Workspace lighting
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- This topic has 5 replies, 2 voices, and was last updated 9 years, 1 month ago by Jim Braun.
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I found the following article about shop lighting extremely helpful. Although the example is based on hardwired ceiling fixtures, the general ideas should work for other approaches. I’m installing lights now via these principles in my too-dark cave basement corner work area, so it is too soon to be able to say the ideas actually worked.
Hmm. The link didn’t show up. Trying again….
Lighting the Small Workshop – by Jack Lindsey
http://www.sawmillcreek.org/content.php?146-Lighting-the-Small-Workshop-by-Jack-Lindsey
Timely article, although he doesn’t include LEDs because they are an emerging technology,nevertheless I will be trying these from Feit:
http://www.feit.com/documents/pdf/73991_SpecSheet.pdf
If you are a Costco member they are $31.99 till 2/22/15.
I have just about given up on the big box flouresect utility lights, the fixtures don’t seem to last and disposing of the lamps has become a major hassle.
Jim
I thought about LEDs, but found that they do not give as much light. That’s not a necessarily a problem, but don’t assume an LED “4 foot shop light” is equal to a similar looking 4-foot T8 fluorescent. For example, the ones on sale are 3700 lumens while a similar T8 fixture would be around 5600 lumens (2800 per bulb), which is 50% more light at least going by the initial ratings and ignoring color and so forth. Also, watch for whether there are reflectors on the fixture if your ceiling is unfinished (see the article that I linked).
The LEDs could be a good choice, but just keep that brightness issue in mind, check the fixture you’re going to buy, and work relative to how much light you need. In my case, I couldn’t get the extra fixtures I’d have needed into my ceiling, although there’s one place where the light is used as a passage light and is switched off and on many times a day. That one might end up being an LED.
Ed,
Good point regarding lumen output, I just got back from Costco and installed 2 of the LED fixtures over my bench and thankfully they are bright enough. I am still in the very early stages of setting up my work area having just finished the bench.
For now I installed the 2 fixtures perpendicular to the bench and that has helped eliminate the shadows that were bothering me when laying out some dovetails.
The issues I was having with the cheap fixtures include bent lamp holders, they are very fragile, and what I assume is a ballast issue because every once and a while the lamps would go out for a few minutes and then come back on. I sure a better quality fixture would not have these problems.
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