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"Temporary" light string in garage

Jon_E

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Aug 19, 2015
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575
Location
Southwestern Vermont
Ten years ago when I started building my house, I bought one of those 100' foot long, 10-socket 'temporary' light strings. Typically found on construction sites. I put a bunch of 100-watt incandescent bulbs in it and it worked fine during the construction. When the electrical contractor was done, the light string went into a plastic bin and got stored in the shed.

Now I have a garage shell and want to use it again. Not going to find 100-watt incandescent bulbs anymore. I do not want to use those spiral fluorescents. They don't work well in cold temperatures and they break far too easily. I would like to get a decent, high output LED bulb and leave them up until I decide what to do for permanent lighting. I'm guessing from other threads on this board that single-socket bulbs are not exactly recommended for permanent use in a garage (unless you're one of those guys that has the single dirty bulb in the middle of the ceiling).

Can anyone guide me as to what kind of bulb I should be putting in this light string? It will have to do for lighting for at least the winter months into next spring. I'd like as much light as I can get out of an inexpensive bulb.
 
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Jahjahwarrior

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Sep 1, 2014
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19
Home Depot has some Philips non dimmable 60w LED's that are even cheaper than the bright sticks, and look more like traditional bulbs.

But, the trick is, you have to find the $4.97 two pack. They have switched to a single for $3.97 now, but some shops still have the two pack.

They are a decent light especially for the price, and the light distribution is better than some other bulbs, even if the CRI isn't high enough quality for detailed color matching...but neither are CFL's.
 

dw1

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Jan 26, 2015
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Location
Ky
I put a bunch of 100-watt incandescent bulbs in it and it worked fine during the construction. When the electrical contractor was done, the light string went into a plastic bin and got stored in the shed.

Now I have a garage shell and want to use it again. Not going to find 100-watt incandescent bulbs anymore. .
I just bought an 8 pack of 100 watt bulbs at Home Depot yesterday, it was the biggest wattage incandescent bulb that they had. An 8 pack was $14. I also used this for some temp lights. The incandescent lamp is on its way out.
 

rande

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Apr 3, 2008
Messages
181
A couple weeks ago Menards had a promotion for their incandescent bulbs. They had lots of different wattages available.
 
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laser3kw

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Nov 17, 2012
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northen IL
They don't work well in cold temperatures and they break far too easily
I've turned on my lights at -10º and they came on. They come on a little dim at first, but within 3 or 4 minutes they are full bright.
 

NUTTSGT

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Sep 14, 2009
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Northern Central Ohio
You also might want to check out some rough service bulbs but I don't know if they are made in a higher wattage than 60W.
 

nadogail

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Jan 23, 2009
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31,928
Location
Coronado, CA
Our local big box stores are pushing LED retrofit bulbs for cheap.

It is part of a subsidized energy conservation program.
 
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