I'm sure this has been discussed before, but I couldn't find it. In the garage, I have a choice of using T8 fixtures with four 4' lamps, or two 8' lamps. Is there any significant difference in light output? It does look like the 4' lamps are easier to handle. Might be able to get them home without breaking one.
One 8' or two 4' bulbs better
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Falcon67
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Same bulbs will put out the same lumens. I used an 8' over the bench for concentrated light and 4' units in the main area because I could space the 4'ers out some and spread the light around.
I think the 4 ft bulbs are cheaper to buy?
Chris Adams
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I've been asking about the same subject as I will need to light 700 square feet later this month, but I haven't found any definitive answers.
I want the most light for the least wattage burned.
The lights are on for a long time when I am on a project, and I don't want to burn more than 600-700 watts.
My present setup in the 440 garage (combo of T12, T8 , a big CFL and a focused florescent outdoor light over the workbench, burns about 900 watts and I would like to use a little less for as much light, if I could.
I want the most light for the least wattage burned.
The lights are on for a long time when I am on a project, and I don't want to burn more than 600-700 watts.
My present setup in the 440 garage (combo of T12, T8 , a big CFL and a focused florescent outdoor light over the workbench, burns about 900 watts and I would like to use a little less for as much light, if I could.
Torque1st
MEMBER EMERITUS
Use 4' fixtures and use multiple switches to turn on only the lights you need.
nate379
Banned
Good question.
I have 4 4ft housings in my garage and I have been trying to decide if I should add 2 more for a total of 6 or swap out the 4ft housings for 4 8ft ones.
The 8ft bulbs are a bit of a pain to deal with, but it's not all that often they go out anyhow... what maybe every 8-10 years if that?
I have 4 4ft housings in my garage and I have been trying to decide if I should add 2 more for a total of 6 or swap out the 4ft housings for 4 8ft ones.
The 8ft bulbs are a bit of a pain to deal with, but it's not all that often they go out anyhow... what maybe every 8-10 years if that?
Chris Adams
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I'm on four switches for my present setup. And they are all going to be on, if I am in the garage.
If you are doing a job, you want ALL the light, so multiple switches only saves wattage when you just duck in to pick up a tool or something.
Over the course of a year having extra switches may save a couple kilowatts.
Getting more efficient lighting can save thousands of kilowatts.
So the question remains, is ANYONE using 8 foot tubes with T8 bulbs?
Fast Orange
Well-known member
My personal preference would be 4' lamps.The shorter lamps seem to warm up quicker in cool temperatures,are much easier to handle and store and cost much less for initial purchase.The light output for two 4' lamps is very slightly more than for a single 8' lamp.
nate379
Banned
2 8ft bulbs = 4 4ft bulbs?
In other words if I put 4 8ft housings it would be equal to 8 4ft housings?
8ft bulb is 60 watt vs 4ft 40 watt.
So to equal the same light, 4fters would be 640 watts, vs 480 watts with 8ft, which is about an amp difference.
If I left them on 24hrs for 7 days it would cost me $20.42 for 4 ft vs $15.32 for 8ft.
Handling and storage is really a non issue IMO. A bulb lasts half a decade easily. No real reason to keep any extras on hand.
In other words if I put 4 8ft housings it would be equal to 8 4ft housings?
8ft bulb is 60 watt vs 4ft 40 watt.
So to equal the same light, 4fters would be 640 watts, vs 480 watts with 8ft, which is about an amp difference.
If I left them on 24hrs for 7 days it would cost me $20.42 for 4 ft vs $15.32 for 8ft.
Handling and storage is really a non issue IMO. A bulb lasts half a decade easily. No real reason to keep any extras on hand.
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In Maine, tubes are universal hazardous waste, must be packaged in cardboard box and returned to recycler. 8fters are a pain in that regard. Costs me 15 cents a foot to get rid of. I doubt the newer tubes last as long as you think also.
nate379
Banned
You must live downstate near the big city?
Most folks have a dump on their property up north or burn it. Bust the bulbs in a few pieces and the don't take up much space.
Plus playing swords and spears with them is fun as hell!
Most folks have a dump on their property up north or burn it. Bust the bulbs in a few pieces and the don't take up much space.
