T5 or T8 Light Layout...time to finalize

[Spudland_Dave]

Pic attached....
All lights would 4', 2 Tube fixtures...most probably T5's, but maybe T8...Garage is 10' high, 30' wide and the "Vehicle End" im working on now is mainly only to park vehicles. The extent of working in there will be shop vaccuming the cars...it will be sheetrocked and painted white.

Right now I'm thinking having each fixture 48" from the outside wall, and the Center row, right down the middle of the building. In terms of the lengths, The lights themselves would be 10' apart from each other (Front & Back)

The 2 green fixtures, would still be 4', 2 Bulb T5's, but I would like to wire those up to my Liftmaster Remote lights. IN terms of placement of those...would you center them in relation to the building? or center them in relation to the garage doors? Centering them in the building would create more even lighting IMO, but they would also end up not centered on the vehicles...

Any critiques of my lighting Plan?

**Edit** - These would be the light fixtures I'd like to use...http://www.homedepot.com/Lighting-Fans-Indoor-Lighting-Industrial-Shop-Lighting/h_d1/N-25ecodZ5yc1vZbvnqZ12l2/R-202665216/h_d2/ProductDisplay?catalogId=10053&langId=-1&keyword=lithonia+T5&storeId=10051 Actually those may not be the lights...just browsing HD some more, I coulda swore there was a 4' 2 bulb Lithonia for a few bucks less then that...just found an 8' 4 bulb T5 Lithonia Fixture from HD for 69.99..10 bucks less might just go that way?

 

[Charles (in GA)]

We went thru that with a PREVIOUS THREAD ON T5HO FIXTURES and that graph is misleading as the "ambient temperature" is actually the "skin" or surface temperature of the lamps themselves, which will heat up quite nicely. (see posts 18 - 21)

Read This Explaination of the Temp Curves.

I cannot see any difference in my open T5HO fixtures when I walk into a cold building and turn them on, vs warm weather, except that they, like all fluorescent fixtures, need to warm up. These generate enough heat to easily overcome virtually all cold situations. Skip down to post 49 of that thread for a clue to how hot these fixtures get. When up to operating temps, you cannot touch these bulbs, you will burn yourself.

A larger diameter bulb has many times the surface area of a T5 lamp, and thus is able to radiate the heat, which is, I suspect, one reason the T12 does so poorly in cold temps, it never is able to heat up. the T5 bulb I suspect retains a lot more heat, as it can not readily radiate it, thus heating up easily even when the air temp is cool or cold.

Charles

 

[Charles (in GA)]

Currently HD has, that I know of, only the "8 ft" fixture in T5HO. They have other lengths in T5 but not the HO version.

Charles

 

[Spudland_Dave]

You're in Maine.. how warm is your garage?
The startup temp on T5 lighting is pretty poor for cold environments.

As I type this, its 33 in there right now. Cold season hasnt even started yet...Its not even cold yet out...

Currently HD has, that I know of, only the "8 ft" fixture in T5HO. They have other lengths in T5 but not the HO version.

Charles

I think I was wrong in my descriptions & explaination...normal plain ol T5's are what I'm looking at. Going to read that link you posted above, but for the record...one of the main reasons I was looking at the T5's vs the T8's was I was under the impression they were much better in the cold.

**Edit..Thanks for that link Charles! I Think T5HO's are what I'll do when its time....But getting back to the OP...as for the forseeable future my lighting will consist of Pig-Tail bulb holders holding a 100W Daylight CFL while I get my insulation/strapping/sheetrock installed this winter...Using that Visual interior tool I found in the thread you posted...an even distribution of 4' T5HO's should give me 55 Foot Candles...which should be good for a parking area. I'm mainly concerned about a wiring layout right now so I can get the insulation in.

 

[DEEDDUDE]

Dave, you might find some usefully info in my build thread. I installed the 4 bulb T5HO fixtures you mentioned. Hope this helps. http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=155240

 

[Randy in Maine]

My car portion of the heated shop (to 55º) is 28' x28' and 12' tall and 5 of those HD 8' HO T5 fixtures really light it up well. I am going to put another T5 HO above my workbench (as I do some engine assembly there).

With bulbs they were $110 per fixture.

I am down in OOB if you want to come and look.

 

[luvit]

Charles & Randy,
Thanks for the T5 ambient temp confirmation!

.

 

[Spudland_Dave]

My car portion of the heated shop (to 55º) is 28' x28' and 12' tall and 5 of those HD 8' HO T5 fixtures really light it up well. I am going to put another T5 HO above my workbench (as I do some engine assembly there).

With bulbs they were $110 per fixture.

I am down in OOB if you want to come and look.

Thanks for the offer...If I had some business to do down there some night, I'd certianly take you up on it. I'm up in Oxford not too far from the shiny new casino.