Hi output or electronic ballast fluorescent?

[Fisherguy]

I have a unheated garage, 24' long x 28' wide, 10' ceiling.

I was thinking of using 6 - 8 ft fluorescent fixtures to light it with maybe some 4 footers over any workbench areas. The guy at Home Depot told me I may want to use "high output" fixtures in it, the one he showed me had the big T-12 tubes in it, 8 ft long.

But after clicking around a bit I've read T-8's with electronic ballasts might be better? I'm near Vancouver BC, doesn't really get that cold here normally, not much colder than freezing but occasionally it will get down to -10*C (14*F) for a while, but either way I don't want to have to wait a long time for things to brighten up.

Any suggestions?

Also, do most of you put lights above the garage doors, so they'll be blocked when the doors are open or position them between the doors? I have to doors, 10 x 8 ft high and 10 x 9.

How many lights can I put on a 15 amp breaker?

Thanks
Will

 

[pattenp]

First thing is don't get T12's, they are on the down hill slide. You can get T8 in both regular or HO. T8 regular electronic will start in temps down to 0 F and HO's will start in temps down to -20 F.

The number of fixtures on the 15A circuit depends on the amp draw of the ballast in the fixture. Typically it's around 1A per fixture, so you could put 12 fixtures(12 amps)=(80% load) on a 15A circuit.

 

[Fisherguy]

Thanks.
Any Do T-8s come in 8 ft tubes? What's better, 4 or 8 ft?

 

[pattenp]

T8's come in 8' fixtures using 4 4' tubes. 4' or 8' doesn't matter, get what fits the space. The main thing about 4' fixtures is you can spread out the light more evenly.

 

[eljefino]

T12s are virturally extinct. Even if they'll be legal in canada they're getting phased out in the states so you won't have good choice or prices on bulbs or replacement ballasts etc.

I have one or two magnetic ballast T12s still kicking around (HO will probably be electronic) and they hum and flicker even at 10'C.

I'd get T8s and splurge on a big box (10+) of quality high-CRI bulbs. The colors of everything, including your car paint, will really pop.

 

[2drx4]

T12s are virturally extinct. Even if they'll be legal in canada they're getting phased out in the states so you won't have good choice or prices on bulbs or replacement ballasts etc.

Agreed. The T5s have started to be launched here, so I imagine the T12s will not be getting reordered by any of the box stores/lighting outlets.

 

[Fisherguy]

Okay thanks, so do I need to get special ballasts with the new T-8 fixtures to work in the cold then?

 

[Rich H.]

Nothing special required, even standard/normal T8 electronic ballasts will fire down to
0 degrees F.

 

[eljefino]

Also, do most of you put lights above the garage doors, so they'll be blocked when the doors are open or position them between the doors? I have to doors, 10 x 8 ft high and 10 x 9.

I think I'm pretty clever and have a light positioned so when the door is open the light shines down through the window portion of said door.

It's nice when I'm working on a car, backed in, hood up, in afternoon going into evening. I get the afternoon light then some more light above if not in front of the open hood. Not a substitute for a drop light but it helps keep it from being a giant shadow.

The "killer setup" often mentioned on this board and a goal of my own is central lighting on one switch then corner/area lighting on another. If you're doing brake work between the car and wall it is often a dark shadow with the normal homeowner central overhead lighting scheme.

If you do nothing else above the door area, maybe throw in a $1.29 edison base and CFL with its own pull string if you can do it without the door smashing it.

 

[Fisherguy]

I wish I had windows in my overhedd doos!

Thanks guys, it figures the guy at HD wasn't the most knowledgeable!

 

[ddawg16]

I wish I had windows in my overhedd doos!

Thanks guys, it figures the guy at HD wasn't the most knowledgeable!

Duh......that's breaking news......

Allow me to give you some #'s

A T8 lamp is about 25% more effecient than the T12. The electronic ballasts in T8 lamps operates at a much higher freq so you won't get that 120 hz flicker that you get with magnetic ballasts.

If someone tells you that a T8 flicker is giving them a headache....they have a mental issue....

A CFL is more effecient than a T12...but not quite as effecient as a T8.

A T5 bulb is more effecient than a T8....and more effecient than the current crop of LED lights....

The current crop of LED lamps are only about 10% more effecient than the typical CFL....when you factor in bulb cost....LED's are not there yet...CFL's are still a better overall value.