Plus playing swords and spears with them is fun as hell!
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Chris Adams
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Problem with any of these comparisons is the old apple/orange/sand thing.
40 watts of power in an incandescent equals so much illumination.
40 watts of power in a CFL equals probably five times as much illumination.
40 watts of power in a T12 equals maybe as much light as in a CFL, or does it?
40 watts of power in a T8 is supposed to make more light than 40 watts of power in a T12, or so it is claimed.
A T8 usually draws 32 watts of power. And supposedly makes as much light as a T12 with 40 watts of draw.
Or does it?
A 80 watt T8 eight footer (if you can find one, as I can't find any T8 eight footers to look at locally) makes how many lumens compared to two 4 foot T8's for 64 watts?
See where the problem lies?
Which bulb makes the most light for the least watts? In a given temperature?
That information is lacking.
Everyone wants to talk about watts per square foot but that makes no sense.
1 watt of incandescent light per square foot is so dark you couldn't find your keys, 1 watt of the best CFL is a lot of light, about four times as much as with the incandescent.
The Halogen and other more esoteric lights are out for my uses, but I would love to see the actual lumens output per watt for T8 eight foot bulbs vs. the 4 foot or CFLs.
40 watts of power in an incandescent equals so much illumination.
40 watts of power in a CFL equals probably five times as much illumination.
40 watts of power in a T12 equals maybe as much light as in a CFL, or does it?
40 watts of power in a T8 is supposed to make more light than 40 watts of power in a T12, or so it is claimed.
A T8 usually draws 32 watts of power. And supposedly makes as much light as a T12 with 40 watts of draw.
Or does it?
A 80 watt T8 eight footer (if you can find one, as I can't find any T8 eight footers to look at locally) makes how many lumens compared to two 4 foot T8's for 64 watts?
See where the problem lies?
Which bulb makes the most light for the least watts? In a given temperature?
That information is lacking.
Everyone wants to talk about watts per square foot but that makes no sense.
1 watt of incandescent light per square foot is so dark you couldn't find your keys, 1 watt of the best CFL is a lot of light, about four times as much as with the incandescent.
The Halogen and other more esoteric lights are out for my uses, but I would love to see the actual lumens output per watt for T8 eight foot bulbs vs. the 4 foot or CFLs.
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Its a state law, even county folks must abide
. While you may have done that in the past, get caught now and pay a fine and possibly a clean up. Trash haulers won't take them in the trash if they see them. I keep a spill kit in my service truck for work related accidents
nate379
Banned
Yeah... hahahaha. Lot's of things are "laws" but who is going to enforce it. OMG... he busted a florescent bulb. Send in EPA, HAZMAT, ATF, FBI, CSI, NATIONAL GUARD.
One thing if you are swapping out 1000 bulbs like K Mart does, but average joe that replaces one or two every couple years... yeah....
One thing if you are swapping out 1000 bulbs like K Mart does, but average joe that replaces one or two every couple years... yeah....
Chris Adams
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Its a state law, even county folks must abide
Around here (Southern California, or North Mexico as the majority call it) they don't fine you until after they take you to jail...
A fine is least of your worries.
You can break a tube up and stash it in the bottom of the trash, but don't put it with anything that has your address on it.
Thats where we got the law, whatever enviromental thing Cali does, Maine does.
nate379
Banned
Yeah Cali and making the world kinder/gentler.
OMG there is lead in that solder. What if my 2 yr old decided to eat this copper pipe?
OMG mercury... it will lead to global meltdown.
OMG there is lead in that solder. What if my 2 yr old decided to eat this copper pipe?
OMG mercury... it will lead to global meltdown.
nate379
Banned
Ok was at Lowe's and checked for S&G
Brightest 8ft bulbs was 110watts at 8600 Lumens
Brightest 4ft bulb was 32watt at 3000 Lumens
Least wattage 8ft bulb was 60w and that has 5400 lumens.
These are all T12 bulbs. There were no T8 8ft bulbs for sure, and I didn't check on the 4ft ones.
I will have to check but I think I have T8 bulbs. If so, a T12 won't fit under the door. As is I have maybe 1/2" clearance.
