[radioman]

FYI .. when I built my garage add on in back, I went out and bought the cheapest 4 ft shop lights I could buy from lowes. They really are awful in the cold weather here in rochester area. I then needed to replace my old garage lights and add more for better lighting so I went back to lowes and looked at the package and bought the ones that cost almost twice as much that says cold start fixture. They do work in the middle of winter unheated garage. So from now on, I am buying those that says cold start capable.

 

[rustyshakelford]

What do y'all consider is cold? Like 40-50? That seems to be our lows in the winter but don't know if that will require the cold start feature?

Brett

 

[Midniteoyl]

0


....

 

[Jasonc87]

Most cold start fixtures have a rating like will start to -10 or 0 or whatever their lowest rated temp is..

 

[sparc]

How about some solar panels, and controller, and some storage batteries and using them to run LED lights.
No fuel to tote, no fuel storage issues/worries, no bulb changing, no cold start issues with a generator, no generator noise at 9PM or 6AM.

Later on you could expand the solar array and tie it in to the rest of your system when you do get electric run out to the building.

 

[bigtiller]

Just my two cents regarding T-8 fixtures. I like the light they put out. I upgraded old T-5 lights the last couple years as they began to fail. I have found that the least expensive T-8 lights, and the middle of the road T-8 Lights all have CRAP ballasts the might work wellf or a while. They will kill your FM radio reception. If you want nice T-8 lights and want to listen to your boom box, you gotta go to an electrical supply house and indicate you want the best. To reinforce what I say, google flourescent lights and FM Radio reception.

Yep, I agree with all of that!

My electrician put in 8 ft. T8's that came from his supply store over 15 years ago in my heated garage. Of the 10 fixtures, one had a ballast problem a few months later and that was fixed under warranty. These lights weren't cheap but they all still have the original bulbs in them so that brings the price down some.