What color temp T8 tubes?

[Number22]

I need to order a few cases of T8 fluorescent bulbs for my shop. Standard "cool white" shop bulbs are 4100k I believe. 5000k is supposed to be more like daylight and 6500k is supposed to be the best. Or so I've heard. I have ONE 6500k tube in my home garage and the light seems kind of blueish and unnatural to my eye.

Anyway...what should I get to cover my whole shop? What are you guys using? Just the plain cool white shop bulbs? When I order a case online the various different colors all cost about the same....

 

[D KRAGER]

Seems like everyone likes the 4100's Some like the 5000's. I'd say 80% of people run the 4100's.

 

[srmofo]

in my kitchen with a 4 bulb fixture I have it mixed with 2 "cools" and 2 "warms". I didnt do it on purpose but after I got them in I really liked it so I left them. It kinda gives the best of both worlds, brighter but more natural. It also has a cover over it that diffuses the light so That might make a difference.

 

[Jack90210]

I use 3500s and like them. I'd say I'm moderately fussy about the color, and about how "spiky" fluorescents are across the color spectrum. Whatever color you use, I'd recommend a good tri-phosphor or multi-phosphor bulb as they're much less "spiky." Higher CRI (color rendering index) gives a relative idea of how smooth the light output is.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fluorescent_lamp#Colors

 

[Shocker]

I have the 5000k. I tried the 6500 and they were just as you said, blue and un-natural. The 5000k units do great.

 

[ScaldedDog]

I have the 5000k. I tried the 6500 and they were just as you said, blue and un-natural. The 5000k units do great.

x2

Mark

 

[Cryptic1911]

I got 3 cases of 5000k 85CRI and they are the perfect color.. I never liked the yellow tint of the 4100k's and the 6500k's look like cheap ricer headlights because they are too blue

 

[z28snksknr]

My garage does not have enough lighting, so I look for Lumens output. The 5000K bulbs at Lowe's were like 2050 vs. the 6500K and 4100K bulbs being in the 3000's. i would prefer the 5000K bulbs since it is closer to sunlight, but since I need the brighter bulbs, I went with a mixture of 6500K and 4100K.

I could have used this thread yesterday when I was having trouble making the decision in the store.

 

[Cryptic1911]

the 3 cases that I got were from 1000bulbs.com , and I got 5000k 3100 lumens, 85 CRI, and 36000hr life bulbs. The stores around here didn't have anything similar, so I'm not surprised

 

[Falcon67]

I'm using the 6500s in the shop. Looks fine to me. Inside I use the 4100s.

 

[baneonrt]

My garage does not have enough lighting, so I look for Lumens output. The 5000K bulbs at Lowe's were like 2050 vs. the 6500K and 4100K bulbs being in the 3000's. i would prefer the 5000K bulbs since it is closer to sunlight, but since I need the brighter bulbs, I went with a mixture of 6500K and 4100K.

I could have used this thread yesterday when I was having trouble making the decision in the store.

FYI,

I have a case of the Phillips Alto bulbs from Lowe's next to me now and they have a light output of 2950 lumens. So basically the same as the other bulbs

Steve

 

[jvitez]

I need to order a few cases of T8 fluorescent bulbs for my shop. Standard "cool white" shop bulbs are 4100k I believe. 5000k is supposed to be more like daylight and 6500k is supposed to be the best. Or so I've heard. I have ONE 6500k tube in my home garage and the light seems kind of blueish and unnatural to my eye.

Anyway...what should I get to cover my whole shop? What are you guys using? Just the plain cool white shop bulbs? When I order a case online the various different colors all cost about the same....

The first question to ask is how accurate do you need colors to look in your space? Most T8's have a CRI of 85 which our eye sees as really accurate. If you're doing any painting you should consider high color rendering bulbs, with a CRI of 98. Or maybe put these over a workbench you'll be painting at.

If CRI of 85 is OK, then color temperature is next. My favorite is 5000K. "Soft white" fluorescents whether CF or tubes at 2700K give this gastly jaundiced color. 3000-3500 is neutral to our eye. I have 3200K lights in our kitchen which highlights the blue counter top beautifully. My old workshop had 5000K high color rendering T12's. Loved them. I agree, 6500K is too blue for me. Pale mid-winter noon day northern sky is 6500K or higher, but K ratings of fluorescents are are still not the same as natural light because our eye doesn't see them as exactly the same. The sky doesn't look too blue, but 6500K bulbs do, at least to me.

Finally, lumen output. Are all your fixtures up already? Lumen output does vary somewhat, but not a lot. CRI 98 bulbs do have lower lumen outputs.