OT shop lights

Fluorescents are good. They have a high light-to-power ratio, and are reliable except in very cold weather. Use the Hight Output 8-foot tubes for a better ratio than the 4 foot. Choose between Cool White and Daylight color. Your choice.

If your shop is huge, or you want the lights up real high, you can use high-pressure lights. They have a much higher light-to-watt ratio, but the fixtures are expensive up front.

There are 3 kinds. Mercury Vapor is the oldest. Commonly used for street lighting. Has a blue-white light output. However, they are dangerous!! They put out a very hight Ultra-Violet content. This can burn your skin, burn your retinas, and I wouldn't recommend them.

Second type is Sodium Vapor. Higher light output ratio than Mercury. Drawback - orange light. Makes all colors look different.

The BEST would be Metal Halide. They have the highest light-to-power ratio, and give brilliant white light.

But, again, I'd stick to fluorescent unless you're lighting a WalMart or Sam's.

I just finished installing lights in two 25x40 foot bays in the new Garaj Mahal. I hung two 8ft two lamp HO flourescents in the back of each bay. They are about 13ft off the floor (4th purlin from the sidewall), spaced 3ft apart, and make plenty of light.

As soon as I get the overhead doors hung and I know exactly where the backhangs go I'll add a second row up front. That's probably a bit of overkill but these old eyes don't work well in dim conditions. I got these fixtures from Grainger (#4LB83, $61.85 ea). They are nice sturdy premium industrial fixtures with a reflector and a cold weather (0F) ballast so they fire right up even in the winter. If you go flourescent be sure and get the HO's - way more lumens/lamp.

HTH,

TOH

George

My shop includes woodworking, oxy-acet cutting/welding/brazing, and shade-tree mechanix work so I need to be ready for anything.

J-

Good luck,
Chad