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Best ceiling lights to put in my new shop? Any ideas?

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Ric-Ky

04-07-2002 09:04:52

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I just built a new shop 30X40. It is a pole barn type building with a open ceiling. I was wondering what the best type ceiling light would be to put up? My last shop had florescent lights and I hated them. They didn't put out enough light and in the winter time they worked even worse. I am not concerned about energy saving because I will only be out in the shop a couple hours a week after dark. I just want something that will really light up the shop. Thanks...

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Brian-2N

04-07-2002 16:31:34

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Re: Best ceiling lights to put in my new shop? Any ideas? in reply to Ric-Ky, 04-07-2002 09:04:52

Ric-Ky,
I work at an electrical wholesaler. Let me explain your options.
You do not say how high the mounting height is. That is an important consideration.
Below 25' if cost were not an option I would use a "lowbay" fixture. The low bay has a ballast on top, a metal reflector underneath, and a plastic refractor attached at the bottom of the reflector. This will spread the light, and you will use far fewer fixtures than fluorescent. Above 25' you would use a "highbay". Similar in appearance, it lacks the refractor, to allow it to spread the light at such a height. They are cheaper for lacking the refractor, but as mentioned are only good over 25'. Although High Pressure Sodium is the most efficient light source there is, most people cannot get used to the yellow light. Stick to Metal Halide. Depending on how many foot candles you need, stick to a 250 or 400 watt unit. Universal burn lamps are about $25, and last about 35,000 hours (I do not have the exact figures on me).
Fluorescent is much cheaper, but has some drawbacks. First you must buy a ballast and lamp that will start and operate to O degrees. Most combinations work at +20 degrees. Avoid high-output lamps as they are the worst performers in cold weather. Another item which the general public does not know. Fluorescent lamps are rated at 20,000 hours at a 12 hour burn. This means that the lamps run for 12 hours continuous. Fine for an industrial plant but not at home. Fluorescent lamps are not made for constant switching. It shortens the life tremendously.
Incandescent-avoid it-too archaic. If you want an efficient incandescent lamp, use a halogen infra-red floodlight. These capture heat normally lost and turn it into light. A 90 watt lamp has the efficiency of 150 watts. They are about $15. The problem is that they last only 3000 hours.
Sorry for the long post. Thought you could benefit from my 14 years in the electrical industry.

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ScottT

04-09-2002 19:35:42

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Re: Re: Best ceiling lights to put in my new shop? Any ideas? in reply to Brian-2N, 04-07-2002 16:31:34

HPS and Metal Halides aren't good for short burn times either (worse than flourescents) check out this link for a single hang fluorescent fixture (4I4, 4I6, or 4I8) that will replace a HPS or metal halide fixture. They really work, we have them in our 400,000 sq. ft. plant.

Scott

http://www.orionlighting.com/

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JerryU

04-07-2002 11:31:44

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Re: Best ceiling lights to put in my new shop? Any ideas? in reply to Ric-Ky, 04-07-2002 09:04:52

As they say, been there-done that.

I have a 30' X 40' unheated pole barn near Detroit. Unless you get winter flourescents, they are no good. 300W incandescents really make the meter run. HPS and Metal halide are expensive. Soo--I came up with an outdoor Flourescent fixture that works in below zero, starts instantly and goes to full brightness in about 3 minutes, and only costs $29. It uses 65 watts or thereabouts and puts out like a 175 mercury. I have three replacing the three incandescents and much better. Could really use one more.

Don't know where around your place, but I found them in Iowa and Illinois at Menards while visiting my kids. They (the lights) put out a nice white, not blue, light.

See link. Bulbs are about $12.

FWIW.

Flourescent lights

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ScottT

04-07-2002 10:23:38

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Re: Best ceiling lights to put in my new shop? Any ideas? in reply to Ric-Ky, 04-07-2002 09:04:52

If money were no object, I would get reflectorized fluorescents with electronic ballasts, they are efficient down to about 0 degrees. One fixture with four 4' tubes will put out as much as a 250 watt HID (metal halide) for half the energy, we have them in the plant where I work, but they cost about $175 each. A cheaper alternative for occasional use is the 300W rectangular quartz halogen lights (similar to stand lights). Mounted at 12' or so, they would spread out fairly good and be quite bright.

