Shop lighting Options

[gsmittle]

OK all you light experts:

[I][B]First Question: Are daylight bulbs less efficient in terms of lumens for the same power?

I'm by no means a lighting expert; what follows is based on my experience in stage lighting: I'm guessing that the daylight lamps might filter out some of the yellow, which would mean less light overall.

g.

[Tom Slick]

The actual light output will be the same but our eyes adjust to the color of light differently. Our eyes allow more blue light in so our eyes perceive higher kelvin ratings as brighter. Install a 3000k bulb in the same fixture as a 5000k bulb and you'll swear the 5000k bulb is much brighter but your light meter will tell you they are the same

[vanguard]

I'm with the rest of the guys on the daylight bulbs. Regardless of which fixture you'll choose, you'll find the daylight bulbs make a big difference.

I went through the same process at the old house in San Diego. I found the cheap fixtures kept failing and/or wouldn't start when it was cold. I switched to a midrange shop light from lowes and was much happier.

I had a three car garage and used nine 4' twin fixtures. With the built in switches, I could turn off those I didn't need.

[lrr]

Bargain Alert:

I think our local Walmarts are getting rid of daylight LED lamps. They had 11W A19 lamps (standard bulb shape) on special for $8.88. Unfortunately, I was only able to get 3. And these were dimmable, which usually go for an extra couple dollars over non-dimmable. They had lots of soft white in all kinds of styles -- A19, PAR flood lamps, and candelabra style. I asked if they were ceasing to carry daylight, since your average buyer is pretty unaware of different color temperature offerings. And so I figured Walmart was simplifying their offerings.The employee had no idea.

I went to another Walmart in town, a few days later, and no special, but bought the last two daylight A19 bulbs for $10.88 each.

If you want to try some, this may be the time. These are the Great Value brand. The only negative about the dimmable LED is they do not dim down to a "glowing filament" level you get with incandescents, but they are quite smooth in their dimming range. I actually don't need dimming for many of my lamps but I bought what was available. I can tell you that these bulbs seem WAY brighter than the incandescents they replace, and their "60W equivalent" rating. I might invest in a few of the "40W equivalent" LEDs for some applications.

[LCHIEN]

Consider, If you can spare the headroom, lowering the fixtures 12 more inches can increase the light about 50% at your worksurface...

I was serious about lowering your lights 12 inches will make a big difference in the lighting.

Assuming:
8' ceiling height, shoplights mounted (hung) 6" below ceiling to start
Work height = 36", or 3 feet.

Light to work distance = 4.5 Feet

If we lower the lights (increase the suspending chain) by 12", then the light to work distance = 3.5 feet.

Light from a given source falling on a surface is inversely proportional to the distance, e.g. if we double the distance the light will be 1/4th or 25%. Halve the distance and it will be 4x as bright.

So going from 4.5 to 3.5 feet, the intensity of the light hitting the surface will be (4.5/3.5) squared, or 1.65. So the light will be 65% brighter for no added expense for light fixtures, lamp changes or electricity consumed. You just have to have sufficient overhead clearance for the lights and extra chain length.

Even 6" closer instead of 1 foot closer will give 31% more light.

Raising your work bench will have the same effect. Or, putting a task light right over a work spot.

[LCHIEN]

...
I am thinking about picking up a couple of the magnetic base goose neck lamps like the one Rockler sells http://www.rockler.com/magtite-base-work-light one for the band saw, one for the lathe. Everything else has excellent light on it...

Dave, As an alternative You might look at some LED task lighting. I picked up one I think from Peachtree at the woodworking show last year or the year before that I don't see in the catalog, but you can search Amazon for "LED task light gooseneck" and find some AC powered ones. The good thing is that they're cool (frequently close to your head) and the head is very small so that its not in the way, and the new ones are pretty bright and the LEDs are focused in the right direction instead of having to work with the large reflector.

Mine is AC/battery operated and you can get a variety of C-clamp, magnetic and drilled hole mounting options. Its very light, I keep it on the corner of my router table when doing small projects and remove it when routing bigger objects that need to swing over the entire table area.