Shop light advice?

[texasjohn]

Mudcat, thanks for the pointers... looks like good site, better prices than I've found elsewhere...

All... so much good info...thanks!

Today I pulled all at once 3 CU lines of 1/0 and one #6 wire from pole to the workshop... 160 FEET, HARD pull thru 2" conduit even though I used lubrication.... actually OB lube that I had left over from the inevitable calf pull... No problems today,though, heifer had a nice little bull calf.

Am getting closer to electrification!

 

[odleefs]

Buy a gross of PAR 38 LED Lightbulbs. They will cost you (~$20/bulb) but they are dimmable, shock resistant, temp does not effect their performance, and will last >50,000 hours (some upwards of 100,000 hours). Each would use less than 3 watts with the light output of ~70-80 watts incandescent. They also do nto put off heat like CFL or incands. You can get them in warm white or cool white varieties, or mix them for great color rendition.
Steve

 

[GaryBDavis]

Mudcat, thanks for the pointers... looks like good site, better prices than I've found elsewhere...

All... so much good info...thanks!

Today I pulled all at once 3 CU lines of 1/0 and one #6 wire from pole to the workshop... 160 FEET, HARD pull thru 2" conduit even though I used lubrication.... actually OB lube that I had left over from the inevitable calf pull... No problems today,though, heifer had a nice little bull calf.

Am getting closer to electrification!

Hey TexasJohn, I'm in Andice, just the other side of Florence. Small world...

I pulled three lines of 3/0 through a 2" conduit 167 feet with 2ea 90 degree sweeps for my shop. Used a bottle of soap, mule tape and an ATV. Plunking down $2400 for the copper was harder than the pull.

 

[kmdigital]

Plunking down $2400 for the copper was harder than the pull.

Are you serious!!?? 167' x 3 of 3/0 costs that much? Wow! What are you powering? A 200 amp or even larger service?

For service cable, I use aluminum, as that is what the utility companies use, and it is a heck of a lot cheaper then copper. Since most of it is buried, you don't have to worry about it getting too hot from a heavy load under most circumstances.

 

[GaryBDavis]

Are you serious!!?? 167' x 3 of 3/0 costs that much? Wow! What are you powering? A 200 amp or even larger service?

For service cable, I use aluminum, as that is what the utility companies use, and it is a heck of a lot cheaper then copper. Since most of it is buried, you don't have to worry about it getting too hot from a heavy load under most circumstances.

Yep, it's for 200 Amp service. The shop is 7500 sq ft. I purchased the copper about 6 months ago when it was at it's highest price peak.

 

[GaryBDavis]

Anyone using the new T5HO fixtures? I can get an American made 4x46" fixture with bulbs and electronic programed ballast for $180. That's about the same as a good brand 400W MH low bay.

 

[npaden]

I have some T5 lights on one of my aquariums. The only drawback is replacement bulbs as they are not very popular yet. They seem pretty bright though. Again, good reflectors are a must for any light so check the fixture out for that. I have individual reflectors on each bulb on my T5 setup and that is supposed to come close to doubling the amount of light that gets where you want it.

 

[CTyler]

I have not heard of a programmed electronic ballast, can you tell me more about them?

 

[GaryBDavis]

I have not heard of a programmed electronic ballast, can you tell me more about them?

I honestly don't know much about them. One of the sales guys I was talking to said it was important to have them or your bulb life would be shortened. He could have been pulling my leg, but his price is cheaper than most of the fixtures, so he's not trying to sell me a higher end product for more money.

 

[texasjohn]

hmm.... I guess I didn't find the good deal on the PAR 38 LED bulbs....

Place I looked has them for $60 each and they put out 200 lumens... don't think that will do what I need... too much money, too little light.