Shop Lighting ?

[Geniusfarms]

Put up a new Morton shop on the farm. We are at the point of ceiling lights right after planting season. Just want some ideas on lights. T-5's,T-8's or has anyone put up any new led style lights in a farm shop. Just looking for ideas. The ceiling height is 18'3'' and was kinda leaning toward the t-5's six bank tubes with chrome reflectors. Thanks !

[clayton58]

I. Have a new shop in the works now. I'm gonnaook into led s. Sounds like they are higher initial cost but use just a fraction of the electricity I too would like to hear from anyone who is using them

[bakken101]

We just put up a new shop this winter 70 x 104 x 21.  We are using LED high bay fixtures (16), very pleased.  Yes a little more costly, but in the long run worth it.  60,000 hour lamp life, uses a fraction of the energy of otheer lamps, pure white light, no ballast hum or electrical interference, and instant on, no warm up.

[Husker-J]

Some of the best lighting I have experinced in a shed, involved staggered lights at the cieling, some in the middle, some by the sides, combined with translucent panels on the upper parts of the sidewalls, spaced about every 25 feet or so.

As for the lights themselves, unless the shed it heated, shy away from flourescents, as they get dim when they are cold.

I also am becoming a strong beliveer in portable lights.   If you have a rechargable cordless drill, with removable batteries, see if you can get an LED worklight, that uses that same battery.   A couple of those, can really make a difference.  I like to even haul one around in the combine, makes it easier to see things inside.

[dmowitz]

I would most highly recommendation T-5 flourescents. Almost every shop we have featured in Successful Farming Magazine and the Machinery Show (on RFD-TV) that has been built in the last 5 to 7 years use T-5 fixtures. They are so far superior to anything on the market that the decision will be easy . . .well, except for their cost. I can't say for sure how much more they cost than T-8, maybe 25% to 30% more. But you'll recup that in a couple of years.

T-5 not only provide instant illumination (T-8 and older T-12 take several minute to warm up) but also:

• turn out close to sunlight illuminination (only very pricey HID lighting does better in this regard),

• have five times the blub length of T-8s.

• operate cooler than T-8s.

• consume 20% or less electricity.

And, as an added bonus, they don't produce that bothersome "hum" when operating.

One last comment . . .your selection of six blub fixtures combined with chrome reflectors is outstanding!

Dave Mowitz

[clayton58]

Well it's decision time. Think I'll go with t-5s. About half the price of led s and more lumens. Led May use less power but payback is probably longer than the rest of my career