Question on lighting (Rocco??)

[the dude]

I tried PM you this but I was having trouble.

Hi,

great posts on the garage lighting. It has made me change my thoughts on what I am going to do for lighting. I was hoping I could take up your offer on lighting design. Here is a quick sketch of my garage design. What would you recommend for lights and placement? Thanks

 

[rocco]

I am going to assume heights on everythign , and i can adjust it as you give me them.

 

[the dude]

Sorry, 10 ft ceiling, benches 36-40

 

[rocco]

here is the layout.

12 - 8ft T8 fluorescent
3 - 4ft T8 Fluorescent

 

[rocco]

let me know if there are any questions.
very similar size and layout as mine.

 

[the dude]

That Rocks. Thanks. I should be wiring up this weekend!!

 

[rocco]

please post up some pics.
aswell, i would have 3 circuits.

1 for the bench lights
1 for the welding area
1 for the rest.

 

[trovato]

I can't tell without seeing the actual configuration, but doesn't this put the lighting behind the garage door tracks? I found that to be an issue in mine.

 

[the dude]

please post up some pics.
aswell, i would have 3 circuits.

1 for the bench lights
1 for the welding area
1 for the rest.

that sounds good. I'll let you know how it goes.

 

[rocco]

I can't tell without seeing the actual configuration, but doesn't this put the lighting behind the garage door tracks? I found that to be an issue in mine.

yes, but the amount of light that is loss by it is insignificant.

 

[the dude]

you mentioned in another thread that the Home depot T8 lights are not the best quality (or they're poor residential quality) or something like that. I believe it was in response to them humming.

What should I look for in good quality fixture and what do you recommend for lights?

Thanks

 

[Charles (in GA)]

you mentioned in another thread that the Home depot T8 lights are not the best quality (or they're poor residential quality) or something like that. I believe it was in response to them humming.

What should I look for in good quality fixture and what do you recommend for lights?

Thanks

I think that all T8 lamps are powered by electronic ballast. If that is the case, there should not be any humming from electronic ballast (and thus T8 bulbs) as the humming is a characteristic of Magnetic ballast.

Charles

 

[SteveU]

I have 8' HO fixtures & bulbs, are they T-8s? They come on even below 0* F but take a few minuites to get the output up.

 

[fefarms]

The 8 foot T12 HO fixtures you buy at Home Depot use big heavy magnetic ballasts that hum like crazy at 60 HZ. They put out a lot of light for the buck, work fine at cold temps, but they are loud. Be sure not to mount them directly to the ceiling -- the ballasts get hot and there are warnings on the label against doing that.

There are only a few vendors of light fixtures; Lithonia is one of the biggest. They sell to Home Depot and to electrical jobbers. The T8 fixtures Lithonia sells come with commercial and residential ballasts. I have noticed that the ones they sell to Home Depot DO have a slight hum DESPITE being electronic ballasts that switch at 20KHZ. I suspect the reason might be the high THD/low power factor of the Sylvania residential ballasts creates a variable load at 60HZ.

I've bought the same fixtures (with different ballasts) from an electrical jobber. Those ballasts were the "multi-volt" electronic ballasts, and do not hum at all.

 

[X-ray]

The light produced is much better than a standard fluorescent, but they do sound like a standard fluorescent fixture.

Hope the attachments are ok.

 

[arbee]

I too bought some 8' T8 fixtures from Home Depot. I originally bought 8' HO fixtures from Lowes. They were really loud so I did some research and found out that T8's use electronic ballast and a completely silent. Well the ones from Home Depot are not completely silent and do hum. They are not as loud as the HOs but the hum. I bought some 8' T8s from Lowes but haven't installed them yet so I can't say if they hum or not.

 

[rocco]

The home depot product is not bad, but it has a higher THD % which in part causes noises.

Your best bet to go buy a proper fixture is to go to a Local Electrical Distributor and buy them there.

You will pay 10-15% more, but keep in mind you are buying the same Strip or industrial fixture with an industrial grade ballast. ( less then 20% THD.)

The reason home depots fixtures are less is because of the lower quality ballast.


Alex

 

[Vincent Vega]

I bought two Lithonia 8ft tandems at HD. (4ft T8 * 4). They hum. I contacted HD and they said to contact the Manufacturer. I contacted Lithonia and they told me to contact the Ballast MFG. I contacted them (ACCUPRO) and they said they would replace them. I first called on 1/23. I called back last Friday 2/16 and they had no record of my first call. They still said they would send new ballasts. I haven't seen them yet.

 

[rocco]

I bought two Lithonia 8ft tandems at HD. (4ft T8 * 4). They hum. I contacted HD and they said to contact the Manufacturer. I contacted Lithonia and they told me to contact the Ballast MFG. I contacted them (ACCUPRO) and they said they would replace them. I first called on 1/23. I called back last Friday 2/16 and they had no record of my first call. They still said they would send new ballasts. I haven't seen them yet.

Thats why i always suggest going to an electrical distributor instead of HD.
you get customer service.

 

[MikeN]

Any better recommendations on a source for 8' and 4' lights that can mounted to the ceiling then? Preferably with higher more natural light output?

