Shop Lights

[Larry Hardesty]

I am working on getting lights in my pole building. It is 40 x 72. A 40 by 32 space has a concrete floor and is the shop area; the remaining 40 x 40 space is storage with a gravel floor.

Any recommendations as to type of lights? How much light would you recommend in each area?

Larry Hardesty
Kearney, Nebraska

 

[Larry D.]

I have two of those that Lowes sells Eight Ft. double Bulb Florescent, T-8 that will come on even in Very Low Temps. What I have in My 24X26 Garage..very satisfied! Larry KF4LKU

 

[IH2444]

Yes if you want tube lights get the ones with one contact on each end. Much better cold weather performance.
I have just been putting up sockets for the little squiggly flourescents though. Good cold weather performance out of them too. And I think more light for less watts.

 

[IH2444]

Yes if you want tube lights get the ones with one contact on each end. Much better cold weather performance.
I have just been putting up sockets for the little squiggly flourescents though. Good cold weather performance out of them too. And I think more light for less watts.

 

[gordy from Iowa]

Me too I guess. Just put up (6) double 4' T-8's. This is in a shed that is 40 x 60 with a white steel ceiling. Think I bought the sunshine bulbs. So far they work fine.

 

[GordoSD]

I have a 40 x 64. 12 foot white tin ceiling.
I used 12 of the hi intensity, eight foot double cold weater fixtures and bulbs. It's pretty much like daylight in there. 2400 watts. They are on two circuits to use which bays I want.Instant on at 40 degrees, and have not replaced a bulb for 8 years.
And they get used every day/night.
Be sure to mount them "ouside" of the stall spaces, not directly over them. And maybe one extra, perpendicular to the banks, where the workbench will be. I have two rows, 8 feet apart
the long way and two fixtures 12 feet apart the short way with 6 feet from each sidewall.
If you have open, not drop ceiling I would consider a few more.
One more tip. When trying to shoot sparrows nesting on the door opener rails, use shot in a 22. The BB's in a daisy ricochet pretty well and when one of those 8 footers falls 12 feet to concrete,it's prety impressive. ANd No, the Grandson didn't do it.

Gordo

 

[Hobo, NC]

I use 8Ft HO fluorescents hung 12ft off the floor,,, cheap to buy,,, cheap to operate.

Not sure of you layout but would guess yo gonna need 18 of'em,,, Me I would wire it up on probably 4 different switches,,, I have a 40X50 with 11 HO's,,, wired on 2 different switches,,, if i had it to do over would have used 4 switches,,, theirs no reason to lite haft the shop when i am only work'n in 1/4 of it at the time

 

[Larry Hardesty]

I have an open ceiling. Do you have 8' high intensity (if I understood corectly)? Are they T-8?


Thanks

Larry

 

[Larry Hardesty]

Also, any idea regarding price. I was thinking of tandem 4' but local electrical whole saler ays they do not mike high output in 4', if I understood him correctly.

Thanks

Larry

 

[RacerX]

My pole barn is kind of like yours, it"s 40 x 52, 16" tall, one half concrete floor, the other half gravel. I put 6 eight foot double tube fixtures over the concrete half, but to save money I mounted a couple mercury vapor yard lights over the gravel part. Just one probably would have been enough. I"ve got the lights on 3 separate circuits. That flat white light from the MV lights over the gravel would make you go blind if you were trying to work on anything, but it"s fine light for parking the baler or hay rake in the building without running into the side of the motor home.

 

[GordoSD]

I don't know the model number. Just that they are the cold weather, high output (100W) bulbs.
Are you going to heat the shop? I'd sure look into running all you wires and then install tin ceiling, with blown in insulation on top.
I use a LARGE Reznor propane heater. Keep the entire shop at minimum 40 degrees at night/day. Total annual propane cost is about 350 dollars. Of course when I work out there I dial up the heat to about 55. That's pretty cozy when it is minus 10 outside.

Gordo

 

[Larry Hardesty]

Thanks for the helpful information.

Larry

 

[RobMD]

8 foot, High Output, low-temperature, 90 watt per tube quick starting ballast lighting.

After using incandescent bulbs for years, There IS NO OTHER OPTION BUT THIS.

 

[John K]

We have been replacing 400 watt Mh fixtures with 6 lamp T5 fixtures in shops. Fixtures cost more but use 3/4 the power for all moost 2.5 times out put according to our light meter (did one shop as a test to see the differance). This was done in a grafics place where they put graffics (signage)on vihcals, trailers. big rigs etc. Owner said it was the best investment he has done to his shop. Instant on lighting so he turns off any of the bays not beeing used as an added power saving. Also used them in welding shops. Plan to use them in our pole building shop. We also have had good luck with a vapor proof fixure (Begali) that uses 2 T8 lamps. At =20C, takes about 10 min to warm up for full brightness. Use these in areas where there is occasional use at such temps, normal temps, no problem using just plan T8 strip fixtures. Here in Canada, most of the T12 fixures are not beeing made and hard to get except for the HO fixtures.

 

[Larry Hardesty]

John, Thanks very much. Good information. T5s are initially higher and bulbs higher but appear more efficient. Yep, I think T12s are a thing of the past.

Larry