I'm going to try these 105W CFLs in 5000k a few people have used here in my shop with a 17' ceiling height. It is insulated (ceiling & walls) with a white-faced material, so that should help with reflecting. My question is to either mount the fixtures directly to the purlins or drop them down a couple of feet or so to get the light closure to the work area? Is it worth the hassle to drop them?
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105W CFL--Drop or Ceiling Mount
- Thread starter bfr57
- Start date
2Big2Ride
Well-known member
We have six of those 105w CFL 5000K bulbs in the studio side of the building, a 30x20 space, dropped to about 11 feet from the floor. We have nine of the same bulbs mounted to the purlins on the garage side, 30x24 space, with the three highest bulbs in the center about 15' from the floor. The light on the studio side is a little better with the bulbs lower. Both spaces have very usable light. Worth the trouble to lower the bulbs? Depends on the fixtures you are using.
Steve from Socal
Well-known member
I have some at 12~13 feet on a purlin and another row a couple feet higher but dropped from the purlin it may be a bit better. I have another row on a purlin at about 20 feet from the floor, the light is noticeably duller. The low row is primarily over my machines, the next row over bench work and fab, the high row is above a bridge crane(not much room to drop). The overall light quality is good, the high row add some fill that is reflected down.
I used all thread to drop hex boxes for my lights, it was not a big deal and I would do it again. When I did them all I could find was 3 foot pieces of all thread. You may want to line up your materials, I would have preferred 4 feet.
On the other side of my shop I have 55w's attached to the bottom of another bridge crane, under the rail at about 12 feet, even being 12 feet from the ceiling they do provide some good reflected light.
Steve
I used all thread to drop hex boxes for my lights, it was not a big deal and I would do it again. When I did them all I could find was 3 foot pieces of all thread. You may want to line up your materials, I would have preferred 4 feet.
On the other side of my shop I have 55w's attached to the bottom of another bridge crane, under the rail at about 12 feet, even being 12 feet from the ceiling they do provide some good reflected light.
Steve
Depends on the fixtures you are using.[/QUOTE said:I was just going to use run-of-the-mill cheap porcelain fixtures without reflectors; bad choice?
jlckmj
Well-known member
I was just going to use run-of-the-mill cheap porcelain fixtures without reflectors; bad choice?
That is what I used and they work fine. I have two rows of them mounted about 12 foot high, half way up the vaulted ceiling and they work fine. I would try them on the purlins, if you don't think they are bright enough, lower them a little.
Jim
2Big2Ride
Well-known member
I don't know the science, but I think the height has more effect than the reflectors. Here are pics from our shop - even thou I think the light is better on the studio side I am not going to do the work to lower the lights on the garage side. It is plenty good enough with 9 105W CFLs in a 30'x24' space.I was just going to use run-of-the-mill cheap porcelain fixtures without reflectors; bad choice?
Garage side lights:
View media item 44728
Studio side lights:
View media item 44729
Compy222
Member
I've got 3 of the 85w in our garage with 10.5 ceilings. Its super bright, but that's also with finished white ceilings. If you could drop them 12-18 inches that'd be prefect. I'd also consider the reflector housings pictured above.
Burb
Well-known member
I've got mine mounted @ the 14' ceiling height without any problems, but I don't know how much of a difference the extra 3' will make.