Flourescent vs Incandescent

[Old Bill]

Which light source would be best in an unheated garage where the inside temperature might go to 40 degrees F?

 

[ddawg16]

Flourescent will be just fine....they don't start having problems until you get down around 32 or colder....

 

[Wow]

You mean 40 as a LOW? That's NOTHING for fluorescents. The Philips tubes I have in my shop are rated for use in walk in freezers. (well below zero)

They do sell specialized cold weather tubes and ballasts, but with 40F as a low, you wouldn't need them.

 

[A_Pmech]

Fluorescent lamps will work just fine at those temperatures, especially with quick-start ballasts.

 

[Gary S]

Today you can get florescent fixtures rated down to 0 degrees F, or if you want to spend a little more money get the ones rated down to -20 degrees F.

+40 is a stinking heat wave for florescent lights today.

 

[tfi racing]

As long as you stick with T8's they will work fine at low temps.If you find some used T12's pass on them,they don't like the cold unless they are low temp ballasts or HO,and new T12 tubes/ballasts/fixtures won't be sold in Canada after June 2010.

 

[Falcon67]

My T8s don't mind cold, my remaining T12s hate it. I use T8s for anything new.

 

[kbs2244]

I have the cheapest 4 footers I could find in my garage.
It is less than 20F out there right now.
They come on fine.