Lighting my 40x50x16

rjprice · Aug 26, 2017

So been reading here a lot. Trying to get up to speed on lighting. I am looking at the 2 ft James Industries 165 W LED High Bay: https://www.getjl.com/magic-high-bay.

I want it bright in there so to reach 100 fc takes 12 of the 2ft 24,563 lumen 165w fixtures or 16 of the James 2 ft 16,400 lumen 110w fixtures. The question is whether I would be better off paying the additional labor installing 16 110w or 12 165w fixtures to get to ~100 fc at 2.5 ft. I'm thinking 5000k.

I do want the shop bright as I do a lot of metal fabrication (hobby). The 165s claim to put out nearly 25k lumens. Seems way above the competition. Anyone test this?

Thanks!

Radix2 · Aug 26, 2017

I have a 40x50 with 12 of the James 165w units, I am very happy with the brightness and coverage!

If you look in the high bay thread there is quite a bit of info.

Platonic Solid · Aug 26, 2017

Only a lab can test true lumen output. No one but the manufacturer is going to spend $500+ to obtain these figures. James has their LM-79 reports linked on the page you linked to.
165W shows 22,600 lm at 5000K, 167W, 135L/W, 115° beam angle
110W shows 16,400 lm at 5000K, 110W, 149L/W. 100° bean angle

Usually you want tighter beam angles on higher output fixtures, but these 2 are opposite.
The efficiency of the 110W is quite impressive.

It's easy to get 100fc @ 30" in an empty room. The real challeng is what happens when you fill the room. That's when you start experiencing shadows. Fewer fixtures = more shadows = more task lighting required. Lower output fixtures also reduce glare.

I'm sure you'll be satisfied either way, but given the option I'd go for 16 of the 110W to give you more shadow free equipment placement flexibility.

rjprice · Aug 26, 2017

Thanks for the replies. Platonic, point well taken regarding th shadows. I guess I'm a little confused by the data. The James 165W being sold today by http://www.ledlightingwholesaleinc.com/James-High-Bay-2-Foot-165-Watt-p/zy-h5-165w.htm say it puts out 24,563 lumens. I called them and they said it was a newer fixture and that the lumen output was accuarate. Is it possible that the LM-79 is from the previous version of the fixture?

Next question: Is it worth the expense to DIM?

Platonic Solid · Aug 26, 2017

I know it sounds like a salesman feeding you a line, but as LEDs advance, the prior less efficient versions become obsolete. It's unrealistic to expect the manufacturer to retest every fixture they make every year. So yes, expect each newer generation fixture to be slightly more efficient either using less wattage or providing more lumens than the last. The online LM-79 report is 14 months old, thus the LEDs used to build the tested fixture are likely near 2 year old technology.

If the space is only used as a workshop/garage I see no point wasting time and money on dimming. It's also worth noting that the vast majority of LED fixtures use PWM (pulse width modulation) for dimming. If LED frequency is in sync with rotating machinery, PWM dimming can create a strobe effect or make running machinery appear not to be moving.

rjprice · Aug 27, 2017

Thanks, Platonic. I think I will skip the dimming and just have 3 circuits. Probably good enough.

Paperman · Aug 28, 2017

Cost of these lights?

zmotorsports · Aug 28, 2017

I am not certain of what the cost is of the James Industries are but I am running the ones below.
http://www.e-conolight.com/replaces...27-series.html?cct=5251&finish=5331#configtop

These are rated @ 27k lumens for 70,000 hour life expectancy.

I have 11 of these in my 40x50x16 shop and I am getting just over 110 f/c of lighting. On page 80 of my shop/RV garage build thread you can see the meter readings. Link in my signature.

After working in my new shop for a little over a month now I can tell you they are bright and awesome! Glad I didn't go any less.

Mike

Platonic Solid · Aug 28, 2017

Paperman said:
Cost of these lights?

(both linked)
James High Bay, 2 Foot, 110 Watt, 16,400lm, $112
James High Bay, 2 Foot, 165 Watt, 24,500lm, $150

rjprice · Nov 7, 2017

Finally getting my electrical installed. 12 James 165W high bays. Boy is it bright! 6 vapor tights on the lean-to. Also Bright as poop. Gonna have 2 wall packs for each roll-up door and 2 more on the other side of the building.

35 outlets; 14 outside and 21 inside (includes 4 50A welder outlets)

Gonna side the inside with plywood and plumb for air once the sparky is done.

Thanks Radix and Platonic for the advice. I'm happy.

Lighting my 40x50x16

rjprice

Well-known member

Radix2

Well-known member

Platonic Solid

Well-known member

rjprice

Well-known member

Platonic Solid

Well-known member

rjprice

Well-known member

Paperman

Well-known member

zmotorsports

ALLIANCE MEMBER

Platonic Solid

Well-known member

rjprice

Well-known member

Attachments