Shop lights...........

Goose

Well-known Member
What do some of ya'll use for lights in your shops?

I'm at the point of installing the lights in a new 30'x48' shop. I'd thought of putting in eight four tube fluorescent fixtures using 2500 lumen T8 tubes. I bought a couple and hung one up. Can't say I'm impressed with the amount of light it puts out. I have another place I can use those two if I decide to do something else, so they won't be money wasted.

A nephew has a very impressive setup with LED lights in a shop of similar size, but he said he paid $4,000 for them.

Does anyone know if they make T8 tubes that put out over 2500 lumens?

Just wondered what some of ya'll are using. I like plenty of light while I'm working.
 
The T8 fixtures are about the most cost efficient option. Did the ones you bought have the polished aluminum reflectors?

You could step up to T5 high output fixtures, more light, more money.
 
Very impressed with T5s I put in my shop. They were not that expensive where I bought. It was at a local hardware store. He goes threw a lot of them.
 
I think the last T-8s I bought were something like 5100K bulbs. They sure give out a huge amount of light. The color as well as the lumens is important.
 
This week yet Menard's has 6 bulb t-8 high bay fixtures(14 foot ceiling or higher) on sale for about $70 plus bulbs. The ones I have used are pretty good IMHO. However I like the t-5 bulbs better, but they use more power.
 
Goose, I have a 30x50 with 14ft high metal ceiling. It is being lit by 12 t8 light fixtures with 4 tubes each. Can hardly see your shadow anywhere. No problems with cold starts. Stop by and see if you like, I am not far from you. Near Louisville NE
 
(quoted from post at 19:22:50 07/27/14) What do some of ya'll use for lights in your shops?

I'm at the point of installing the lights in a new 30'x48' shop. I'd thought of putting in eight four tube fluorescent fixtures using 2500 lumen T8 tubes. I bought a couple and hung one up. Can't say I'm impressed with the amount of light it puts out. I have another place I can use those two if I decide to do something else, so they won't be money wasted.

A nephew has a very impressive setup with LED lights in a shop of similar size, but he said he paid $4,000 for them.

Does anyone know if they make T8 tubes that put out over 2500 lumens?

Just wondered what some of ya'll are using. I like plenty of light while I'm working.

Go to econolite.com and look up their T5 fixtures. I got the six tube T5's from them and they are good and bright, so bright I have night blindness for awhile after I leave the shop at night. Price ranged from $175 and up for the six tube lights last time I looked but I don't know if that price includes the tubes. They have all kinds of other lights too. Right now they are pushing LED's but I recommend the T5's. Jim
 
Got fed up with Fluorescent lights and put in several 200w normal lights. Wired three rows with there own switch. turn on what I needed. Going to wire another shop soon, and not sure what to try. Did a shop a few years ago with one row (six lights), and every other light was on a switch of it's own.
 
My shop is 28X36-14 ft high. I have 8 screw in light bulbs. I have put in splitters in 6 of them to hold 4 bulbs each. 15w squiggly supposed to equal 75w so that is 6X4=24 bulbs X 75w= 1800W plus one 150W spotlight over my vice. and a fluorescent shop light over the work bench 25W I think. Not enough. wish were more. Was fine before walls got dirty and dark. I would recommend double what you think you need. Put them on another switch.
 
Goose go with T-5 fixtures. They will throw off way more light than the T-8 lights. I replaced the lights in the main shop three years ago with T-5 lights. It is way brighter than it used to be and the electric useage is less.

Also check with your electric company. I got a rebate for each T-5 I installed. If I remember right it was $25 per light.
 
I have 30 2 bulb four foot T8 fixtures in my 40X60 foot shop. Plus two more over my work bench. As you can see in the pic below it is lit up pretty good, the white ceiling and walls help. In case you didn't notice, I like a lot of light.

DSC00089.jpg
 
LED's are coming into their own, price and performance-wise, although they will continue to improve.

I just installed 6 LED floods in my shop, and will be installing more

Advantages are LOW power use, (hopefully) long life, and no glass tubes with nasty mercury in them.

At this point, they are at least worth considering/checking into, and (likely) will be the light of the future as florescents are phased out.
 
How far away do you live from Charleston? We take down buildings regularly. Lots of lights take down all you want. I can't tell you what they are, you pick what you want. We can swap car racing stories.
Ron
 
The 2500 lights are a little yellow looking aren't they?
Get 6500 lights or Daylight ones they will be whiter and throw more light.
T8 will start quicker when it's cold then any other light. If the shop is always warm then it doesn't matter but if you turn the heat off at night in the winter it will be noticeable.
 
Agreed. We installed new T5 lights in a John Deere shop and the techs couldn't be happier. A T5 fixture will also light down to -20F.
 
This week yet Menard's has 6 bulb t-8 high bay fixtures(14 foot ceiling or higher) on sale for about $70 plus bulbs. The ones I have used are pretty good IMHO. However I like the t-5 bulbs better, but they use more power.
 
For a 30x30 garage I put 3 fixtures across the back and 3 fixtures in the front along side the overhead door tracks.

30 T8 6500K bulbs - great light for working in the garage. I also put the cages on the lights between the doors just in case I hit it with something. Already saved me a few times.


3 units --- across the back ---

homedepot.---/p/Lithonia-Lighting-Industrial-6-Light-High-Bay-Grey-Hanging-Fluorescent-Fixture-IB-632-MVH/202193185

3 units --- in the front between the overhead door tracks so the light is just below the overhead door when open.

homedepot.---/p/Lithonia-Lighting-Tandem-4-Light-Flush-Mount-Ceiling-Electronic-Fluorescent-White-Strip-Light-TC-2-32-120-1-4-GESB/100192753
 
T5s do not throw off more light than a T8. Its all about the bulb you use. Plus the T5 failure rate is way higher than T8s. I work in factory full of T5 and T8s. I have replaced 3 T8 ballasts in the last five years compared to about 50 T5 ballasts.
 
I have 12 8ft, 2 tube HO fixtures in my 40x72 shop. Like to get a nice tan while I am working, LOL.
Have not changed any ballasts and just two bulbs in 14 years of use.
 

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