Light issues (Fluorescents)

[JoeKramer]

I am having a problem with cold weather and my 4' lights. I don't know if they are T12 ot T8 off hand.
They will flicker and not come on to full brightness. Also when my compressor kicks on they (most of em) die out and come back after the motor has started (7HP 2stage 80gal).
The fixtures are chepo $7 units.

I wouldn't mind going with 8' ones, just want to see if I can get ones that will cure my problems.

Curently I have 24 fixtures (2 lights each) in my garage (1440 Sq Feet).

Tanks!

 

[ranger_dood]

Flourescents will almost always have problems in the cold. Usually you can get away with it if you at least start them warm. After that, they produce enough of their own heat to stay lit. But they are notorious for having problems in the cold. The gas inside gets to be quite unexciteable... and when you can't excite the gas, you can't get no light!

 

[GeeTeeOhh]

I had to switch to high output ballasts in my uninsulated garage for that very reason. Unfortunately, the cost is probably more for that ballast than you paid for the whole shop light fixture.

 

[trovato]

I had the same problem with my T12 fluorescents. I have found that the newer "cheapo" T8 units are MUCH better! I don't think it's the different tubes. The old ones had transformer type ballasts and the new ones have electronic ballasts. This is what I think makes the big difference. I don't see any advantage to 8' units. They just make it harder to distribute the light where you want it, and they cost more. Do what I did. Go buy ONE replacement 4 foot light, make sure it's an electronic ballast. Wait for it to get cold and see what you think. If you like it, go buy more.

 

[imported_banzaitoyota]

You answered your own question. BOX Store 4' fixtures arent worth the effort to haul home. I made the mistake of installing some, they are scheduled for the dumpster next time I assemble the scaffold to clean bulbs. I use metalux fixtures from an electrical supply store, remarkable quality for the $$$ spent compared to time and money wasted on box store bargin lights

 

[ranger_dood]

The longer the bulb, the worse the effect, as the electricity has to get farther along the bulb for it to work. Higher output ballasts will help, as there's more juice available which is going to excite more of the gas. I can't comment on cheap vs. expensive or standard vs electronic, as I don't have any experiences with these...

 

[autoist]

I've not had problems with my 4' units I got from Lowe's - & there are 6 2-bulb & 3 4-bulb on one circuit in the front half of the garage, 5 2-bulb in my 20x20 clean room & we're installing 6 2-bulb in rear half of garage...never dim, come on quick in warm or cold weather

...if your compressor drags them down, you may have got them on the same circuit...in my garage, lights & plugs are all on separate circuits.

 

[TOMWELDS]

For the lights, either hi output or electronic ballast.

Sounds like a voltage drop. How long of a run from the main panel to the garage? What size wire? How many amp breaker?

 

[autoist]

Tom...good himts - we put a 100 amp box in the garage, dedicated just to it (except for the 3-ton heat pump - that's still on one of the house boxs )...its fed off one of the 200-amp boxes in the house...however, how far is too far for a circuit run?

 

[JoeKramer]

Yeah it seems that I have T12's. I will buy a strip of T8's and wait for the weather to get colder. I am in the Seattle area and we are still kind of warm around here.

 

[TOMWELDS]

Autoist, what size wire is running to the garage? #4 copper, etc? What's important is, what load is on the panel....amps/watts.

 

[JoeKramer]

Ok!

I picked up a T8 light setup for testing. So far it is a lot better! I got it a Lowes for $30 (or abouts, forget now) and got the bulbs for another $5 + coin.
The fixture I got says that you can get 3600 Lumens bulbs for it, but I got 2600 32W bulbs. Still, it is a lot brighter than the 40W T12s I have!
It is also rated for 0 degerees operation and instant start.

They also had big old 8' units. I am not sure if there would be any savings, but I could use 6 to 10 of the 8' ones to replace and improve on my current pile of fixtures.

Any reasons why the 8' T8 units would be better?

 

[autoist]

Tom....BIG Wire...seriously, I don't know...when we put the 100amp breaker in one of my main boxes & the 100 amp box in the garage, they measured the distance & put the correct size wire to run the gagage box....there are more than 100 amps worth of circuit breakers in the box but not all of them are used at same time...think they figured that if I had all the lights on, several plugs being used & the air compressor running, I'd still be okay...but, I never have that much load

..I have had 14 2-bulb fluorescent lights, 2 TV's, refrigerator, 2 battery charges, & air compressor all running at same time & noticed no problems!

 

[TOMWELDS]

One other tip: The terms T12 and T8 refer to 1/8". T12 = 12 X 1/8"=1 1/2" diameter tube. T8=1" diameter.