Shop Lighting

[Jerry Thompson]

I do not know anything about lighting, e.g., lumens etc. A fellow told me to replace my everyday fluorescent bulbs with T-8. I tried two of them. The were at least 50 more dim that the ones I took out. What am I missing here?
Is there a product that fits into standard 4' fluorescent fixtures that is a good deal brighter than the regular ones I have now?

[Roger Nair]

From our friend Google, I found this guide for T-8 tubes, from a RPI research division.

http://www.lrc.rpi.edu/programs/nlpip/lightingAnswers/t8/abstract.asp

[mark kosse]

I believe to put in t-8's you have to install a t8 ballast also.

[Bob Grier]

Jack Lindsey gave a great shop lighting guide to followers of Sawmill Creek.

http://www.sawmillcreek.org/content.php?146-Lighting-the-Small-Workshop-by-Jack-Lindsey

[Jerry Thompson]

Thank you fellas. I am keeping what I have.

[mark mcfarlane]

Jerry, T8 tubes are specified by brightness (lumens), color (temperature), color balance/accuracy (CRI), and power consumption (wattage). Any decent lighting website will give you these 4 values for the bulbs they sell. You can easily find two different T8 bulbs with the same power consumption with one being 50% brighter than another, so don't blow off T8's by randomly comparing one tube of unknown specs to another previous light of unknown specs.

More balanced spectrum lights (closer to a balanced daylight spectrum = high CRI) seem to put out fewer lumens in some designs. Also, if you are working on a car engine, brightness might be most important. If you are color matching woods or paint, color accuracy may become more important. Higher color accuracy tends to cost more.

[Jim Becker]

Also don't overlook LED replacement "tubes" which have come down in price and offer instant-on and some really nice light. I'm totally pleased with that transformation in my shop. There are a number of threads here in Workshops that talk about lighting and they may also be helpful to you.

[James Combs]

Also don't overlook LED replacement "tubes" which have come down in price and offer instant-on and some really nice light. I'm totally pleased with that transformation in my shop. There are a number of threads here in Workshops that talk about lighting and they may also be helpful to you.

+1 on going with LEDs. I re-lamped my 20x32 shop a few months back with LED tubes. The ones I used required the removal or at least disconnection of the old ballest. The 120vac hooked directly to the LED tube through the tum-stone socket so yes there is some rewiring to do but it is pretty simple.

Edit: I will post a thread detailing my conversion, maybe it would help someone.