Shop Garage lighting

[sherpa]

I was wondering if anyone has found a better garage light than the old 8 foot florescent bulbs?
Seems like every month one of my 8 foot bulbs starts blinking or goes out.
Is there a better garage lights available?
Sherpa

 

[murphy1244]

You must have some bad connections cause I've had the same T-12 bulbs for 12 years now.

 

[HarryN]

Interesting....except mine seem to go out after about 6 mouths...

 

[murphy1244]

Interesting....except mine seem to go out after about 6 mouths...

Sounds like bad connections, they should last much longer than that. Are they rapid start?

 

[3v0]

I have been dragging my butt on putting up some used 8 foot florescent fixtures in my shop. 'short term' I have been using a halogen worklight duck taped to the ceiling. It has me thinking just a few halogen fixtures will light the shop with a lot less fixtures and wiring. Work area is 20x40'.

 

[murphy1244]

I have been dragging my butt on putting up some used 8 foot florescent fixtures in my shop. 'short term' I have been using a halogen worklight duck taped to the ceiling. It has me thinking just a few halogen fixtures will light the shop with a lot less fixtures and wiring. Work area is 20x40'.

Then you can heat the barn too:laughing:

 

[grsthegreat]

I have the same t12 high output light fixtures in my shop and barn that were installed 12 years ago. I have never had a single burnt out lamp. Some have darker ends, but all still work.

I think the newer T-8 tandem light fixtures (have 4 - 4' lamps set as 2 x 2 configuration) are far better fixtures, but i cant seem to replace perfectly good light fixtures just for something new. I have a large supply of extra T12 HO lamps in the shop. The manufacturers gave stopped all production of T12 lamps last year, so when the stocks are gone...there gone forever.

The T-8's burn way quieter than the old high output fixtures (which hum pretty loud).

Im an electrician and install lots of different fixtures. usually i install the tandem T-8's and clients are very happy. Very good light output for the $$. If you use 5,000 K or 6,500K lamps, youll get even whiter, brighter light output.

I'm really not impressed with LED lighting options as they stand right now...maybe in a few years.

I have also installed keyless fixtures with 65 watt compact florescent lamps. these have an equivalent 300 watt output. Pros are that its cheap to install and give ok lighting. the cons are they take a few minutes to come fully bright.

hope this helps

 

[murphy1244]

I have the same t12 high output light fixtures in my shop and barn that were installed 12 years ago. I have never had a single burnt out lamp. Some have darker ends, but all still work.

I think the newer T-8 tandem light fixtures (have 4 - 4' lamps set as 2 x 2 configuration) are far better fixtures, but i cant seem to replace perfectly good light fixtures just for something new. I have a large supply of extra T12 HO lamps in the shop. The manufacturers gave stopped all production of T12 lamps last year, so when the stocks are gone...there gone forever.

The T-5's burn way quieter than the old high output fixtures (which hum pretty loud).

Im an electrician and install lots of different fixtures. usually i install the tandem T5's and clients are very happy. Very good light output for the $$. If you use 5,000 K or 6,500K lamps, youll get even whiter, brighter light output.

I'm really not impressed with LED lighting options as they stand right now...maybe in a few years.

I have also installed keyless fixtures with 65 watt compact florescent lamps. these have an equivalent 300 watt output. Pros are that its cheap to install and give ok lighting. the cons are they take a few minutes to come fully bright.

hope this helps

Why do you think he is going thru bulbs for?

 

[grsthegreat]

Why do you think he is going thru bulbs for?

ive seen that happen when the grounding was bad. not sure why.

other than that, i would also check what kind of voltage drop may be occurring. Sometimes people wire shops with too small of wire and run from too long a distance from the source. this creates a voltage drop. Ive found building over the year that have over 20% voltage drop under load. this can play havoc with most everything.

hard to diagnose over the computer. My shop has 200 amp service to it. everything is wired in conduit with minimum #12 wires. never had any issues.

 

[sam5570]

i say no dout you have some kind a problem i have 8- 8ft floresent lights in my garsge and i have replaced a couple blubs sence it was built in 1990. i added a 4 ft on the side where my work bench is but i have had no problem.