Shop lights

[Maurice Hood]

Gentlemen, I am searching for information and recommendations about lighting for my workshop. The shop is 32x32x10 and I have read several threads that cover how to determine the amount of lights needed. What I am interested in is the actual light fixtures that everyone is using. At first I had been considering one from my local Home Depot for $11.86 but then went on-line and read a lot of negative reviews so I started considering one I could get on-line for $12.96 with free shipping but it really doesn’t have any reviews at all. Needless to say I don’t want to spend any more than is necessary but I don’t want to waste my time buying and/or installing junk either. So, what does everyone recommend? Thanks in advance for any and all your assistance.
http://www.homedepot.com/p/Lithonia-Lighting-2-Light-White-T12-Fluorescent-Shoplight-1233- (http://www.homedepot.com/p/Lithonia-Lighting-2-Light-White-T12-Fluorescent-Shoplight-1233-)
http://www.homedepot.com/p/Commercial-Electric-Basic-2-Lamp-Hanging-Fluorescent-White-ShopLight-CESL401-06/203725913#specifications (http://www.homedepot.com/p/Commercial-Electric-Basic-2-Lamp-Hanging-Fluorescent-White-ShopLight-CESL401-06/203725913#specifications)
:confused:

[Brian Elfert]

Don't get anything that doesn't have electronic ballast. Just not worth it having to listen to the hum plus the electronic ballast lights use a little less power.

Lithonia makes reasonably good stuff, but it is double the cost of the cheap stuff.

[Maurice Hood]

Thanks Brian, I’ll certainly keep that “electronic ballast”thing in mind. I hadn’t even considered the noise factor but do agree it can be an issue. Those Lithonia lights appear to be a definite improvement but they’ll dictate a substantial lighting budget increase for sure. But as I stated I don’t want to waste time buying and/or installing junk especially noisy junk.

[Charles Wiggins]

Maurice,

I outfitted my shop with 10 of these: http://www.homedepot.com/p/Lithonia-Lighting-All-Season-Shop-Light-4-ft-2-Light-Grey-T8-Strip-Fluorescent-1242ZG-RE/202052422#

They're ~$20 a pop, but I haven't had a single issue with any of them, and I intend to get a few more for the garage when the budget allows. One thing that probably helps a lot is that I have them plugged into a series of outlets on a single circuit controlled by a light switch, so I am not constantly pulling the chains to turn them on and off. They're T8 units, so the bulbs may cost a bit more, but they use less energy for more light and will probably last longer.

I use the Philips 5000K "daylight" bulbs. I can't find them on the site, but I usually get them at HD in a 10 pack. I have had some issues with some of them: uneven coating and dull florescence, but HD swapped them out, no problem. It's been a few years so I don't know what the quality is now.

[David Wong]

Have you read Jack Lindsey's excellent article (http://www.sawmillcreek.org/content.php?146-Lighting-the-Small-Workshop-by-Jack-Lindsey) on shop lighting?

[Matt Meiser]

I installed some of their 8' strips that use 4 T8 bulbs in my finishing room and they weren't bad but Lithonia makes some real junk that Home Depot sells too.

My suggestion is to go to a reputable lighting store and at least consider something decent. I bought commercial Lithonia fixtures 10 years ago for the main area in my shop. My lighting for a similar size shop was NOT cheap. But I've never done any repairs on the fixtures and I just relamped last week because all the tubes were getting dark on the ends and I had an opportunity to properly dispose of them for free. I went with 8' HO T12 lamps that are cold weather rated. I wouldn't do that today, but that was a good approach 10 years ago. Today I'd probably buy a similar style fixture but that used 4-4' T8's.

Also, if you can I'd suggest hanging them down from the ceiling about 8" so you can run duct work above with little regard to your lighting layout. I've only ever moved 2 and that was to install my AC unit and ducting.

[David C. Roseman]

Maurice, we have a fairly large home shop as well, and I've gradually been replacing our T12 48" 2-bulb open-reflector fixtures with new T8s over the last couple of years, as the old T12 bulbs wear out. It's not difficult to retrofit the old fixtures with T8 ballasts, and I've done that a few times, but the new 2-bulb T8s are so inexpensive it's hardly worth the trouble.

I've tried both the Home Depot and Lowes open-reflector shop lights. Utilitech from Lowes, Lithonia from HD. Have stayed with the Utilitech's because I prefer the all-white reflectors to the light gray of the Lithonia that Charles linked to. Maybe it's just my eyes, but they seem brighter. Here's the link: http://www.lowes.com/pd_420867-43921-MXL-103_0__?productId=4013485&Ntt=shop+lighting&pl=1&currentURL=%3FNtt%3Dshop%2Blighting&facetInfo=

I plug the fixtures into ceiling-mounted duplex receptacles, half on one wall switch, half on the other, interspersed so that there is fairly even lighting when I don't need all the fixtures on at once.

There are numerous threads on shop lighting on SMC in addition to Jack Lindsey's article. Others may see it differently, but for the non-commercial shop I think the open-reflector consumer fixtures hung every four feet apart (our ceiling is 10 ft.), and controlled by wall switches, do the job just fine. They throw a lot of light. You'll need a lot of them for your shop, but at $18 a fixture, they're a pretty good value. You can double them up where you need more light, e.g., over the TS.

David

[Bas Pluim]

I have 16 of these (http://t.homedepot.com/p/Lithonia-Lighting-4-ft-Wraparound-Fluorescent-Ceiling-Fixture-SB-2-32-120-GESB/100427375/) in my shop (Lithonia 2x4ft T8) for four years now. No hum, no flickering, haven't even had to replace a bulb. Easy to install and reasonably priced. Definitely go with T8 (or T5 if you want to get fancy).

[Maurice Hood]

Okay, so many great suggestions and so much useful information coming in I really appreciate everyone’s replies. David W. several months back I did read Jack Lindsey’s article though admittedly I focused mainly on the section on calculating the amount of lighting needed. It is a very informative article and was worth reading again. David R. I’m not familiar with that product from Lowe’s but will definitely check it out. Thanks again to everyone for their assistance.

[Maurice Hood]

I thought I’d post to say that I finished getting the lights in my shop this afternoon. I did go with the Utilitech from Lowes as David Roseman suggested. They seemed to be a decent light at a price I was looking to pay so I went with them. I do appreciate everyone’s responses and suggestions. It’s really great to finally have lights in the shop. Thanks again to everyone.