Lighting layout - T5 or T8

[scoob8000]

I'm about ready to start picking out light fixtures for the garage.

24w x 32d, 12" ceiling (Closer to 11' 6" with concrete)

Just taking a quick glance at the local big box stores, T8's are quite a bit cheaper and a lot more readily available.

How best to lay them out and wire them? I planned on 2-3 banks of lights, but maybe even 4.

 

[cybrdyke]

Forget the big box. Go to the local electrical supply store. Tell them you need good fixtures and ask if they have someone that will do a layout for you. It's free and professionally done. Most of them will take your credit card.
Support local business.
CD

 

[Falcon67]

Hahaha - guy across the street works for a big electrical supplier. When I asked about fixtures and wire, he said they could not come close to what HD/Lowes prices the basics and I'd be better off shopping there. Unless I was buying Romex in 1000' rolls or lights by the pallet. And there's not a lot of commercial demand for 2-2-2-4 MHF. So yea, shop local if you can but don't be surprised if you end up at the home center. I bouth 130' of MHF, 100 AM box with main and 4 breakers and a 70A breaker at HD and didn't spend $200.

I laid my shop lighting out in sections, with three sections controlled near the man door and the other main section at the other end. You kinda have to lay out how you may use the space and that helps determine what lights you switch on where. One of my switches by the man door turns on only one 8' light so I can see to exit from the other end at night and don't have to leave a whole bank of lights burning where I'm not working. It's a 4 bulb T8 and I'm about to get another ballast so I can turn on only 2 of the bulbs and wire the other two to the rest of the lights on that side.

My 12x24 work room also has three banks - one light over the bench, and the other four are switched in sets of two - two middle and two far end of the room. I also use a lot of 4' shop lights for "task lighting" over benches and such.

 

[pattenp]

I went to two of my so called local electrical supply houses (ECK & CapitalTristate) and they are big electrical supply companies so it is not really like supporting a local mom and pop shop. I ended up getting my T8 fixtures from Lowes for less money. The fixtures were Cooper/Metalux and are the same fixtures available at the supply house. The prices at the supply house are better if you are a contractor and have an account, but not for the average DIY're.

 

[Ray916MN]

To get good feedback on layout a floor diagram with placement of work benches, shelving and vehicles is necessary. Other details like interior wall and ceiling finish and whether the garage door is going to have high lift tracks or not is helpful too. Without this kind of information it is pretty difficult to get good layout help.

With respect to big box versus local electrical supply sourcing for fixtures and bulbs, I found the electrical supply houses in my area couldn't come close to the big box stores for the 50+ 4' two tube T8 strips and 100+ bulbs I put in my shop. The thing to watch, when buying from a big box is the quality of the ballasts as sometimes the ballasts in the stuff they sell are not very good.

I went with T8s over T5s. The price differential and number of years for any potential energy savings to payoff was simply too long to justify T5s when I looked at it 2 years ago.

 

[67carl]

You can find a lot of discussions about T8 vs T5 if you use the search feature. I think it basically comes down to T8s are cheaper, bigger in size and aren't as bright. Conversely, T5s are smaller, cost more but are much brighter.

I ended up going with T5 because I liked the brighter light. I wired them up in such a way that I can have half on or all on. All on and it's almost need-sunglasses bright.

 

[pattenp]

You can find a lot of discussions about T8 vs T5 if you use the search feature. I think it basically comes down to T8s are cheaper, bigger in size and aren't as bright. Conversely, T5s are smaller, cost more but are much brighter.

I ended up going with T5 because I liked the brighter light. I wired them up in such a way that I can have half on or all on. All on and it's almost need-sunglasses bright.

Will someone please explain to me how a standard 4' T5 lamp is brighter than a standard 4' T8 lamp. The lumen output is basically the same. The benefit of the T5 lamp is it produces the same light using less watts. I don't get how some people say T5 is so much brighter than T8.

 

[scoob8000]

Will someone please explain to me how a standard 4' T5 lamp is brighter than a standard 4' T8 lamp. The lumen output is basically the same. The benefit of the T5 lamp is it produces the same light using less watts. I don't get how some people say T5 is so much brighter than T8.

Or are they typicall referring to T5 HO? I've seen a lot of discussion regarding the high output lights.

Just not sure if the cost difference is worth it yet.

Will check out the local supply shops too.

