Probably a dumb lighting question

[Nitsuj]

It seems that most folks light their garage with fluorescent lights. My entire adult life, I feel like I've been fighting fluorescent lights. It seems like I always have a few bulbs that flicker, and a couple loudly humming ballasts. When I fix them, a few weeks later, I'll have a few more. What's a secret to living happily with a multiple fixture garage? Am I getting the wrong type? Using the wrong bulbs?

 

[The mean fish]

95% of the time those issues are due to cheap fixture or mix matched bulbs/ballasts. I've got 15 fluoro fixtures in my shop and they're dead quiet with no flicker or anything. Good quality fixtures and bulbs go a long way.

 

[Charles (in GA)]

You are used to old T12 (1½ inch dia) bulbs and old heavy magnetic ballasts, and possibly on smaller fixtures, the starters. Old fluorescent lights ****. The light is not good, and they are a pain to keep working.

Most of what is discussed here are T8 (1 inch diameter bulbs) and electronic ballasts, or possibly T5HO (5/8 inch diameter) bulbs, also with electronic ballasts. Use the new stuff, and almost all of your problems go away. This is the main reason everyone on here balks when someone says they were given a bunch of "old" (read T12/magnetic ballasts) lights for free for their shop. It simply isn't worth the trouble and every one tries to talk the recipient of this **** out of using them.

Charles

 

[Nitsuj]

I'm as cheap as the next guy, but I like being able to see, and light is a big help with that, so I'll spend some money on quality fixtures. In the past, I've always just got whatever cheap "shop fixture" they had at my local hardware store. I should have known that would bite me.

I knew you guys would have an answer. Thanks!

 

[Elmo4895]

You do not have to buy new lights. Buy the electronic ballasts and the bulbs to go with them and retrofit all of your lights. Will make a huge difference. That is assuming you do not have the really cheap fixtures!