T5HO Shielding

[mharris2007]

My garage is 20x40x10 feet. My cousin, who is an electrician, put 4, 4 foot T5HO across my garage ceiling in 3 separate areas for a total 12 4 ft long bulbs. This was at my request as I had read on my detailing forum that they give off the best light. I absolutely love the light they give off, but the lights themselves are too bright for where they are placed 10 feet up and are giving me a headache!!

I spoke with him and we can not return them now that they are up unfortunately, so I'm going to have to find a work around to decrease the intensity of the bulb themselves. The entry into the house is two feet up from the garage floor so when I open the door to the garage and see the bank of 12 bulbs going up the center of the garage it really hurts my eyes. But I love the light!! Maybe they'll dim some over time, but in the meantime I need some help.

I have read all the threads I could find on T5HO bulbs here and saw many speak of shielding that could direct the light upwards and off the ceiling to help with the blinding factor. I haven't seen any specifics about this and was hoping you could direct me to the right place or to another diffusing/shielding alternative.

I can post some pictures if that would help.

Thanks so much!

Matt

 

[madosta]

T5's at that low are going to be bright. I think they might be high bay lights?

How many bulbs are in each fixture? You could try taking half of the bulbs out.

 

[pattenp]

What is the T5HO tube you are using. Some T5HO tubes can have a lumen output as high as 5000 and some are as low as 4200. See if you have the 5000 ones, maybe you could switch them for lower lumen output ones.

 

[mharris2007]

T5's at that low are going to be bright. I think they might be high bay lights?

How many bulbs are in each fixture? You could try taking half of the bulbs out.

I'm not sure if they are high bay lights or not. They are very thin bulbs though.

They are 4 feet long, 2 per fixture, and side by side for a total of 4 bulbs in each area. I may try taking a few of the bulbs out, but if I could some how diffuse or shield them from view I think that would help out quite a bit. I will take some pictures when I get home and put them up here.

What is the T5HO tube you are using. Some T5HO tubes can have a lumen output as high as 5000 and some are as low as 4200. See if you have the 5000 ones, maybe you could switch them for lower lumen output ones.

That's good information to have, and I honestly do not know. I will get on the ladder when I get home and look at the tubes to see. I'll take some up close pictures as well.

I would just hate to not want to go out into the garage because of the lighting, and don't want to pay to switch them to T8

Thanks so much for the replies.

 

[madosta]

Man that *****. I was looking at the T5s, but they are BRIGHT! I think you might be able to get a diffuser for the entire light or for each bulb, they make sleeves as well.

I would check the bulb output first as pattenp suggested.

 

[Delta74]

how are they wired? you said they are side by side, could a rewire be done so there on two switches? so you can turn just half on, and all when needed? look at shields as well, you can get clear to help with bulb shatter, and colored / frosted as well for different effects, those may dim your bulbs down, but, I would start with switching half of them.

good luck

 

[mharris2007]

Man that *****. I was looking at the T5s, but they are BRIGHT! I think you might be able to get a diffuser for the entire light or for each bulb, they make sleeves as well.

I would check the bulb output first as pattenp suggested.

Hi Madosta,

Yeah, it does ****. Especially after dropping so much cash just for the lights and parts themselves! Really *****! I will look into the diffuser/shielding. My cousin is already on it as well.

I'll post some pics later tonight.

Matt

 

[knobby]

assuming that the lamps are 6500k a switch to the 2700k (warm white) lamps will take some of the bright out as your eyes don't work as well with that spectrum
i would consider this only a last ditch option due to the cost of the lamps

 

[mharris2007]

Hi guys,

Here are some pictures of the lighting setup in my garage. There are acutally 16 bulbs total. 4 banks of 4 running up the middle.

Here are the specs on the bulbs:

Stock Code: FHO-54T5840P
Part No.: 29083-3
Wattage: 54 Watt
Bulb Type: F54T5
Color Temperature: 4000 Kelvin
Length: 45.8 in.
Life Hours: 35,000
Lumens (Initial): 5000
Lumens (Mean): 4750
Order Code: F54T5/841/HO/ALTO

It does look like I have the highest output lumens, which is what I asked for not knowing how crazy sunlike they would be!!!!