 

[Wuaname]

I kept reading on here that the cost difference wasn't worth it and I tried to convince myself of that, but every time I would go to Lowe's / HD and look at the display T5 and T8, you could definitely tell the difference...

I am NO expert, but after all the money we put in the garages, what's a few more bucks, even if a large industrial warehouse... ymmv

 

[SALIV8]

Will someone please explain to me how a standard 4' T5 lamp is brighter than a standard 4' T8 lamp. The lumen output is basically the same. The benefit of the T5 lamp is it produces the same light using less watts. I don't get how some people say T5 is so much brighter than T8.

if you look at the fixtures the t5 is brighter because of the smaller surface area producing the similar lumens. they actually bother my eyes, even if i dont look directly at them.

because of this im not a big fan of t5's. and especially t5hos.

 

[cybrdyke]

Lumens produced from a standard F32T8 is 2800.
Lumens produced from a standard F28T5 is 2900.
Lumens produced from a standard F54T5HO is 5000.

So many people on this forum incorrectly refer to their T5HO lamps as T5 lamps and that is what causes all the confusion.
CD

 

[pattenp]

The T8 can range from 2700+/- to 3000+/- lumens as do T5. You can't just say the standard lumens are 2800 for T8 and 2900 for T5.

 

[cybrdyke]

The T8 can range from 2700+/- to 3000+/- lumens as do T5. You can't just say the standard lumens are 2800 for T8 and 2900 for T5.

You can, unless you wanna split hairs over 100 lumens. 3000 lumens is considered a "high lumen" T8 lamp, and thus, not standard.
It should also be mentioned that you wont get 100% of the lumens out of any of these T8 lamps. With a standard ballast, you'll only get 88% of the lumens.
CD

 

[Coyote556]

I learned you need a class 15b ballast (consumer, not commercial) or you cannot hear your FM radio.

 

[sang15]

T5 is the way to go

 

[mustangmike6996]

long time lurker... getting ready to start redoing my new-to-me garage. I installed 3 8-foot T8 (If I remember correctly) High output fixtures and it is silly bright in my garage, It is great!

 

[Ray916MN]

The proper way to evaluate T5 vs T5HO vs T8 is to figure out the number of lamps/fixtures of each type required to attain the same lighting level. A single T5H0 bulb may be brighter than an equivalent length single T8 bulb, but it is generally not going to be brighter than two equivalent length T8 bulbs. Price them out, calculate the wattage and figure out the electrical cost. Figure out how long it takes for the energy savings to equal the up front premium for T5 or T5HO bulbs and fixtures.

The other thing to consider is how dispersed you want your lighting to be. For example let's say a T5HO is twice as bright as a T8 bulb of the same length. Two T8 bulbs mounted apart from each other will result in more dispersed light than the single T5HO bulb. Even light dispersion is key to minimizing shadows.

 

[600SL]

I went with T8 because I did not like the T5 HO due to the fact that I would use half as many fixtures and it would lead to point lighting. I prefer to spread the light out. My ceiling is only 10' high. Recommendations form the lighting industry are T8s for this application for this very reason. T5 HO's have a chance to spread out when used in high bays and are the recommended fixture above 16'.

Because of my white ceilings I chose an aperture reflector which was not available in the big box stores. Thus I had to pay the money almost 2 times the cost at Zoro Tool. But I did have a coupon for 20% off from Zoro at the time.

 

[ripper70]

i would go t-8s. My buddy has t-5s and they are so bright it almost gives me a headache. Im glad i with t-8s i have a 30 x 40 with 12 ft walls,vaulted cieling and went 4- 32' rows. PLENTY BRIGHT.

 

[scoob8000]

I've made up my mind to go with T8's.

Ripper70,
I'm actually copying off your design a bit but wondering if it'll be enough.

My garage is 32 deep, 24 wide.

I think I'm going to run 3 strips of t8's the whole 32ft. One row smack down the center, then a row 6ft on either side of it.

Total of 12 8ft tandem fixture, 48 bulbs. 1536 watts. Think this is enough?

Everything is unfinished wood right now, but will be white walls and white ceiling eventually down the road.

 

[bmxdad]

I have a 24' x 36' and went with 5x 4 tube T5HO's with 54 watt tubes. Two circuits ... one with two fixtures and one with three ... a single is cross-wise over the garage door edge when opened all the way. If I drop it down a bit it lights up everything fine ...

View media item 44029
From floor to tube is about 11' on mine ... so hang them high. Also, each fixture is pulling less then 2 amp.