Shop lighting tubes vs screw in bulbs

[dieselman966]

Is there any benefit to running the 4ft tube light vs regular screw in type bulbs and just adding more of them. I'm gonna be adding more lights to my shop and I'm trying to figure out the best way to do it.

 

[cybrdyke]

The more you can spread out the source of the light, the better. You'll have more even lighting with less contrast and softer shadows. Also, single points of light are glarey and hard on the eyes.
CD

 

[tonyciambrone]

What the man said, just depends on the quantity and quality of light you desire... If there was no advantage over screw-in bulbs they wouldn't be made.

That said if you have a 20x20 garage with 4 A19 bulbs, and you could easily add 2 or 4 more, I might do that instead of convert to 4ft tubes.

But to me, 4ft strip fixtures are they way to go until your ceiling height gets up in the 12-14ft arena.

 

[75gmck25]

I chose to go with switched receptacles in the ceiling and 4 foot plug-in LED fixtures. Each receptacle box is a double, so there are four places to plug in a light.

Adding and moving lights around is easy, since they are suspended on short sections of chain and have about a four foot cord on each light.

Bruce

 

[djjsr]

My T12 fluorescents didn't like cold weather and I didn't like the energy usage and cost of the bulbs. So, in order to get better light distribution, reduce energy costs and get longer life out of the bulbs I chose to go with screw in LED bulbs.

I have a 24' x 30' garage with a 9' ceiling. I use 21 (8.5 watt) bulbs, 3 switched rows of 7. Each row only uses about 60 watts. With all 3 rows turned on, light distribution is really good.

I couldn't get all of the lights in one picture ........

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[BigGarage]

Is there any benefit to running the 4ft tube light vs regular screw in type bulbs and just adding more of them. I'm gonna be adding more lights to my shop and I'm trying to figure out the best way to do it.

In 2011-2012 I completely redid my garage lighting. I used 2 pairs of 8' fluorescent fixtures each with 2 tubes. This is run across the back wall.

I put 2 pair of 4' fluorescent fixtures each with 2 tubes over my workbench. These are some type of lights that reach full brightness in the Winter, almost as soon as they are turned on.That's the pic below.

I also have 7 screw-in CFL's running in 2 columns from the front wall to the rear.

All 3 sets of lights are switched separately so I can use what I need and leave the others off. I'm really happy I did it this way.

Dennis

 

[alfredeneuman]

I chose to go with switched receptacles in the ceiling and 4 foot plug-in LED fixtures. Each receptacle box is a double, so there are four places to plug in a light.
Adding and moving lights around is easy, since they are suspended on short sections of chain and have about a four foot cord on each light.

NEC 410.62(C)
(1) Cord-Connected Installation.
A luminaire or a listed assembly in compliance with any of the conditions in (a) through (c) shall be permitted to be cord connected provided the luminaire is located directly below the outlet or busway, the cord is not subject to strain or physical damage, and the cord is visible over its entire length except at terminations.