New Shop Lights?

[woodlandfarms]

Read this and post your I'm sorry I was wrong post. New light bulb rules go into effect Saturday - KansasCity.com

Uhmmmm We were talking T4 and T8. So even if the OP wanted to, he probably could not buy a T12 fixture. So a partial I am sorry. As I haven't seen a T12 in years I didn't think about it.

As for the government bend we suddenly got on, I guess I would ask those who are bummed about this what is better, continue on the foreign fuel diet or try and get self sufficient? I know it is more complicated than one light bulb, but it is a start.... But lets get back to the OP's question...

IMO, go with Kenny G... Its how I did it and would do it again until LED's get more reasonable in price (but man they are getting more reasonable, now if they could just get a bit brighter).

 

[Deere Dude]

Personally I like good old fashioned incandescent light bulbs. They are instant, bright, and fixtures and bulbs are cheap. If some years down the road the bulbs get banned, then I would put some quick-start 4' florescent fixtures in, but this works now. I had fluorescent fixtures in my old place and it seemed they were a nightmare to keep going and had a slow start up. I wanted something that will light it up very quickly for the times I have to zip in for a moment just to get something without having to wait to be able to see. I use 3 bulbs spaced with-wise and every 8' lengthwise and I use 100 watt bulbs. My pole shed is 36 x 54'. They are no problems in the winter and last a long time.

 

[srs]

Here is how I did my ceiling. I bought cheap 4' long plug in lights from Home Depot. Lights are set in rows and each row is controlled by a switch. I have 4 rows of lights. After 5+ years I've only replaced one bulb that started to flicker. I did purchase the electronic ballast (I think that is what they are called) so that in cold weather there is no buzzing noise. Cheap and so far so good!

 

[wedge40]

How high are your ceilings in your 40 x 40 area?

Celing is 12' and right now it's open above because I haven't finished the barn yet. I do plan on putting white metal siding up there.. After that I'm sure I'll need sun glasses when the lights are on. :laughing:

Wedge

 

[woodlandfarms]

I am going to fully redact my apology on the T-12 issue. We use a lot of them in my business (Check out Keno Flo). I contacted our vendor and found out that the T-12 is not being discontinued. You can still buy it, but the bulbs are new in design and are costly. A ballast change is recommended but not required. Yes, I do agree it sucks if you just put up a bunch of T-12s cause you got them on sale somewhere.

And before we get on a liberal bash on this, this law was started in 1992 under the Bush V1 administration. It was then strengthened under Bush V2.

 

[KennyG]

Personally I like good old fashioned incandescent light bulbs. They are instant, bright, and fixtures and bulbs are cheap. If some years down the road the bulbs get banned, then I would put some quick-start 4' florescent fixtures in, but this works now. I had fluorescent fixtures in my old place and it seemed they were a nightmare to keep going and had a slow start up.

That's one of the reasons that the change to T-8 and T-5 is pretty much a win-win situation. Compared to the old lights, the new ones start quickly, even in cold weather, make no noise and seem to last forever. Anyone using the old T-12s should try a newer fixture, just to see how much better they are.

 

[wedge40]

That's one of the reasons that the change to T-8 and T-5 is pretty much a win-win situation. Compared to the old lights, the new ones start quickly, even in cold weather, make no noise and seem to last forever. Anyone using the old T-12s should try a newer fixture, just to see how much better they are.

I was impressed with how quickly mine would start in the cold weather, what little we had this winter. Maybe not instant like incandecent bulb, but within 2-3 seconds. Not sure what you're trying to do, but I can wait those couple of seconds or I'm usually walking accross the room during that time.

Wedge

 

[monteu]

thanks for all your ideas. They have been helpful

 

[jmc]

KennyG's advice is exactly what an architect told me years ago about affordable shop lighting.

That said, my last barn project (36'x53x14) wasn't going to be used much at night so I just installed 4 inexpensive 500 watt halogen floods for the occasional use. With only 4 fixtures to wire, it was a lot easier. My only fear is forgetting to turn them off and having 2000 watts blazing away until the next time I go out there!

Also, if what you called machine work is stationary equipment that doesn't require much head room, like a lathe, dropping the light fixture down from 12 feet to 6 feet will theoretically give you 4 times the light intensity but only over 1/4 the area.

 

[newbury]

Do to goverment restrictions the 4ft fluorescents are no longer made.

You had me concerned there for a while.

Read this and post your I'm sorry I was wrong post. New light bulb rules go into effect Saturday - KansasCity.com

When I read that link they are only phasing out the T-12's - not 4 foot flourescents.

Businesses and homes that want to keep fluorescent lighting will have to switch their T12s to the new T8 tubes, which are skinnier and use less energy. They will have to install new fixtures to handle the T8s or replace the transformers in the fixtures. The transformers, which regulate the energy going into the bulb, are called ballasts.

Read more here: New light bulb rules go into effect Saturday - KansasCity.com