Anyone use surface mounted parabolic T-8s

[marsh1]

Looking to upgrade my lighting. Anyone use this type of T-8. The plan is to use multiple 4 tube fixtures.

http://www.goodmart.com/products/lamar-lighting-sb3-series-2-x-2-3-lamp-17w-t8-9-cell-parabolic-luminaire-sb331722e8u09.htm

 

[2ManyProjects]

Looking to upgrade my lighting. Anyone use this type of T-8. The plan is to use multiple 4 tube fixtures.

http://www.goodmart.com/products/lamar-lighting-sb3-series-2-x-2-3-lamp-17w-t8-9-cell-parabolic-luminaire-sb331722e8u09.htm

I can't give you any first-hand information; but those fixtures you linked to seem insanely expensive for what they are. I also suspect the parabolic reflector would tend to concentrate the light output into a relatively tight pattern, vis-a-vis something like (for example) this:

<http://www.homedepot.com/p/Lithonia-Lighting-2-Light-Utility-Light-3348-2L32W-WRAP/100654395>

How many fixtures were you figuring on, to cover how much floor area? And how much mounting height is available? Those are the main things you need to keep in mind when selectiving fixtures, in order to balance brightness levels with even illumination.

 

[marsh1]

it is 1,000 SF 9' ceiling. I was planning two banks. One bank of 3 fixtures will turn on with a motion switch for normal use. That what I have now but they are 4 tube T12 with a plastic reflector. I get much more light with the reflector removed but do not want unprotected bulbs. I was going to add 4 additional fixtures will be on a separate switch for detailing and project work. I do want something that looks better than the standard plastic reflector.

Thanks
Marshall

 

[2ManyProjects]

it is 1,000 SF 9' ceiling.

They don't give any real photometric data; but just looking at the photos & description, I'd be a bit leery of those "parabolic" fixtures with only a 9-foot ceiling. In an office environment, where you want to concentrate the light over each cubicle/workstation, they'd probably work pretty well; in a garage/shop where evenness of illumination is at least as important as overall brightness, not so much.

I was planning two banks. One bank of 3 fixtures will turn on with a motion switch for normal use.

For just token "walk through" lighting, even that seems a bit much. Do you REALLY want to turn on ~400 watts of light (three 4-tube fixtures at 32 watts/tube = 384 watts) just to go grab a screwdriver or somesuch? Even in a (for example) 25'x40' space, two (maybe three, depending in part on the shape of that space) two-tube F32T8s should be MORE than sufficient for that purpose.

That what I have now but they are 4 tube T12 with a plastic reflector. I get much more light with the reflector removed but do not want unprotected bulbs.

What sort of "plastic reflector" are you referring to? If it is the milk-white type commonly found in kitchens, I would indeed expect some significant light loss. By comparison, the clear prismatic types tend to be pretty efficient in terms of total light transmission; but they do diffuse the light significantly, which may lead to an impression of reduced brightness near the source.

FWIW, if bulb protection is the only major issue driving this decision, then slip-on acrylic tubes which fit directly over the T8 tubes will do the trick very nicely:

http://www.homedepot.com/p/Lithonia-Lighting-4-ft-Fluorescent-Tube-Protector-TGT8CL4-R24/100163152

OTOH, if esthetics are also an issue, then all bets are off and the sky is the limit in terms of potential budget. If you don't believe me, get your wife involved.

That said, to my eye those simple two-tube Home Depot fixtures I cited previously look just fine (as long as you keep them clean). I'm currently planning to use something like them in my garage, probably in more-or-less continuous "strips" around the perimeter, plus MAYBE one more two-tube fixture centered over each parking spot (which will become my "walk-through" lighting, activated by the door opener in addition to manual control). I'll then augment this with task lighting at the workbench and a trouble light on an overhead retractable reel near the center of the space. However, my garage is much smaller than yours (approx. 20'x20'), and my ceiling is a bit taller (just under 10 feet).

I was going to add 4 additional fixtures will be on a separate switch for detailing and project work.

Were it me, I'd probably break up the "main" lighting into at least two (perhaps as many as four, given the size of the space) banks, arranged to provide zone control and/or brightness control. Then add whatever task lighting you might need in specific locations (such as your workbench). Odds are that, depending on just what you're doing where, you will rarely need to run everything at the same time; but this would provide the flexibility to put plenty of light where you need it at that moment, without wasting a lot of light/power where you don't need it.

I do want something that looks better than the standard plastic reflector.

Well, that's another matter entirely. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and all that.

 

[marsh1]

They don't give any real photometric data; but just looking at the photos & description, I'd be a bit leery of those "parabolic" fixtures with only a 9-foot ceiling. In an office environment, where you want to concentrate the light over each cubicle/workstation, they'd probably work pretty well; in a garage/shop where evenness of illumination is at least as important as overall brightness, not so much.



For just token "walk through" lighting, even that seems a bit much. Do you REALLY want to turn on ~400 watts of light (three 4-tube fixtures at 32 watts/tube = 384 watts) just to go grab a screwdriver or somesuch? Even in a (for example) 25'x40' space, two (maybe three, depending in part on the shape of that space) two-tube F32T8s should be MORE than sufficient for that purpose.



What sort of "plastic reflector" are you referring to? If it is the milk-white type commonly found in kitchens, I would indeed expect some significant light loss. By comparison, the clear prismatic types tend to be pretty efficient in terms of total light transmission; but they do diffuse the light significantly, which may lead to an impression of reduced brightness near the source.

