Tubular Skylights

[TOMLESCOEQUIP]

I was thinking of adding some skylights to my home shop........It measures 30x48......anyone use the solartube type in their shop buildings ?? I have 12' ceilings........How many would I need to provide ample light ? No windows in the doors or walls right now..........Tom

 

[tracdoc]

Tom,

I think solar tubes are great. Weird thing is they seem to be popular primarily in the Southwest, but that doesn't mean they won't work anywhere else. When we built in CA, three builders had never heard of them. When we lived in AZ, most homes had at least one. They were especially popular in windowless bathrooms and closets. A 10" diameter tube will illuminate an average size bathroom quite well. The good tubes collect and concentrate the light. They are not merely "portholes" in the ceiling/roof.

We've recently relocated to the Southeast, and we are planning a build. We are planning to use solar tubes in closets at least. One of the better manufacturers we have found is Solatube Solatube website
These are very popular where we lived in AZ. Pretty facile installation, and very impressive light collection. As far as sizes go, we had 10" units in small bathroom and in closets. They were more than sufficient. They have 21" size, too, but they are mostly used in commercial (e.g., warehouse) applications. Depending on your needs, you might be better served with a few 10-14" units (like lighting), rather than one big unit.

Good thinking. I'm confident you'll like them...

 

[dbelisle]

I installed a 10 inch Solar tube for my folks in there mobile Home. It made a big differance in the light in there kitchen .

There is a collector that focuses the light and sends it down into the tube and the tube itself is a mirror like reflective material.

It is very bright even on a cloudy day.

The only problem I see with them is it will act like a chimney and let some of your heating or cooling transfer up through the bottom lense and out the building. But in a garage that wouldn't be a big problem.

It doesn't come with any kind of insulation on the tube so you will have to insulate that yourself. Flex duct used for heating and cooling works good.

Bottom line, if you can live with a little lost heating or cooling energy they will provide a lot of light for a little hole.

Dave in NH

 

[TOMLESCOEQUIP]

Isn't there a diffuser lens that seals the bottom and evenly distributes the light ?? Wouldn't that stop air flow ?? As for the tube itself, couldn't you just wrap it in ordinary paper faced fiberglass insulation where it passes thru the attic area??

 

[MarkLeininger]

Saw one in a friend's home in the bathroom. Had problems with condensation. Don't know if it was installed correctly, we have pretty cold winters, and bathrooms are damper than your shop.

 

[daedong]

Tom

Here in OZ they are very common in homes, the issue of heat and cold exchange through them is certainly not an issue here. We have very hot summers but probably don't experience your winters, but i don't think cold would be a problem as the air is sealed between outer plastic and the diffuser.
They certainly do lighten up dark areas of homes and i do think their use in workshops would be good.

The one we have in the centre of our home even allows you to walk around at night when the moon is shining.

Here they are commonly called skylights.

http://www.sunlite.com.au/skylights.html

 

[RobertN]

We have the Solatubes in our dark ahllway. It really lights it up in the day time. As another poster mentioned, it also lights the hallway when when there is good moon-light.

We got ours with the lights inside the tube. They replaced the two existing light fixtures in the hallway. They gather sunlight in the daytime,, but can also provide light at nite. It looks kinda funny at night from the outside when the lights are on; it shines up out of the roof dome and lights up the roof.

Ours have been in for about three years now. We like them.

 

[Gary_in_Indiana]

<font color="blue"> "Isn't there a diffuser lens that seals the bottom and evenly distributes the light ?? Wouldn't that stop air flow ?? As for the tube itself, couldn't you just wrap it in ordinary paper faced fiberglass insulation where it passes thru the attic area??" </font>

There is a sealed lens which will stop air exchange but will not stop heat transfer and that's the concern. You can wrap the tubes with whatever you choose but you'll still have nothing more that a couple pieces of plastic (one on either end of the tube) between you and the great outdoors.

Personally, I like them but also understand the trade-off. I get more natural light so I don't have to spend money on lighting in exchange for a less insulated envelope causing me to spend more money on heating and cooling. In this (as in most choices in life) there are trade-offs to be made.

 

[tracdoc]

Tom,

I think the energy gains/losses via radiant transfer in current generation solar tubes is nearly negligible. Daytime temps in Phoenix are often 115+ with direct sun overhead at mid-day. We never felt any heat whatsoever when standing under the tube, yet the light was intense. Radiant heat losses from inside to outside in winter should be just as minimal. With AZ energy costs as high as they are, solar tubes would not be popular if they were not so effficient.

Take a look at this thread on the Garden Web, where solar tubes and energy factors are discussed at length. Some manufacturer's products have Energy Star ratings.
Garden Web Solar Tubes

With a good installation, your should easily be on the plus side of the equation with the energy savings realized through reduced use of artificial light, and little, if any losses via radiant transfer through the tube itself.

 

[TOMLESCOEQUIP]

My inside walls & ceilings are white, but I kept the windows out of the building plan for security reasons. I have a fair amount of florescents installed but , It still could be better. Thanks everyone for the replies, I'm going to check into the tubes locally as well as on the web. I'll let everyone know the results.........Tom