Changing over to new lighting.. HELP

[sixball]

In my 24X32 garage I have about 6 dual bulb florecent 4 foot shoplights and 1 8 footer. They are old, and after replacing afew bulbs over the last few months, the ballasts are going bad 1 by 1 and it's starting to get dark

I searched abit here for some suggestions, but I don't know all the terminoloigy when it comes to lights. I have about 10 overhead outlets. I paint motorcycle frames, fenders and tanks, but never a whole car/truck there, so I need some good light.

So, what do you suggest for lighting? Get new 4 foot shop lights ? (the ones up are very old units) I also notice in the winter, until the garage gets up to atleast 60, the lights are dim, and some don't even come on until it warms up. Or is there something else out there to look into? Any suggestions would be cool, also put in terms for an idiot when it comes to lighting,

Thanks
Sixball

 

[ket-tek]

What's your ceiling height?

The best bet is to usually go as many 4' T8's as you can afford or fit. More the better, and two or more switchable banks will help save power if that is a concern.

Electronic ballasts will help with the cold weather problems.

 

[sixball]

Ceiling height is 9 feet, the shop lights are now hung from the rafters with chains, so they are roughly 8 1/2 feet above the floor. Is there anything else to consider other than the T 8's? And what exactly is the switchable blank?

Thanks
Sixball

 

[Jeremy W]

you could always put new ballasts in your old lights, I put new cold start 0 degree F ballast in 4 existing fixtures in my pole barn and added a bunch of new fixtures. Found ballast on ebay for cheap. mine are 4bulb 4foot t8 ceilings are 9 foot also

 

[mrb]

switchable bank = dont put all the lights on one switch. For example have two switches with every other fixture on each switch.

 

[kmacht]

Walmart has decent 4' T8 fixtures for under $10 each. You can also look into recessed lighting. The cans if bought as a contractors pack (6) from Homedepot work out to be around $5 each.

Keith