I will ask my cousin about switching half of them at a time as well as the diffusers you mentioned. I hope we can come up with something. That might be the way to go. They only seem to be TOO bright when I'm going from the house to the garage. Man, it's brutal.

Let me know what you all think!

Matt

 

[mharris2007]

assuming that the lamps are 6500k a switch to the 2700k (warm white) lamps will take some of the bright out as your eyes don't work as well with that spectrum
i would consider this only a last ditch option due to the cost of the lamps

Yes they are 6500K lamps. I will have to look into the 2700k lamps if I can't get this sorted out. Do you happen to have a part/light number for the 2700K lamps?

 

[Charles (in GA)]

Those are 4100K lamps. The part number tells it all.

F = Fluorescent
54 = 54 watts
5/8 = five eights of an inch diameter
41 = 4100K

Thats what shows in the specs you provided, 4000K

This is a cool white lamp

a 2700K or 3500K will be a warm white. Actually just as much lumens, but not as bright on the eyes.

I have the same bulbs you have in what appears to be the same 92 inch 4 bulb fixtures. If they have the right power supplies in them, you can add a switch (such as a pull chain) on the fixture and switch off two of the lamps. You would have two bulbs end to end working and two end to end not working.

Mine are the ones discussed in THIS THREAD and I show pics of the power supplies with the wiring diagrams showing how you can wire in a switch to shut off two of the four lamps.

Charles

 

[mharris2007]

Those are 4100K lamps. The part number tells it all.

F = Fluorescent
54 = 54 watts
5/8 = five eights of an inch diameter
41 = 4100K

Thats what shows in the specs you provided, 4000K

This is a cool white lamp

a 2700K or 3500K will be a warm white. Actually just as much lumens, but not as bright on the eyes.

I have the same bulbs you have in what appears to be the same 92 inch 4 bulb fixtures. If they have the right power supplies in them, you can add a switch (such as a pull chain) on the fixture and switch off two of the lamps. You would have two bulbs end to end working and two end to end not working.

Mine are the ones discussed in THIS THREAD and I show pics of the power supplies with the wiring diagrams showing how you can wire in a switch to shut off two of the four lamps.

Charles

I appreciate you pointing out the 4500 kelvin issue. Makes sense now. I actually read the post you linked to in great detail last night, which gave me hope that I may still be able to get my system to work. I'll have to ask my cousin when he returns next thursday to put each of the four bulbs on a switch. When I walk into the garage, I feel like it's the christmas light scene from National Lampoons Christmas vacation!

If I can't come up with a diffuser option, I think switching two of the four lamps off in each cluster would be a good option. I appreciate your detailed reply.

Matt

 

[Angelfire]

Your cousin should foot the bill for any changes needed to make this work after he recommended t5ho's for a 10' ceiling!

 

[mharris2007]

Your cousin should foot the bill for any changes needed to make this work after he recommended t5ho's for a 10' ceiling!

He didn't recommend the t5ho. He recommended the t8 but just did what I asked for. I should have been more diligent in figuring things out instead of just going by what the professional detailer's recommended on the detailed image website. Damn u Todd cooperider!!!!!

 

[fstbusa]

You need a diffuser of some type. T5ho lamps should never be used in a bare lamp situation where someone's line of sight can look at the lamps. They are insanely bright.
Problem is unless you buy something that will work specifically with the brand of fixture you have you will likely be modifying something.

Could buy a sheet of this stuff and suspend it below the fixture with a rod or piece of wire.
https://www.inventables.com/technologies/light-diffuser-films

 

[hidollartoys]

You should have used T8's.

 

[mharris2007]

You need a diffuser of some type. T5ho lamps should never be used in a bare lamp situation where someone's line of sight can look at the lamps. They are insanely bright.
Problem is unless you buy something that will work specifically with the brand of fixture you have you will likely be modifying something.

Could buy a sheet of this stuff and suspend it below the fixture with a rod or piece of wire.
https://www.inventables.com/technologies/light-diffuser-films

Too little too late unfortunately with not using the T5HO. I didn't do my due dilligence and now am paying the price, figuratively and literally. I appreciate the link to the light diffuser sheets. I was at home depot today and saw some T5HO diffuser right next to the lights that I have. I took a picture and can put it up here if you like. I was going to send it to my cousin as well to see if it will work. I agree with you though. We need some sort of diffuser otherwise it's going to ****.

