Can those 300 to 500 watt halogine work lights..the ones that you see mounted on stands, be ceiling-mounted by screwing through the bail handle? Would they be safe?

MR

 

They run hot and use large amounts of electric for a ceiling fixture. I have 3 for walk in lights, instant light. The rest of my shop is low bay which are intended for a 10 to 16 ft ceiling height.

 

In electrical speak, "recessed" means a flush mounted light with the fixture stuck in an enclosed area with no heat removal means provided. Would you feel better if I sent you a photo to show you the foot of room around the fixture on all sides? Really, I'm a mechanical engineer, who took 2 years electrical engineering classes before that. I understand heat transfer very well. Perhaps my biggest mistake in presenting this information here was calling them "recessed" which denotes a different meaning to an electrical contractor.

 

86,

I'm an ME too. I'm with you on the adequacy of your (our) design. He does have a point concerning the insurance though. Anything that's not installed according to instructions is an opportunity for the insurance company to avoid paying a claim, if they really want to.

 

Only if the fire investigator linked the fire cause to the lights. If they tried to deny because some shop rags caught fire, I'd have a fun time with them.

 

Depends on where the burden of proof falls, I suppose.

 

86,thats still considered recessed.At least to all juristictions that I know of requiring installations to be as per the NEC and manufacturers instructions. There is no provisions or exceptions for a unlisted high intensity electric discharge lamp to be installed into any sort of a combustible recessed area. You may think that your well under what you would consider the combustion point, but that changes from the heat pyrolizing the wood creating a suprisingly low combustion temperature over time. It's not a interpetation of the definition of recessed, its a matter of code. The installation you are referring to would get written up every time and HID lights WILL catch the attention of any good inspector.

 

Severely pyrolized wood ignites at around 200F. Normal wood ignites around 500F. I'm still researching what temp wood begins to pyrolize at. I suspect it's at least 300F. I stuck my hand on the wood while the lights had been on for a while tonight. The shop temp was about 50-55F. The surface was slightly warm. I'll check it when I borrow a IR temp gun later this month. I suspect I have nothing to fear. Perhaps If I'm feeling exceptionally overkill, I'll line it with steel or aluminum next summer. You may also have a Northern Kalifornia outlook on this, where this is rural Michigan. We don't worry too much around here about code enforcers. Heck, my barn is more overkill than most of the farmers' barns around here.

 

Nah, it has nothing to do with California....I'm an inspector.

 

My local inspectors have always been a big help to me on projects.

 

94F150, where in Norcal are you at? Bay Area, Capitol, North Valley(chico red bluff area)?




Drive It Like You Stole It!!!

 

f250ranger, I'm in the Central Valley (Stockton Area).

 

The best fluoresent lights are made by Orion West Lighting, a 3 bulb - 4' fixture puts out 900 watts of light, is instant on at 0 degrees, Electronic ballast (does not buzz - EVER), Never flickers, consumes less than a 100 watt fixture, and is accurate color rendition ta-boot. 1 fixture is 2 - 3 times brighter than a 2 bulb 8' Depot style light,
<!I build shops, garages and horse barns, I have installed 1000's of these lights>
<!and my customers love them (have them in my 80' x 100' x 18' shop). I sell them>
<!for $115 ea (reasonable, compared to the Depot units for what you get) Look >
<!for a dealer in your area, or email me and I'll email you a dealer in your area.>
pcwb

 

That seems to come up with:

http://www.orionlighting.com/

 

Too bad Orions web site doesnt give some more info on the lights they sell. Do you have more info on them, pcwb? These sound like some of the SHO tubes, Although your post has me a little confused, you say they are 900 watts, but they consume less than a 100 watt fixture. Do you know what the wattage is on each 4' tube, and how many lumens they produce per tube? Hows the pricing on the fixtures and replacement lamps? Thanks!