Thanks Sparks67 --- I'll have to do some reading. I will probably struggle to fit $250 fixtures into my budget, depending on how many I would need. If I could get by with about 4 fixtures maybe, but I doubt that is feasible. I will have to research it.

Call Vault, and they will tell you on how many you need. You might just need 4, but I told them the size of garage. They said 2 to 3. I went with 2, and later I add another one. If you need more, just add it in later. You might be able to find that fixture now in the USA, but I couldn't find it in 2009.

Wiedemab, dang right it doesn't hurt to ask!

The're are times that my electrician friends can't give away the lights they pull out. I've got 6) 2'x2' box lights, 4 U shaped bulbs a piece that came out of a high school. Free and 1000% better than what I had, literally night and day.

Something else to think about is the work benches. My lighting is real clean and bright but I would create shadows when at the work benches or sheet metal equipment. Not having a high ceiling is part of the issue I think. I've got 3 separate lights that hang close to the wall to get rid of the "shadows".

Sounds fun putting together a new work space, I'm due in the next year or so.:thumbsup:

:cheers:
Dan

What I like about the 8' T12 HO bulbs is the 110 watts.... Watts = heat...

I've got 16 double lamp fixtures --- so that's 32 bulbs cranking out 110 watts each... Which is 3500 watts on 24/7. With the 6" of high density bat for insulation -- and the 5/8" plywood interior walls... I've got more heat than I can use!


:D

Sounds like a heated discussion:lol: Man, I need to build me a nice shop, good luck w/the build.

Might work in Bellevue, Washington, when the lowest temperature only reaches 40 degrees. Not in Indiana! His outside temperature is same as mine.

Oh Yeah! T12HO's are on Department of Energy list to eliminate too, because they use to much energy.

"Effective July 14, 2012 fluorescent lighting must meet 2009 Department Of Energy regulations and minimum initial lumens per watt (LPW) requirements, or can no longer be manufactured. All medium bi-pin 4ft. T12 lamps are eliminated. Standard SP lamps at 2800 lumens don’t meet standards and will no longer be manufactured. Most standard 8’T12 and 8’T12 HO lamps are eliminated except the 60W, 800 series. All T12 2ft. U-bend lamps are eliminated. T8 U-bend standard SP lamps are eliminated. 2012 Phase out of 100 watt incandescent light bulbs 2013 Phase out of 75 watt incandescent light bulbs 2014 Phase out of 40 and 60 watt incandescent light bulbs"

Expect more changes in lighting technology. There is more changes coming for 2014, so expect it change in another few years. I see on the DOE website that their ultimate goal is to move to Solid State Lighting by 2030. SSL lighting is to expensive now.

I have 10 foot ceilings, and I say that the T5-HO are about 10 to 12 feet from the work bench. I don't need any extra lighting for the work bench. I don"t get any shadows, but it might be your color temperature of the fluorescent light. I use 5000K (Full spectrum), but most people don't like that temperature. I used to work in quality control & Tool & Die back in the 1980's, and it was at 5000K. More light is nice, if it is required.


Jeff

I'm kinda built like a sasquatch, been known to block more than just light.:D

Hey Greg, with the high ceiling in your shed how much of a drop do you have on the lights?


:cheers:
Dan

Right around 13' off the floor. I have one door that's 12' and I needed to clear that. Then there are 4 (dbls) over the work area that are at 8' ish....



The lowest lights are in the floor joists -- and I used some corrugated steel as "reflectors" ---- which I thought was very clever of me. :D



http://i919.photobucket.com/albums/a...x/IMG_1295.jpg



http://i919.photobucket.com/albums/a...x/IMG_1296.jpg



There is NO lighting above this area.... and it's still more than bright enough...



http://i919.photobucket.com/albums/a...x/IMG_1304.jpg




In this picture --- only half the shop lights are on -- the far bay is off. Each "bay" has 6 (2 rows of 3) double light 8' fixtures.



http://i919.photobucket.com/albums/a...x/IMG_2252.jpg

"Asshole's Garage" :rofl:


Nice shop Greg. :thumbsup: