Basic lighting question - on/off behavior

[gotta56forme]

I am considering the Lithonia 2x4' T-8 bulb, electronic ballast, flourescent light fixtures (from Home Depot) for my newly built garage. The fixture comes with a pull-string on/off switch. I will soon wire my garage with two lighting circuits, each to be operated by a wall switch.

My question is: If I leave the pull-string switch in the 'on' position on the flourescent fixture, will I be able to control the lights with just the wall switch, or would I need to pull start all the fixture pull-string switches after I've energized each lighting circuit?

I figure once the pull-string switch is in the on position, I can operate the lights with the wall switches, but I want to make sure before I buy 18 of them.

Thanks in advance,

Scott/Gotta56forme

 

[PAToyota]

Yes, you will be able to use the wall switch to turn them on and off. But you are paying for the switch on the fixture - probably only a few bucks difference but it adds up over multiple fixtures. Don't they have a comparable model without the switch?

The other issue with the switch on the fixture is to make sure that you've tried the switch before replacing bulbs you think are burnt out...

 

[gotta56forme]

Don't they have a comparable model without the switch?

Lithonia may, but my nearby Home Depot doesn't offer one like that.

The other issue with the switch on the fixture is to make sure that you've tried the switch before replacing bulbs you think are burnt out...

Yup!

 

[Alcohol]

Just remember,,you get what you pay for,,leave those $12 light fixtures in the store.

 

[gotta56forme]

In this case they are $25 each, and I read some decent things on this website about Lithonia fixtures. My requirements were that I wanted a two bulb 4' T-8 fixture with electronic ballasts (to ward off/minimize cold start and hum issues).

 

[PAToyota]

My downstairs shop is done in Lithonia EJ fixtures:
http://www.acuitybrandslighting.com...ghting/Industrial Lighting/EJS-EJD-HO-VHO.pdf

Quite pleased with them.

 

[Steve in Mi]

In my shop's main room downstairs (28 X 36) I have 10 8' T-12 shaded fixtures that turn on in two banks but I added pull chain switches to each fixture also. I like being able to have light only where I need it. To have the best of all worlds (except for a bunch of strings hanging down) I also have enough incandescent lighting in that same space with 6 standard pullchain fixtures that are switched on/off at any of the four doors used to enter it. Three more individually switched circuits control 2 more incandescent lights, 4 - 4' T-12's and another 8' T-12. I have two plug outlets in the ceiling near the overhead door for drop lights/cord-a-matics that still are not hung but were purchased when the shop was built.

I think you will like the separate switches on the light units unless it is strictly a show place - then I guess you will want all the lights on nearly all of the time and no pull strings detracting from the beauty of the space

 

[Don T]

Hey Scott,

Check out www.pfolighting.com they're in our area. I'm going with their 8 ft. fixture that takes 4 ea. 4 ft T-8 blubs. The HO fixtures are about $75 each and the blubs are about $2.50 each. A little spendy, but they're commercial and the blubs should last about 20,000 hrs.

Good Luck,
Don

 

[Aceman]

In this case they are $25 each, and I read some decent things on this website about Lithonia fixtures. My requirements were that I wanted a two bulb 4' T-8 fixture with electronic ballasts (to ward off/minimize cold start and hum issues).

I'm not completely convinced those Lithonia fixtures in Home Depot are of the same quality as the Lithonia fixtures sold at an electrical supply house.

 

[Alcohol]

Sorry,I misunderstood you,,,,you have the right fixtures in mind.. I use them all of the time at school and they work great.

 

[gotta56forme]

Thanks to everyone for their replies.