 

[mharris2007]

Here's a few pics of the shielding I saw at home depot. But they are only 2 feet long a piece so I'd have to buy 16 total if they'd fit. Looks like they would.

 

[madosta]

I would buy a couple to test one light before you take the plunge.

I feel for you, I keep having to find these little "gotchas" and running up to my local hardware for something I forgot.

Hopefully they'll help - bonus is the bulbs will be protected if you hit them with something.

 

[Angelfire]

Rather than trying to put lipstick on a pig, so to speak, you may find it advantageous to just remove them and replace with T8's. Sell the fixtures/lamps locally or ebay to recoup some of the loss.

 

[mharris2007]

Rather than trying to put lipstick on a pig, so to speak, you may find it advantageous to just remove them and replace with T8's. Sell the fixtures/lamps locally or ebay to recoup some of the loss.

Not trying to put lipstick on a pig. As I have stated numerous times previously I love the light. I just don't like the line of sight for the bulbs. If I could shield the bulbs it would be the best of both worlds.

Madosta: appreciate the advice. Will do. I'll keep u posted.

Matt

 

[mharris2007]

Hi Everyone,

I wanted to post a follow up to what happened with my T5HO lighting situation. I was able to put the home depot diffusers that are in a picture I posted earlier in this thread on my home depot T5HO ballasts and it has worked out great.

There is no more hurting the eyes or causing headaches. The light is bright and amazing, and I am VERY happy I went with T5HO. My neighbors are jealous every time they come over to visit me in my garage

Hope this helps anyone who is thinking of the T5HO option. I would definitely NOT recommend an unshielded T5HO option for someone with 10 feet ceilings or less. I couldn't comment on what the minimum height should be for unshielded T5HO as I haven't had the ability to observe them in any taller environment.

 

[elav]

Glad the diffuser worked out for you. My guess is you could have also used non-T5HO bulbs and just use regular T5 bulbs.

 

[Charles (in GA)]

Glad the diffuser worked out for you. My guess is you could have also used non-T5HO bulbs and just use regular T5 bulbs.

A non HO bulb is 28 watts. The ballast is not designed to operate the 28w bulbs.

Charles

 

[elav]

A non HO bulb is 28 watts. The ballast is not designed to operate the 28w bulbs.

Charles

Huh, it was my understanding that if the fixture supports HO you can use the lower wattage bulbs

 

[24hours]

I'm surprised at the number of replies that were negative about the H.O. T-5's. I have a 10' ceiling, three bay garage and love my HO T-5's. I have 121 Lumens per sq ft and no diffusers.

I wonder how many posters that replied have actually used/worked under HO T-5's?

One option the O.P. could have pursued is to have the lights wired, so that he can turn them all on, or half of them on at a time. I'm glad the O.P. found a solution that works for him.

 

[Charles (in GA)]

Huh, it was my understanding that if the fixture supports HO you can use the lower wattage bulbs

Never heard of this and never seen this. Look at the pic below, this is my T5HO ballast. To the upper left is a list of the acceptable bulb types for this ballast, none are the 28 watt bulbs.

This is the Lithonia 92" 4 bulb strip light from Home Depot.
Charles

 

[dgreen1069]

Those lights are very bright. I had two light sockets in my garage with 28w CFL's in them. I removed the sockets and put up two of the T5HO lights from Home Depot. My walls aren't painted yet and my ceiling is about 14' tall. So far I am happy with the lights. It looks like daytime in my garage with the lights on. I'm hoping it doesn't become overkill when my drywall is completed and the walls are painted. I can't imagine having anymore than 2 in my 20x20 garage.

I know this doesn't help with the OP's issue, but I wanted others to see the other side of the coin.

 

[24hours]

Great pic Charles. The wiring sequence shown is one point I was trying to illustrate.

 

[Charles (in GA)]

Great pic Charles. The wiring sequence shown is one point I was trying to illustrate.

Rather than repost all of the pics, you can go HERE to see all of the front of the ballast, in the T5HO light thread.

Charles