230 degree beam angle unsuitable??

[him_thirsty_pa]

myself and a few others inquired about this over on the "best light fixture ever" thread but i didn't see it discussed. is a 230 degree beam angle not as well suited to garage lighting as the 120 degree? i realize the obvious difference in the angles, but wondering how it plays out in real life.

the 230 degree "diva lite" 4 fts on bees lighting are in stock and a little cheaper than the 120 variety recommended in the other thread. they both list the same lumens and wattage, just the difference in beam angle. the other light most recommended on here http://www.ledlightingwholesaleinc....-18-Watt-Universal-C-p/zy-t8-18w1200-bixx.htm doesn't say which beam angle it is?

my garage wall height will be 10 ft for the record. just looking for some expertise ... the two diva lights are linked to below

http://www.beeslighting.com/product-p/t8r-48-22l-50k-b.htm

http://www.beeslighting.com/product-p/t818w1200bixxdf40f1.htm

 

[American Locomotive]

The reason why these drop in LED tubes work so well, is that they direct most of the light down. Traditional fluorescent tubes blast light everywhere, especially since most home shops have the traditional reflector-less shop light. A lot of light gets lost to the ceiling. Some modern, high-end fluorescent fixtures have very well designed reflectors, but most home shops won't have them.

So that's where the 120-180* LED tubes come into play. They fire their light mostly downward, saving you from needing a reflector. A 230* tube is just going to throw more light back up at your ceiling, wasting it.

 

[cybrdyke]

Each beam angle has it's purpose. With 10' ceilings, a tight beam like 120d wont have alot of distance to spread out. This could create hot spots on the floor unless the fixtures are spaced appropriately. If you space them closer together, you'll need more fixtures. If you use more fixtures, you can use a lamp with fewer lumens. More fixtures=more money. If your ceiling was higher, then the 120d would be better.
Tight beam angles also eliminate the use of reflective surfaces like walls and ceilings. The light that reflects off these surfaces is crucial to overall lighting success. Reflected light fills in shadowy areas and reduces contrast. This is the reason that louvers aren't normally used in garage fixtures.
The wider beam angle, from a height of 10', will spread more evenly across the task level. You wont need to space fixtures so closely to achieve an even look. But now, your lumens are spread out over a larger area, so you may want to consider a brighter lamp than the 120d lamp. The wider beam will also make use of the walls and ceiling as reflective surfaces to help even things out.
For these reasons, the only real way to figure out which lamp is best for you is for someone to do a lighting layout for you. I dont know if BEES will do one or not. They should, IMO, because they're selling the stuff.
Hope this helps.
Good luck,
CD

 

[him_thirsty_pa]

great info gentlemen, just what i was after. thanks