Shop lighting with 300w CFL's

[XcYZ]

Looks pretty bright. I'm not really up to speed on CFL options, do you have a choice in range on kelvin?

[jjarky]

Originally Posted by XcYZ

Looks pretty bright. I'm not really up to speed on CFL options, do you have a choice in range on kelvin?

These are the only CFL's I could find at this wattage. There are no others (at least that I could find). I prefer a bulb around 3800 Kelvin. I think these are around 2700 to 3000. Slightly more yellow than I would like but still work great for the price.

[brrymnvette]

I've got 9 200W regular bulbs in my 15x20 garage. It lights it up like day time. I love it. I'll never use the "shop lights" again.

[GregWeld]

Paint those walls a light color -- and you'd be amazed at how much brighter those lights will be! Painting the floor would help too - but if you're like me - I don't want a "nice" floor... I'd just ruin it anyway so why bother.

I had my shed walls painted an off white - and I wish I'd have taken a meter for before and after readings... because I'd bet it was 25% brighter after the paint.

[jmarsa]

Nice Find.

The only thing I don't like about CFLs is that the lifespan is severely shortened when they are turned on/off often. Before I learned this, I killed many by using them in the kitchen and bath.

--JMarsa

[GregWeld]

IF -- big IF -- You're heating your shop anyway - just leave them on... I leave my 8' HO fluorescents on 24/7 as a heat source... figuring that I'm paying a heat source one way or the other - and electricity is electricity. A watt is a watt - and watts are heat.

[IndyNova]

I've got an 8' flourescent 2 bulb fixture, and 6 3' 2 bulb fixtures, lights up very well in my 1 1/2 car garage. i installed 6 8' 2 bulb fixtures in my buddies garage with painted walls, unbeleivalble difference, his is much brighter