 

[X-ray]

Any better recommendations on a source for 8' and 4' lights that can mounted to the ceiling then? Preferably with higher more natural light output?

I can endorse the fixtures in attachments, using 4 of them to produce light for approx 900sqf. Need 2.4 more to reach goal of 70fc for the shop, but instead of two more 4 bulb fixtures, will go 1 or two bulb fixtures of increased quantity to get the remaining lumen's, easier to spread the light out this way, albeit more expensive.
70 x 900 = 63,000
5,000 lumens per lamp (bulb)

63,000 ÷ (5000 x 4 x .75 x .65) = 6.46 t-5 Rap4 fixtures

I would also like to recommend Jim at http://t5holighting.com/index.html Raptor4 T5HO

 

[rocco]

Please note that T5HO is to be used on heigher ceilings (14+) cause if not you will have two problems.

-Excessive glare
-Strong puddles of light with dark spots between them.

 

[ron in sc]

-Excessive glare
-Strong puddles of light with dark spots between them.

Below is drawing of garage, not to scale. Garage will be 24' deep by 22' wide.

Any suggestions on where to put T5 fixtures. I plan to use track lighting under soffit which is 36" wide. will I have the glare or any other problems if I put fixtures in tray at top or sides?

 

[MikeN]

Please note that T5HO is to be used on heigher ceilings (14+) cause if not you will have two problems.

-Excessive glare
-Strong puddles of light with dark spots between them.

Have a recommendation for me for 9' ceilings?

 

[Mike F]

What about these 3 lights from Lowes?
http://www.lowes.com/lowes/lkn?action=productDetail&productId=87592-13537-ST240RSE8&lpage=none

http://www.lowes.com/lowes/lkn?action=productDetail&productId=208484-13537-234SLESW&lpage=none

http://www.lowes.com/lowes/lkn?action=productDetail&productId=81769-13537-PPS232RC&lpage=none

Or this 4 bulb troffer?
http://www.lowes.com/lowes/lkn?action=productDetail&productId=163643-337-4464507&lpage=none

 

[X-ray]

These pictures are not great, and re-doing wiring to include lighting upgrades all while working around the existing clutter.
One picture shows some T8s the other T5's, but the mounting heights and fixture spacing are different. But the total quantity of bulbs is the same (first two pics) and the both on the ceiling center-line approximately.

One picture is looking the other way with 4 T5HO fixtures and camera set to fluorescent light mode- approx distance from camera to garage door 39'

T8s at approx 11'6" lens to floor.
T5HO at approx 11'3" lens to floor.

 

[evintho]

FWIW, I installed 10 48" 2 tube fixtures in my standard size, residential and finished 2-car garage. The paint color on the walls and ceiling is an off white. I swear, I could perform surgery in there! It's that bright! Shadows are almost non-existent. I bought the fixtures at HD on sale for $19.99.

If any of you guys are gonna make a large purchase at Home Depot, be sure to pick up a couple of the 20% off coupons on Ebay. The bigger the purchase, the better the deal. They make a big difference at the cash register!

 

[rocco]

Below is drawing of garage, not to scale. Garage will be 24' deep by 22' wide.

Any suggestions on where to put T5 fixtures. I plan to use track lighting under soffit which is 36" wide. will I have the glare or any other problems if I put fixtures in tray at top or sides?

I woudl suggest 2 lamp units with a good white reflector mounted to the highest point of the garage. spaced about 10ft apart.

Like in my drawing, simply mount sideways on the lenght of the ceiling.
[ = fixture

---------------------------------
[
---------------------------------

 

[rocco]

Have a recommendation for me for 9' ceilings?

Stay away from T5. use T8 strips , without a reflector is ceiling is finished and painted or with a reflector is unfinished.

 

[rocco]

These pictures are not great, and re-doing wiring to include lighting upgrades all while working around the existing clutter.
One picture shows some T8s the other T5's, but the mounting heights and fixture spacing are different. But the total quantity of bulbs is the same (first two pics) and the both on the ceiling center-line approximately.

One picture is looking the other way with 4 T5HO fixtures and camera set to fluorescent light mode- approx distance from camera to garage door 39'

T8s at approx 11'6" lens to floor.
T5HO at approx 11'3" lens to floor.

in your middle picture, it seems that there is alot of shadowing and a big puddle of light under the fixture. that tells me they are mounted too low and cannot distribute the light properly.

 

[X-ray]

in your middle picture, it seems that there is alot of shadowing and a big puddle of light under the fixture. that tells me they are mounted too low and cannot distribute the light properly.

The t8's and the t5's are in the same general location, so anybody that is interested to see such things, can get an objective idea. Me I see which ones have the deepest shadows and I see which ones make more light.
But, everybodys eyes and shop take things alittle different, just wanted to show some T-8's and T-5ho's together.

 

[drummingcraig]

I know this thread is a bit dated, but as it helped me out earlier today I thought it appropriate to reply to it with some updated info.

I just replaced two (~15 year old) T12 single lamp fixtures in our kitchen today with two Lithonia T8 single lamp 4' fixtures. I bought the Lithonia's from Home Depot and they came equipped with Accupro 32W/600V ballasts. So far, they're completely silent (something that couldn't be said about the old magnetic T12's they replaced )and fire right up without delay.