Brightest 8ft bulbs was 110watts at 8600 Lumens
Brightest 4ft bulb was 32watt at 3000 Lumens
Least wattage 8ft bulb was 60w and that has 5400 lumens.
These are all T12 bulbs. There were no T8 8ft bulbs for sure, and I didn't check on the 4ft ones.
I will have to check but I think I have T8 bulbs. If so, a T12 won't fit under the door. As is I have maybe 1/2" clearance.
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Chris Adams
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T8 bulb looks like a T12 but thinner, lots thinner.
We don't even a lot of T12's still for sale around here.
nate379
Banned
Yeah I looked it up and figured that out, just you caught my post before my edit went though.
They do make T8 8ft bulbs, but if they are available here, I don't know.
The housings are $$ it looks like...
http://www.goodmart.com/products/1206338.htm
They do make T8 8ft bulbs, but if they are available here, I don't know.
The housings are $$ it looks like...
http://www.goodmart.com/products/1206338.htm
Falcon67
Well-known member
All the T8 8' fixtures I see around here use 4 ea 4' bulbs. So light is light. I would not use T-12 anymore - I have both 4' T8 and 4' T12 units on the ceiling now and the T8s are MUCH brighter than the other fixtures. What I did when I started swapping out was to just leave the pull chain in the units so I can tone down lights I might not be using. My 20x24 has 12 4' fixtures in two banks of 6, each bank on a switch.
nate379
Banned
Holy ****! Do you wear sunglasses in there when you kick on all those lights?
My garage is 24x26 and I have 4 4ft housings and it's fine, but I think 6 would be better.
My garage is 24x26 and I have 4 4ft housings and it's fine, but I think 6 would be better.
Chris Adams
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He doesn't have too many;
This minute I have 8 double T12 foot, 3 double T8 four foot, a single 150 watt equivalent CFL and a 500 watt equivalent fluorescent flood over the work bench.
That’s eleven 4 foot fixtures, one CFL and one flood for 20x22.
And it still isn't quite light enough in the front corners.
As you get older you want/need/require more light.
In addition, some of us do very fine detail work, which requires more light on the target.
I also have a few, maybe half dozen, drop lights. These are mostly fluorescent, as incandescent lights generate too much heat.
They help but drop lights are clumsy and awkward.
I would rather light up the whole place.
I also have strategically placed mirrors, reflective surfaces and shiny insulation to maximize the light.
In the new shop, I want it BRIGHT, so I am upping the ante...
This minute I have 8 double T12 foot, 3 double T8 four foot, a single 150 watt equivalent CFL and a 500 watt equivalent fluorescent flood over the work bench.
That’s eleven 4 foot fixtures, one CFL and one flood for 20x22.
And it still isn't quite light enough in the front corners.
As you get older you want/need/require more light.
In addition, some of us do very fine detail work, which requires more light on the target.
I also have a few, maybe half dozen, drop lights. These are mostly fluorescent, as incandescent lights generate too much heat.
They help but drop lights are clumsy and awkward.
I would rather light up the whole place.
I also have strategically placed mirrors, reflective surfaces and shiny insulation to maximize the light.
In the new shop, I want it BRIGHT, so I am upping the ante...
I agree for some reason but I forget why
I plan on 3 rows of 4, 8 footers in my 30 by 34. I might add some more over a bench though, maybe hanging closer to the bench, instead of 12 feet up
Falcon67
Well-known member
5x ain't old! 
I just like a lot of light. Helps me find the stuff I lose right in front of my face. 
I just like a lot of light. Helps me find the stuff I lose right in front of my face. xd_45er
Member
So......to answer the thread's author, would you use the fixture that uses 2 8' bulbs or the one that uses 4 4' bulbs? its going to be an 8' fixture regardless just uses different bulbs..
Falcon67
Well-known member
I'd pick the 8' if it was over a work area like a bench. If for general lighting, I'd use the 4' so I could space them out.
A search on elightbulbs.com turns up 72" and 96" T8 bulbs, so they are out there. A google turns up 96" T8 fixtures - at nearly $100 a pop! You can buy and outfit a 4 bulb 96" unit for half that. A 4 bulb 8' fixture at Lowes runs about $32 less bulbs.
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