Cold Start Flouresents?

[RonRock]

What can you tell me about them? My Pole Barn has 12 foot ceiling, Iowa winters=buuurrrrr. I figured on 8 footers on the ceiling. How much $, Where to buy? A better lighting solution?

 

[shopforeman]

Fixtures using an electronic ballast will provide some cold start ability.

Advance's Optanium 2.0 Instant Start ballasts are available to meet specific needs in two versions - a standard light output design (0.87 Ballast Factor) and a low-watt design (0.77 Ballast Factor). Instant start models are equal to or better than single-source lamp/ballast "systems" in lumen-per-watt efficiency and reduce initial costs for always-on applications. The ballasts also feature cold start capability down to -20°F as well as a low profile, lightweight housing optimized for today's fixture designs, and fully meet new NEMA/CEE high performance T8 lighting system specifications.

Another option would be low bay Metal Halide lights.

 

[enginerd]

We have CFL's, in 20degree weather they come on instantly at about 75%, within 20 seconds they were at full brightness.

 

[RonRock]

Re: Cold Start Fluorescent?

Fixtures using an electronic ballast will provide some cold start ability.


Another option would be low bay Metal Halide lights.

A quick search looks like Metal Halide is expensive. I wonder if I could run more Fluorescent and get more even lighting for the same cost?
Not sure what CFL's are and Iowa winter temps go below zero. I tend not to spend much time in the shop at those temps because it is too hard to bring up the heat, but there are times.

 

[enginerd]

How often is it below freezing INSIDE your garage though?

CFL=Compact Fluorescent

 

[PAToyota]

I have Lithonia 8' EJ HO fixtures that do well. We don't get too much below zero anymore, but they have done a good job in the teens. Takes maybe ten to fifteen minutes to come up to full output, though.

I also have a few CFL fixtures for "walking around" - for when I don't want to turn on all the overheads. They do well for that purpose, but you'd need a boatload of them to put off any reasonable light if you are out there to work.

Metal halide is typically for higher ceilings.

 

[lt1nut]

It's all about the ballast. Make sure the fixture you buy has ballast(s) rated to fire down to 0*F. You MAY have to special order them from your local electrical supply house or big-box retailer (Menard's, Lowe's, Home Depot, TSC, etc).

If you can't find any feel free to email me, my wife is the Project Engineer at American Fluorescent...

 

[enginerd]

You can get lights in Low or high bay, either can work for either application.

PAToyota, why do need a boatload of CFL's to put off any reasonable light?

Picture of your lighting?

 

[PAToyota]

PAToyota, why do need a boatload of CFL's to put off any reasonable light?

I'd guess that it depends on your definition of "reasonable" light and for what tasks you require it.

I have eleven 8' dual bulb reflector fluorescent fixtures in a 24' x 40' space - for a workshop that lights things up pretty good. I have three CFL fixtures spread throughout the workshop so that I can see to get around - but that is about it. To get the light of the fluorescent strips I'd likely need six (or likely more... Eight? Ten?) CFLs to replace each of the strips...

 

[enginerd]

What kind of CFL fixtures?

We have a 4000sf area of our garage lit up by CFL's, and we only have 14, but these are low bays mounted 13' (cieling is 16.5'). So you do need a specific type of facility to have these fixtures work best.

Sounds like you might be able to benefit from T5HO's, or maybe some spot lighting fo specific task areas (work bench, lift, etc).

 

[6768rogues]

Home Depot has 4-foot fluorescent shop lights with a cage over the bulbs for $20. They use T-8 bulbs and have electronic ballasts. I have a few under a loft and over my work table. My garage is heated, but when I turn the heat down it is about 40 in there and the lights come on instantly. If you are looking for low cost lights, they might work for you.

 

[timgr]

IIRC the largest CFLs are, what, 23 watts? You can probably assume all types make about the same amount of light per watt. Each 4' tube is 40 watts, so you need roughly 4 CFLs to equal a 2-bulb 4' fixture. You'd probably want to add some kind of downward reflector to the CFLs, similar to the 4' fixture.

 

[chad pickens]

If you want to stay with fluorescent. Menards sells 8 foot t-12 ho cold start fixtures for about 55$ each and bulbs are about 5$ each they are 110 watt per bulb

 

[bochnak]

I just put T8 fixtures up in my garage. The ballasts claim good to 50°F. I have turned them on in 20°F weather and they start right up. It take a good 5 min for them to get to full brightness, though. I can't complain since I got them for free.

FYI, T8's are more efficient than T12's. This was a concern since I am limited to 1 15 amp circuit for now.

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=11430

 

[malibu101]

IIRC the largest CFLs are, what, 23 watts?........................

I recently installed 70W CFL lamps. There were in low-bay fixtures used a meeting area.
Until then, I too would say I never saw above 26W.

 

[SteveU]

The 8' HO will fire at 0*F but it takes a few minuites to come up to full brightness at those temps. The HO are also quite a bit brighter than the regular fixtures and work at temps that the others won't but they do use a little more electricity.

 

[RonRock]

Great info everybody. Much appreciated.