I need some help on some new light bulbs for my garage. Right now I only have 2 light sockets in an unfinished garage. I plan on insulating and adding fluorescent lights next summer but would like some new bulbs for now. I've had cfl's and they put off good light they take forever to warm up. I bought some halogen flood lights and while they turn on right away, they don't put off much light. Is there anything out there that turns on right away and puts off good light? Are LED's my answer?
Good Cold Weather Bulbs?
- Thread starter SchuLace
- Start date
100 watt old school incandescent bulbs.
Better HURRY though as they will be come scarse in 2014 !!!!
http://money.cnn.com/2013/12/13/news/economy/light-bulb-ban/
Better HURRY though as they will be come scarse in 2014 !!!!
http://money.cnn.com/2013/12/13/news/economy/light-bulb-ban/
Gary S
Well-known member
Two light bulbs aren't going to light the place like you want. If you were unhappy with halogen, basic incandescent bulbs will put out even less light. It might make sense to put in the florescent tube lights now. You can hang them from your ceiling and connect them to the existing socket boxes if you buy fixtures with cords.
100 watt old school incandescent bulbs.
Better HURRY though as they will be come scarse in 2014 !!!!
http://money.cnn.com/2013/12/13/news/economy/light-bulb-ban/
I thought the 100's were gone already?? Just 75's and below for now?? I guess I got to get down to the Wally and stock up...
lessersivad
Well-known member
If you like CFL's, you'll love incandescents.
Low cost. Instant on. Provides some heat output.
Low cost. Instant on. Provides some heat output.
G_P
Well-known member
I would install a few more fixtures. Have one or two incandescent to provide immediate light and the rest fluorescent. Turn off the incandescent lights once the fluorescent warm up.
JordonMusser
Well-known member
LED. they love the cold.
bsaint
Well-known member
I had an issue where I would go through bulbs everytime the weather went cold, regardless of quality. I tried a CFL but it went out QUICK because I have a ambient light dimmer switch. So far the 30 dollar LED bulb has worked without a hitch as low as 15 degrees. It even works great in low light conditions when the ambient light sensor is making the lightbulb pulse.
I know that 2 aren't going to get it the way I want but I am going to take advantage with what I have for now. I considered using hanging flourescents but I only have my garage opener outer in the ceiling for now. It's taken up my garage door opener and my extension cord reel.
Is there a certain color rating of LED that I should get? I don't have any windows in my garage either.
2ManyProjects
Well-known member
- Joined
- Jul 18, 2013
- Messages
- 757
As a practical matter, about your only choice for this "interim solution" would be high-output CFLs, such as (just for example):
http://www.1000bulbs.com/product/8256/FC105-S50OD.html
'Tis the nature of the beast. Not much you can do about that.
Exactly what sort of "halogen flood lights" are you referring to? SOME halogen lights are EXTREMELY powerful (500W or more per bulb):
http://www.1000bulbs.com/product/5108/Q-J0500120.html
If that (10,500 Lumens) still isn't "enough" brightness, then odds are nothing else will be either. OTOH, the term "flood light" in combination with the assumption that this was something you could directly screw into those Edison base fixtures, implies something like a PAR30 bulb:
http://www.1000bulbs.com/product/98297/PAR-357533SP.html
In that case, these are not only not-all-that-bright (785 Initial Lumens in the example above); they also inherently limit their output to a relatively narrow cone -- which, if screwed into a ceiling-mounted Edison base, would effectively make it into a downward-focused spotlight, brightly illuminating a relatively small circle on the floor, but NOTHING beyond that.
LEDs are indeed "instant on"; but on a $$$/lumen basis, they are generally MUCH more expensive than other forms of lighting. And even the biggest/brightest of the potentially "suitable" types, such as:
http://www.1000bulbs.com/product/88768/LED-A1975127DIO.html
are still not all that powerful (1,150 Lumens for the one cited). More importantly, they still don't solve your fundamental problem, which is having too few light SOURCES (i.e., "fixtures") to properly cover the space.
In which case, you MAY want to consider retrofitting whatever fluorescent fixtures you eventually settle on with ballasts specifically designed for Cold Service applications, such as:
http://www.1000bulbs.com/category/refrigerator-ballasts/
This, as the saying goes, is "The Bottom Line."
Well... That would depend in part on exactly WHICH "halogen" lamps vs. WHICH "basic incandescent bulbs" you/he are referring to.
That would be a kludge, at best; but it may well be his only viable solution, until and unless he installs PROPER lighting on a permanent basis.
Were the CFLs in question explicitly denoted as being "Dimmable"? And if so, from what sort of dimmer control did you run them (yes, that can make a difference)?
That makes the dimmer sound even MORE suspect. The bulb should not "pulse" in any case.
Not that I am really recommending this; but there ARE adapters available which will allow you to plug a (two-prong) lamp cord into an screw-base light socket:
http://www.lowes.com/pd_71343-89916-EBI-01_0__?productId=3713526
http://fruitridgetools.com/StoreFrontProfiles/DeluxeSFItemDetail.aspx?sfid=136763&c=7725&i=251513876
HOWEVER... Because an Edison-base lightbulb socket provides contacts ONLY for the Hot and Neutral lines, you will NOT have access to an EGC (Equipment Grounding Conductor); so any plug-in lamps which use (or depend on) a three-prong plug will not work (no, you should NOT defeat that third plug via yet another adapter -- or, Ghod forbid, cutting it off).
Color Temperature is absolutely the LAST of your problems. But if/when you get to that, either 4,100K or 5,000K will likely be your best bet.
Highbeam
Well-known member
CFLs ****. That warm up time is the nature of the beast and will still be there when it is warmer.
I love my LEDs now that they are so cheap. I have them in all my cans and also my outside light fixtures on the house. They are replacements for 40 or 60 watt incandescents so relatively low output and are only cheap because the utility subsidizes the cost at home depot but they are excellent in cold weather.
For temporary use, in cold weather, and needing more than 60 watt equivalent output, go get a high watt incandescent. Supplement with task lighting from a halogen floor light as needed.
I love my LEDs now that they are so cheap. I have them in all my cans and also my outside light fixtures on the house. They are replacements for 40 or 60 watt incandescents so relatively low output and are only cheap because the utility subsidizes the cost at home depot but they are excellent in cold weather.
For temporary use, in cold weather, and needing more than 60 watt equivalent output, go get a high watt incandescent. Supplement with task lighting from a halogen floor light as needed.