Upgraded my lighting

[twinstick]

I bought my first house in Nov. I bought the house with the main selling point that it has a good size basement that I've been wanting all my life. Problem was, I couldn't see anything. I had to have a treble light to see any project, so I patiently stalked craigslist. This week, I found a deal I couldn't pass up.

I ended up buying 15 fluorescent 4' three bulb t8 fixtures. With bulbs included, I paid $100. I pulled the aluminum diffusers off, and ran then by the scrap yard and gained another $20 back. So I have a total of $80 in the fixtures. My dad came up (he's an electrical engineer) and gave me a hand wiring them up. Pretty big difference I think. I've already found things tucked away in corners that I didn't know was there.

I put a total of 7 in the left bay (6 over the work space, and 1 over the work bench). I put 5 down the center of the right bay, 1 in the back out cropping to the right (where I keep the outdoor power tools), and 2 in the back room for the fiance's workout room. I've very happy so far, I can't believe I was working on things with it so dark. Here's a couple before and after pictures.

This picture gives a pretty good idea of just how dark it was, 5 incandescent bulbs in the whole basement

Now, after the lights went up.

 

[Mike F]

Major difference! Congrats on the home purchase. Looks like a nice work space.

 

[Modifieddriver]

BIG difference. Looks great. Good buy on the light fixtures!!

 

[1953mercury]

Major improvement, but not sure why you would get rid of the diffusers as they help reflect light and heat unless they are something other than I'm thinking of. Mike

 

[twinstick]

Thanks guys. Most of the diffusers were bent up a little, and didn't look good. That, and it reminded me of working in an office too much.

 

[Busting Nuts]

I just built a 24'x26' garage with a 26'x15' shop. Purchased four t8 two bulb 48" fixtures with the hope that a couple of these in each space would give me enough light until I finalize locations for bench, machines and storage. I could not have been more wrong, as it looks like a candle in the Grand Canyon. I figured I would just add more fixtures, but thought only my workbench would need a multi-bulb. From the look of your photo mybe I should think again..? Your before photo looks like the Vegas Strip compared to my Batcave and I can only hope my finished lighting would be par with yours.

Thanks for sharing.
Danny