Lighting advice

[thightower]

Dad built the shop I have in '81. When he built it, he installed 3 HID lights down the center, they still work well, just need to clean the difusers. He also installed 10 light sockets, which work well until the HID's come to life. I want to replace the regular lights with flurecents. Question is T5 OR T8?

 

[mdale]

How tall is the ceiling?

 

[thightower]

It is a morton building. 40x70, insulated. 14 ft side walls.

 

[roaddog359]

Dad built the shop I have in '81. When he built it, he installed 3 HID lights down the center, they still work well, just need to clean the difusers. He also installed 10 light sockets, which work well until the HID's come to life. I want to replace the regular lights with flurecents. Question is T5 OR T8?

T 5 HO lights all the way. Thats what I put in my morton building. They are super bright and very efficient.

 

[thightower]

I had done a little homework on them. Just wasn't sure what direction I wanted to go. Thanks for the input.

 

[Charles (in GA)]

You may not be crazy about paying the price for them, but you will be crazy (happy) about the light they put out.

There is a standard T5 which is not any better of a light than a T8, make sure you are looking at T5HO lighting, such as THIS.

Charles

 

[thightower]

From the advice I've got here and the other investigation I've done. I believe I will go with the T5HO lights. With the price of them, I don't have to all 10 at one time, do a few now then finish later.

 

[thightower]

I've been searching for rule of thumb lumins per square foot in the forum. Can't find it, does any know the lumins per square foot rule?

 

[mdale]

I was thinking that i read to use t8 if ceiling height was 20ft or less and t5 for over 20ft. Might be able to use t8 and save some money.

 

[Charles (in GA)]

Someone has suggested that T5HO is a "High Bay" light that should not be installed below 20 ft. Whether a light is high bay or low bay is generally based on its focus. Strip lights not having a reflector, have a wide spread of light that is suitable for lower ceilings. If the light had a focused reflector you would not want to use it low, as you would have a "hot spot" and not enough light spread.

I have two of the 92" Lithonia strips I bought from HD mounted over my workbenches, and they are not more than 7 ft high. They are bright but they work well.

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=118182

Charles

new T5HO on the right, Old T12 on the left.

 

[rosana1884]

The direction of light should on the place where you want the light. T 5 is the best for your shop requirement. Thanks