Scott

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oslo in NC

04-07-2002 10:04:20

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Re: Best ceiling lights to put in my new shop? Any ideas? in reply to Ric-Ky, 04-07-2002 09:04:52

You might consider using incadescent lighting for general use in the garage. But use a tri-pod light, Halogen or some other type light that you can easily move to your work area. Consider your work area. If you are going to do any painting, forget the flouresent lights.
hope this helps. oslo in NC

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WD-9

04-07-2002 10:03:34

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Re: Best ceiling lights to put in my new shop? Any ideas? in reply to Ric-Ky, 04-07-2002 09:04:52

I have a small (30x30) shop I recently rewired and insulated. I too was not concerned with efficiency but wanted A LOT OF LIGHT. I used 12 300 watt incandescent fixtures (my buddies now joke of getting a tan when they walk in). They were cheap about a bushel of corn each and easy to install. The only drawbacks are the inefficiency and the cost of 300 watt light bulbs.
Hope this helps

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Don, Luling LA

04-07-2002 10:37:35

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Re: Re: Best ceiling lights to put in my new shop? Any ideas? in reply to WD-9, 04-07-2002 10:03:34

Bet you don't need any heat in winter either, but sure would hate to be in there in the summer if you are located in the south.

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Dave Smith

04-07-2002 09:39:48

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Re: Best ceiling lights to put in my new shop? Any ideas? in reply to Ric-Ky, 04-07-2002 09:04:52

If you go to floresents, use the 4 tube 4 footer drop ins. They can be fastened to the underside of the joists. 4 foot tubes are a lot cheaper than 8 footers. Dave <*)))><

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Barnstormer

04-07-2002 09:36:32

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Re: Best ceiling lights to put in my new shop? Any ideas? in reply to Ric-Ky, 04-07-2002 09:04:52

A friend gave me some industrial type lights out of a construction job he was on. They are about two feet in diameter and very heavy (some kind of balasting). They are somewhat slow to start up but are very bright when on. I used them to replace three 8' floresent lights in my "high bay" of the 36 x 48 pole barn. They are not temp sensative and are only 120v setup. I don't know the technical name for them.

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Dave Smith

04-07-2002 09:45:38

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Re: Re: Best ceiling lights to put in my new shop? Any ideas? in reply to Barnstormer, 04-07-2002 09:36:32

They sound like they could be metal arcs. Reasonbly eficient and lots of candle power. But when you go to buy new bulbs take a fat wallet.
Dave <*)))><

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Barnstormer

04-07-2002 10:56:18

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Re: Re: Re: Best ceiling lights to put in my new shop? Any ideas? in reply to Dave Smith, 04-07-2002 09:45:38

Thanks Dave, I needed that! ;>)

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dave#1

04-07-2002 09:30:10

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Re: Best ceiling lights to put in my new shop? Any ideas? in reply to Ric-Ky, 04-07-2002 09:04:52

I built a 30x50x10 pole barn, I have 8-8' florescent lights w/ 2 bulbs per light wired into 4 switchs, Once again I'd show you some usefull pics but no longer can post pics from Tractor.forum.com )-: This combination seems to work well.

Hope this "Text" helps

later,dave

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Salmoneye

04-07-2002 09:39:53

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Re: Re: Best ceiling lights to put in my new shop? Any ideas? in reply to dave#1, 04-07-2002 09:30:10

Just trying to help here, but doesn't your ISP give you at least some FTP space on their server?
You can point your FTP upload software there and house your own pics.

That way no one has control over them except you...

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thanks.........dave#1

04-07-2002 09:46:17

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Re: Re: Re: Best ceiling lights to put in my new shop? Any ideas? in reply to Salmoneye, 04-07-2002 09:39:53

I use Bluelight.com, I'll take a look and see since I no longer seem to have a choice Grin

Thanks

later,dave

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Salmoneye

04-07-2002 10:03:05

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Re: Re: Re: Re: Best ceiling lights to put in my new shop? Any ideas? in reply to thanks.........dave#1, 04-07-2002 09:46:17

Sorry, My mistake!

I had no idea that you were using a 'free' ISP.
I just went to the BlueLight homepage and they do not 'give' you any webspace.

I thought all the 'free' ISPs had died.

;-)

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It's not free..............dave#1

04-07-2002 10:13:53

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Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Best ceiling lights to put in my new shop? Any ideas? in reply to Salmoneye, 04-07-2002 10:03:05

They did away with the free stuff awhile ago but the cost is only $8.95 a month, not to bad in todays world ?

thanks

later"Pictureless"dave
Grin

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