FWIW, if bulb protection is the only major issue driving this decision, then slip-on acrylic tubes which fit directly over the T8 tubes will do the trick very nicely:

http://www.homedepot.com/p/Lithonia-Lighting-4-ft-Fluorescent-Tube-Protector-TGT8CL4-R24/100163152

OTOH, if esthetics are also an issue, then all bets are off and the sky is the limit in terms of potential budget. If you don't believe me, get your wife involved.

That said, to my eye those simple two-tube Home Depot fixtures I cited previously look just fine (as long as you keep them clean). I'm currently planning to use something like them in my garage, probably in more-or-less continuous "strips" around the perimeter, plus MAYBE one more two-tube fixture centered over each parking spot (which will become my "walk-through" lighting, activated by the door opener in addition to manual control). I'll then augment this with task lighting at the workbench and a trouble light on an overhead retractable reel near the center of the space. However, my garage is much smaller than yours (approx. 20'x20'), and my ceiling is a bit taller (just under 10 feet).



Were it me, I'd probably break up the "main" lighting into at least two (perhaps as many as four, given the size of the space) banks, arranged to provide zone control and/or brightness control. Then add whatever task lighting you might need in specific locations (such as your workbench). Odds are that, depending on just what you're doing where, you will rarely need to run everything at the same time; but this would provide the flexibility to put plenty of light where you need it at that moment, without wasting a lot of light/power where you don't need it.



Well, that's another matter entirely. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and all that.

I have the clear prismatic reflectors on the current fixtures. When I remove them it makes a noticeable difference. I really want it for after wash fine detailing of the cars. Prefer to do it in the air conditioned garage vs outside in the 100 degree Texas heat.

 

[2ManyProjects]

I have the clear prismatic reflectors on the current fixtures. When I remove them it makes a noticeable difference. I really want it for after wash fine detailing of the cars.

Obviously, I cannot be certain without seeing your particular setup; but I would wager that, at least in the context of that particular application, most of the difference you noticed was due to the lack of diffusion (which would tend to make reflections more distinct, and better highlight such things as water spots and very fine scratches), rather than a big increase in raw brightness, per se.

Regardless, there's nothing wrong with wanting more light when you really need to clearly see fine detail. I'm just urging you to consider the distribution of that light, as well as the sheer quantity; and with that in mind, make efficient use of whatever you choose.

Prefer to do it in the air conditioned garage vs outside in the 100 degree Texas heat.

I hear that!

 

[marsh1]

I found these that I think would spread the light more. Going to give them a try. Will post pics and report back once installed.

http://www.prolighting.com/pc4sa432unih.html

 

[OldNeons]

I found these that I think would spread the light more. Going to give them a try. Will post pics and report back once installed.

http://www.prolighting.com/pc4sa432unih.html

those are nice but do you really need a steel mesh guarded light in your workshop? You can find 4 tube lights without the guard......

 

[marsh1]

those are nice but do you really need a steel mesh guarded light in your workshop? You can find 4 tube lights without the guard......

The one time I hit a fixture while taking a ladder off the wall will make it worth having.

 

[bglad]

I like the idea of the cold weather ballasts. Northeast can get a bit cold in winter.

 

[skiingman]

I like the idea of the cold weather ballasts. Northeast can get a bit cold in winter.

I learned the hard way that you also need cold weather bulbs. Most of what is on the shelf at the box stores has a little asterisk and a note that they **** in the cold, you have to get the less efficient bulbs to get them to reliably start when the garage is 40 degrees. My fixtures are T12s though, not sure if the same problems apply to T8s.

 

[2ManyProjects]

I found these that I think would spread the light more. Going to give them a try. Will post pics and report back once installed.

http://www.prolighting.com/pc4sa432unih.html

Despite their semi-open-tube nature, those are still "High Bay" style fixtures, which aren't really appropriate for your 9-foot ceilings. They apparently have a reflector mounted above the tubes which will concentrate the light into a more-or-less straight-down pattern. I could not download the photometric data (some sort of glitch on their end, kept redirecting me to a site hawking bathroom lighting); but read what the vendor themselves has to say about so-called "High Bay" fixtures in general: http://www.prolighting.com/t8hibayli.html. The relevant excerpt is, "For open areas with at least 13 feet of space between the floor and the bottom of your lighting fixture..."

those are nice but do you really need a steel mesh guarded light in your workshop? You can find 4 tube lights without the guard......

The one time I hit a fixture while taking a ladder off the wall will make it worth having.

The polycarbonate diffuser/lens on that cheap Lithonia fixture I pointed you at earlier will provide a significant amount of impact protection. (And at the price, you can afford to keep spares on hand.)

 

[marsh1]

I am going to hang one and see how it does before mounting all of them.

 

[marsh1]

The results are spectacular!!! Yes the reflector concentrates the light but it is designed to be much farther apart than in my application. The result is bright and evenly distributed. I have three come on with motion and 4 additional on two switches.

 

[2ManyProjects]

The results are spectacular!!! Yes the reflector concentrates the light but it is designed to be much farther apart than in my application. The result is bright and evenly distributed. I have three come on with motion and 4 additional on two switches.

Good show!

The closer spacing is the key to making this work with your relatively low ceilings. Glad it worked out for you.

 

[bglad]

Looks good. I'm still up in the air as to what I want to do. I have 13' ceiling but not sure whether to go with T5 or T8. A lot of factors between price, cold weather startup, and how much I actually will save on the electric bill.

 

[marsh1]

Looks good. I'm still up in the air as to what I want to do. I have 13' ceiling but not sure whether to go with T5 or T8. A lot of factors between price, cold weather startup, and how much I actually will save on the electric bill.

These are not the cheapest option. I was just looking for a lot of evenly spread light. These have cold weather instant start electronic ballast. The reflectors are what makes them work for me. I will get a better picture that shows it.