Veno CFL or T8 fixtures

[robmints]

My head is spinning. 15- 65watt 6500k with reflector CFL's
reflectors $12
Bulbs $20
tot $480

or….

15- 120-277 commercial 4ft t8 fixtures with 4100k bulbs

Fixtures $30
Bulbs $3
tot $540

When I add lumens up it looks like 78000 lumens from the tubes and 51000 from the CFLs. But it sure seems like the CFLs would be brighter. What am I missing. Please help. If I am going in the wrong direction altogether please let me know.

32x40 pole building. Half shop, half storage. Lighting will be biased to the shop side. Thank you all very much.

 

[Highbeam]

I don't think you're missing anything. The CFLs are way less efficient than T8s. I went with T8s for this reason plus the tendency of CFLs to fail often in my home. If a t8 goes bad I am out 1.50$, but each of the CFLs you quoted is 20$!!!! The final reason that CFLs **** (a little bias here) is that they (normal ones) are very sensitive to cold. The CFLs in my home can glow purple for minutes while the T8 fixtures are instantly nearly 100% bright.

I only put 32 4' T8 bulbs in my 30x60 pole barn with 14' ceilings. The lighting is very adequate for overall general lighting. I will supplement with task lighting on seperate switches over the workbenches.

 

[robmints]

Thanks Highbeam. I'm going to order these:

http://www.contractorlighting.com/4ft-lamp-watt-fluorescent-double-channel-strip-120277-p-400.html

I know Homedepot and Lowes are cheaper but I have used the off brands they sell and they last maybe a year and the ballast fails. I see HD has lithonia but I still worry they are the same junk in a different box.

And I'm going to call 1000bulbs and see if these are right:

http://1000bulbs.com/product/6427/F-32T8865XPECOS.html

How do you decipher those numbers? I need them to start in the cold.

I'm putting 10 fixtures in the shop 20x32 space and 4 fixtures in the other 20x32 space. Does that sound correct? 56000 lumens in a 640 sqft space?

 

[Highbeam]

I used the HD 8' fixtures and I've got to recommend you ditch the little 4 footers for the 8 footers. No reason to have 10 of those when 5 8' fixtures should be much cheaper. Usually you pay 40$ for the 8 foot fixture and 30$ for the 4' fixture. They both use 4' bulbs.

I placed the 8' fixtures end to end the short way (30' dimension) and spaced them evenly for good light distribution.

How high is your ceiling?

For general lighting you are very good in the bright part but a little low in the storage area. Perhaps bump that up to 12 bulbs.

 

[PRH44]

F= fluorescent
32= watt
T8= lamp type (style and diameter)
8=CRI color rendering index
65=6500K is the color and higher the number the whiter the light
2700 or 27 - orangish shade common for compact fluorescent lamps, similar to many incandescent lamps.
3000 or 30 - "warm white", similar to whiter shades of incandescent.
3500 or 35 - between warm white and cool white, similar to the whitest halogen lamps and projector lamps.
4100 or 41 - "cool white" or the color of average sunlight.
5000 or 50 - an icy cold pure white like that of noontime tropical sunlight.
6500 or 65 - slightly bluish white or "daylight".
XP=extended performance
ECO= Ecologic (Eco friendly lamp)

 

[PRH44]

The basic quality electronic ballast and a full 32 watt lamp will give OK start up in cooler temperatures. Do not you super savers or any watt saving lamps less than 32 watt as they will take longer to heat up. Higher quality lamps and ballast will always perform better and last longer.
With this said one can spend more money and purchase HO and VHO style ballast and lamps. Delivering start up at -20 degree Temps. The lamp/ballast options on the high end market are staggering as is the cost

 

[robmints]

Thank you guys very much for the advise and information!!!

OK, I'll get these:

http://www.contractorlighting.com/8ft-lamp-watt-fluorescent-double-channel-strip-120277-p-176.html

6 on the shop side and 2 on the storage side. Still don't know if I'm going to start 2 feet from the wall, in the first truss space, or 6 feet from the wall in the second truss space. That comes down to useful light and not wanting light right over the proposed lift, but more to the side. Oh, 12ft side walls and trusses. No ceiling per se.

Thanks again!