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Fluorescent fixtures -- covered or naked?

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joeswamp

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Can't believe how helpful this forum has been, but I now have a question that I can't find the answer to...

So I'm currently planning lighting for my new garage. It's about 21x24 with 12 foot ceilings and I'm planning a matrix of 12 surface mount fluorescent fixtures (two lamp 4 foot T8). Walls and ceiling will be painted white, and floor will be light gray.

Originally I was planning surface mount fixtures with a plastic cover or diffuser, like this:

1101_Med.jpg


but my brother thinks that's a big waste of money. He thinks I should just put up naked strip lights that look like this:

1079_Med.jpg


He said you can get covers for the individual lamps if I care about breakage, and that the diffusers don't really do that much and just make changing the lamps that much more difficult.

So what do you guys think? Is it worth it to go with the covered fixtures or should I just go naked?
 
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nadogail

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As with most things there are choices; Do you want the Cheap Lights or the More Attractive Luminaires?

Naked fixtures are standard equipment in the "poormans garage" and the majority of industrial applications.

The covered fixtures are generally considered more attractive, if your garage will need to "pass muster" with the person who decorates the rest of your residence; the decision should be left to her.

You may point out any possible advantages of lower cost or ease of replacing the tubes, but if the cook is not happy...nobody is happy.
 
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JohnK007

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Downers Grove, IL
I personally would go with a wrap around diffuser style. You've got a new garage, new paint, and a nice high ceiling, why not? As long as the cost difference isn't scaring you, I think it would look nice. Besides I like to crank up my brother by doing the opposite of what he tells me sometimes, keeps life interesting! :lol_hitti
 
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joeswamp

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Thanks for the input so far, but I guess what I'm really wondering is what are the functional (rather than aesthetic) advantage of the diffusers. Do they really reduce glare and make things easier to see? Prevent lamps from getting dirty and somehow extand lamp life?

If anything, I actually kind of prefer the naked look as it just appears more purposeful. This is a working room, not a display area dangit! My wife is keeping herself out of the picture on garage aesthetics (as I did when we redid the kitchen), so no problems there. And I do agree that disagreeing with my brother does sometimes make life more exciting...
 
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redsky49

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near the coast in eastern North Carolina
There are a couple school of thought here.

One the one hand, the lensed fixture has a finished look, and the lamps will not accumulate as much grime as if left exposed. When equipped with a prismatic lens (they have the little diamond pattern on the outside) they will provide a more even and somewhat softer light output, though at a slight reduction in total output. The lens will yellow and cloud over time, but that shouldn't be an issue in most garages. The increased difficulty in relamping the fixture is a non-issue. Pulling the lens off only takes a couple seconds.

On the other hand, the bare fixture will be less in up front costs. There will likely be a better choice of fixtures at the local Home Depot/Lowes than for the lensed fixtures. If you should break one of the lenses, replacement lenses may not be readily available, or available in the correct size or style.

What it finally comes down to is what you like, and what any future potential buyer of your house might think of the installation.

As always, offered only as opinion
 
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6t7gto

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bedford,ohio
I have 21 of the covered style you posted a pic of.
I think they give my garage a very finished look and my friends bust my buns that I need more light.

david
 
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Charles (in GA)

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Diffusers collect insects, they get dirty and need to be removed and soap and water hosed off about once a year, they reduce the light output, you could end up having to install an one more fixture to equal the light you would have had without the diffuser, and they are made of rather cheap plastic that will crack in time (sooner than you realize) especially if exposed to high temps or solvent fumes.

Charles
 
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mmhouse

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Desert Southwest
I went with the lensed fixtures for appearance and to protect the bulbs. However, since you like the 'bare' look better then you should probably just go with that. If you're concerned about possibly hitting a bulb just use the individual bulb covers (a hollow plastic tube that slips over the bulb) at least for those in vulnerable areas.

As others have outlined, there are about as many disadvantages as advantages to the lenses. It really comes down to asthetics.
 
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Stargeezer

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Jan 12, 2009
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Central Nevada, USA
Another option is a fixture with a reflector. Still the bulbs are bare: Just the reflector dresses it up and also concentrates the light somewhat.

What my e-guy suggested was that I use bare bulbs in the open areas of the garage bays and then bare bulbs with reflectors over all of the the work benches. Did that. Happy.

I would not use a cover unless it was gasketed-as in the above example. HD sells some called Lithonia Lighting Xtreme Wet Light 2 Light Utility Light . They sell both circular and strip types that are sealed tight. I hate bugs collecting in lamps.. Hate chinsy plastic covers that dissinegrate..

I used two circular dual bulb sealed Xtreme Wet Lights for illuminating the garage when entering. Once I get to the switches for the banks of strip lights-I shut off the circle fixtures via 3-way switch.
 
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cortez

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Apr 9, 2009
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Chicago
A naked florescent light bulb exploded ( I probable hit it some how with a pipe or something) and the glass was like a small grenade and shards entered my right eye which I nearly lost!!!

This was a long time ago ( at least 15 years) but still prefer the naked and bright ones.

I figure it was like a lightning strike: a very rare event unlikely to repeat itself.
 
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rsanter

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for looks I would go with the ones with the covers. for me Im cheap and went with the open ones. then I went and got the thin plastic sleves from the big box store for under $1 each and slipped them over the tubes si if I ever hit one I wont have glass raining all over me.

in my last house I did not have anything over my garage so I bought the 2x4 light difusers and some 1x2 trim. cut roughly 2x4 openings in the ceiling drywall, dressed it with the trim to hold the difuser and then attached the basic type of 4ft florecents to 2x4 lumber that I attached to the top of the bottom 2x4 of the trusses.
good looking recessed florecents for cheap. I then swapped in a outlet where the single bulb fixture had been in the garage and hung my drop light next to it and plugged it in there. I figured when would I ever need my drop light and not have the garage lights on

bob
 
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nissan_crawler

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Wichita, KS
I like mine covered. One, if a bulb breaks, it isn't cutting a hole in my head.

Two, the lens lets light out to the side, which the open ones with reflectors don't, and I hate shadows.

IMG_2247.jpg
 
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ironroad 9c1

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Gum spring,VA
12 foot ceiling , Its gonna be rare you will be doing something that will break the bulb, just get the cheapo ones with the reflectors..I got the red and silver ones from home depot, Lithonia , cheap and have worked good for 3 years now.
 
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35mastr

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Norcal
You can keep them nekid and use bulbs that are wrapped with the safety coating. We use them in the plant and when broken. Not a single piece of glass will come out of it.
 
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cowboybob56

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Tucson, AZ
or..rip that fork from the hand of a fat guy.

I have the cheap open reflector t-8's that I will get the individual tube covers for. I hate bugs.
 
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Highbeam

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Feb 15, 2011
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Mt Rainier foothills, WA
Has anyone tried to break a flourescent tube? They are not fragile like an old incandescent bulb. They aren't going to just break on their own. The least of my worries is broken bulb glass raining down. Should I be more worried about the sky falling? Does this really happen?

My bulbs and fixtures are nekkid. Plenty of side light since the bulbs hang below the fixture.

I always thought that those lense covers were for kitchens in your home where the industrial look isn't as appealing.
 
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