Thoughts on this light - Spin Light by ETI

[fireberd350]

I have a small garage (13x20) that I need to light. Most here seem to end up w/ 4' tubes but I'm leaning away from tubes because I was unimpressed w/ them in my shed (ref: I lined three 4 foot double T8 fixtures in my shed celiing and the light is ok but not great).

http://www.etissl.com/product/7-spin-light-120v/

I saw these on Ask TOH and am thinking of giving them a try. They mount to a standard socket which makes wiring cheap and easy. They will also work at full output immediately in the freezing temps my garage might see in the winter.

any experiences with or recommendation otherwise?

 

[Platonic Solid]

You discover that the light provided by six 2800 lumen 4ft fluorescent bulbs is inadequate and conclude that the bulbs/fixtures are to blame, not the ceiling-wall-floor reflectance of 25-25-25 (at best).

You don’t need different light fixtures; you need smooth uncluttered surfaces and white paint.

 

[TheEquineFencer]

My guess is he has 4100K or lower bulbs in the fixtures he has now. I'd use 5000K and see what they do, if not, I'd see an eye doctor...

 

[cybrdyke]

fireberd,
the fixture in the link you provided puts out the equivalent of a 60 watt light bulb. In fact, there is virtually no difference between what that fixture delivers and what a bare LED bulb would deliver. In other words, you can get the same performance from a $10 10 watt LED bulb. Unless that fixture costs around $10, you can do better. You can get a 100w equivalent bare LED bulb (approximately 20w) for around $15 each. That's nearly double the lumens.
You would need at least 3 of these to get the same light output as a 4' tube (roughly).
If you dont like the 4' tubes, there are thousands of other choices out there. Depending on your garage's surfaces, there will be something better out there.
Good luck
CD

 

[Platonic Solid]

A picture is worth a thousand words: Shed Ceiling, Shed Floor

 

[fireberd350]

You discover that the light provided by six 2800 lumen 4ft fluorescent bulbs is inadequate and conclude that the bulbs/fixtures are to blame, not the ceiling-wall-floor reflectance of 25-25-25 (at best).

You don’t need different light fixtures; you need smooth uncluttered surfaces and white paint.

I suppose its worth referencing that i get better lighting from these CFL's than I do from the tubes. Brighter and more spread. http://i.imgur.com/z6L7yrs.jpg
Whats 25-25-25-?

What about working in freezing temps? Is there a better option to flourescent for a garage that works in cold weather?

fireberd,
the fixture in the link you provided puts out the equivalent of a 60 watt light bulb. In fact, there is virtually no difference between what that fixture delivers and what a bare LED bulb would deliver. In other words, you can get the same performance from a $10 10 watt LED bulb. Unless that fixture costs around $10, you can do better. You can get a 100w equivalent bare LED bulb (approximately 20w) for around $15 each. That's nearly double the lumens.
You would need at least 3 of these to get the same light output as a 4' tube (roughly).
If you dont like the 4' tubes, there are thousands of other choices out there. Depending on your garage's surfaces, there will be something better out there.
Good luck
CD

Yes a bare 100w bulb would give more light but I'm also factoring aesthetics. This LED seemed like a good compromise around output, ease of use, looks, cold weather performance, efficiency and cost.

Thanks for the feedback though. I'm looking into other options w/ more lumens.

 

[Falcon67]

I use 6500K bulbs and T8's run well in cold weather. Plenty of light even with brown walls and ceiling.

 

[Platonic Solid]

I suppose its worth referencing that i get better lighting from these CFL's than I do from the tubes. Brighter and more spread. http://i.imgur.com/z6L7yrs.jpg
Whats 25-25-25-?

What about working in freezing temps? Is there a better option to flourescent for a garage that works in cold weather?


Yes a bare 100w bulb would give more light but I'm also factoring aesthetics. This LED seemed like a good compromise around output, ease of use, looks, cold weather performance, efficiency and cost.

Thanks for the feedback though. I'm looking into other options w/ more lumens.

25-25-25 is approximate surface reflectance of bare wood.

More beam spread isn't going to help you if you bury the fixture in a hole or place items like your wood storage directly in the path of the beam. Regardless of the light source technology, light is light and it doesn't bend around corners. If you want the most out of any light source, you need surfaces that reflect the light, not absorb it. Small spaces with lots of items in them are the most difficult.

You would greatly improve the efficacy of those screw in bulbs if you inserted a curved specular reflector (assuming that is purchasable from your local hardware store in sheet form) or take some thin (0.020"-0.025") aluminum - spray paint it white - cut into a rectangle larger than the recess such that is spring fits into the cavity.