Hi Folks,
I am planning to upgrade or improve the lighting in my basement workshop, eyes seem to be suffering from “forty-itis”. It is not an easy situation because of the low ceilings, 6’6″ . The area of the “shop” is roughly 12′ x 22′. Currently I have 4 flourescent fixtures that each have 2 40 watt tubes, stuffed up between the joists.
Would a wider reflector help? or is the answer perhaps a different type of tube? More fixtures ? or perhaps adding task lighting. Anyone out there have an idea?
Thanx for any suggestions. Eric
Replies
Eric -
In my 24'x24' shop I have 9 fixtures 4' long for a total of 18 forty watt tubes. Been thinking about adding some more in the 'dark' spots. I have an 8' sheet rock ceiling painted white. Also, most of the time I have my double wide garage door open.
In your case I think I'd run 5 units about 3' out from one wall and 5 more 3' out from the other wall. Then add one or two over the primary work bench or area.
My eyes started gettin 'tired' about 10 years ago.
PlaneWood by Mike_in_Katy (maker of fine sawdust!)
PlaneWood
My shop's general lighting is four halogens shining up to bounce the light off a white ceiling. Then I use spots over each work area. I can't stand the color and slow frequency of florescents.
If you have back issues of FWW, see the article by Jack Lindsey, "Lighting for the Workshop," in issue #154, pp. 56-61.
you can get some High Output Flourescent fixtures. hew.com has some great solutions. (they are just one brand, there are others)
Most of the people who complain about flourescent fixtures have cheap junky lighting and buy cheap junky lights and match them with cheap junky ballasts. They make full spectrum lights that put off great light. Bulb technology has come along way.
Match your fixture to your ceiling height when you go to an industrial lighting store, stay away from cheap junky fixtures, or youll get cheap junky lighting.
I've got the exact same situation as you...basement 15'x 30' with 4 flourescents stuffed between the joists that are about 6'7" above the floor (I'm only 6'6") I just put in the fixtures (just moved into the house), and I've noticed the lights are really too close to the work, and don't spread their light very far because they are really close to the work surfaces. Can't put them higher in the rafters, or they would be blinded by the joists. I plan on doubling the amount of lighting in the basement as soon as I figure out where I should put them. I did try putting brighter tubes in the fixtures, but it seems to make the shadows worse. Yes, WORSE. The shadows are the things that cause me problems, as the eyes can't deal with uneven lighting. I also plan on putting up some more reflective wall coverings. The brown fake wood won't do. Let me know if the reflectors help, that idea occurred to me too, but I'm lazy (hey, I did put the lights up in the first place!)
Tom
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