Shop lighting
Senior User
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 302
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From: Cincinnati, Ohio
Shop lighting
13hondacr250, the ballasts you have in there now, are rated for 50 degrees. Thats why your lights have trouble coming on and flickering, when it is cold. They make a zero degree ballast, which will cure that problem. The electronic ballast works a little better, but they are expensive.
zanny
zanny
Posting Legend
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 30,255
Likes: 37
Shop lighting
The electronic ballast 4' flourescents are dirt cheap at the home Box stores and they work well in the cold. I have had 3 of them for 2 years now and they worked on the coldest winter days in my attached but unheated drafty garage. They make a little noise on startup in the cold but perform well.
Senior User
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 302
Likes: 0
From: Cincinnati, Ohio
Shop lighting
There are a few type of electronic ballasts. The type the sell at home depot are not a true electronic ballast. That is why they make noise on real cold days. Those ballasts are for residential use. You can not use those type of ballasts in commercial or industrial applications. ( federally mandated energy conservation rules) A true electronic ballast have a removable cover, with a circiut board inside.
zanny
zanny
Senior User
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 146
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From: Dallas Ga
Shop lighting
In a recent issue of Family Handyman[I think] there was a article on shop lighting that talked about different ballasts for cold climates and such. It was a good article with useful info.
Freshman User
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 45
Likes: 0
From: Hotter than Hell Dallas,
Shop lighting
I bought my shop lights at a school auction, I got old some Gym lights that are 220 cost me 175 duckies for 12 of them used 8 at first now only 6. Thought that TXU was going to love me but really our bill didnt go up that much. 8 was to much for 40 by 50 shop with 6 when the roll up door is up you can see my shop for miles at night. They are really nice cons bulbs cost 68 bucks and they take forever to come on and when they are coming on I can watch the meter outside go into Hyperdrive.
Elder User
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 895
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From: Tampa
Shop lighting
(Quote) The question I have is I want to put a work bench in my shop and I want to be able to have a bright light overhead when I need it, but also want to be able to move it if it is going to get in the way. I was thinking of putting a flourescent light on some sort of a pulley or retractable cord.
I would mount the light on the wall infront of the work bench it will give you tons of lights and it's out of the way.
I would mount the light on the wall infront of the work bench it will give you tons of lights and it's out of the way.
Freshman User
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 45
Likes: 0
From: Hotter than Hell Dallas,
Shop lighting
Why couldnt you use something like track lighting, I dunno only problem I see making the 90 degree turn from overhead to wall. You can buy a shop light with a retractor cut the cord at the light and mount the light you want and use it or even a airhose reel with extension cords would work. The hard part is getting the light needed out of a bulb not 48 inches long without going to halogen but they suck to work under or around
Posting Legend
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 30,255
Likes: 37
Shop lighting
If you put a light in front of you and are wearing safety glasses the glare off the glasses will be very bad. The light should be over your shoulders.
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Elder User
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 895
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From: Tampa
Shop lighting
What I meant, is mount the light in front of you but put it above your head so you don't have the glare. Hey try this, get a buddy, power up the light and move it around and see were it works best for you. I just helped a friend with his a he did something neet his lights are on two slides so he can move it in and out from the wall as needed.
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