"Brian Elfert" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Does anyone make true 8' long flourescent light fixtures in a T8 bulb
> design with electronic ballast?
>
> All of the 8' long T8 fxtures I have seen to date actually have four 4' T8
> bulbs instead of 8' bulbs. I want electronic ballasts to reduce the hum.
>
> Brian Elfert
Yep, I have hundreds in my dealerships. However, we are switching to T5's
Better light and cheaper to operate.
Dave
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Dave Hinz <[email protected]> writes:
>Well, if you can't find 'em now, they'll be hard to find when you need
>tubes for it...I'd say just get the commonly available ones to save
>later headache.
I've found the fixtures are available from Grainger and verious online
places, but they cost $60 to $70 plus shipping versus the Home Depot
fixture with four 4' bulbs for $40.
I never thought about bulbs and didn't look at what HD, Menards, etc
carry for bulbs. The bulbs are available at Grainger for a premium price
I'm sure.
Most of the shop lighting threads I have seen say to use 8' fixtures
instead of 4' for better lighting. I wonder if the 8' fixture with four
4' bulbs would work just as well? There is no way I will consider using
magnetic ballasts.
Brian Elfert
"Pop" <[email protected]> writes:
>They seem pricey at first, until you realize that, with 4 8'
>tubes, you're also getting two ballasts and cktry for them.
Interesting. All of the 4' four bulb fixtures I've seen just have one
ballast.
I'm not real sure I would want a fixture with four 8' tubes. That would
seem to be too much light in one spot. Wouldn't it be better to use 2
bulb fixtures more often to spread out the light?
I am very concerned about costs of running all the light people recommend.
1500 watts of light in a 24x24 shop run a few hours a day could really add
up along with all other electricity used in a shop.
Brian Elfert
Mike M <[email protected]> writes:
>Yes they make them, but they aren't destined to be an industry
>standard. Most popular for use in commercial applications now would
>be the newer T5 HO systems, or using the 4' T8 lamps with a high
>output electronic ballast.
What exactly does high output gain you? Does it just pump more watts
through the same bulbs?
I see a lot about T5, but no DIYer is going to pick these up at Home
Depot, Lowes, or the like.
Brian Elfert
Yes they make them, but they aren't destined to be an industry
standard. Most popular for use in commercial applications now would
be the newer T5 HO systems, or using the 4' T8 lamps with a high
output electronic ballast.
Mike M
On Wed, 23 Nov 2005 12:56:53 -0000, Brian Elfert <[email protected]>
wrote:
>Does anyone make true 8' long flourescent light fixtures in a T8 bulb
>design with electronic ballast?
>
>All of the 8' long T8 fxtures I have seen to date actually have four 4' T8
>bulbs instead of 8' bulbs. I want electronic ballasts to reduce the hum.
>
>Brian Elfert
On Wed, 23 Nov 2005 12:56:53 -0000, Brian Elfert <[email protected]> wrote:
> Does anyone make true 8' long flourescent light fixtures in a T8 bulb
> design with electronic ballast?
>
> All of the 8' long T8 fxtures I have seen to date actually have four 4' T8
> bulbs instead of 8' bulbs. I want electronic ballasts to reduce the hum.
Well, if you can't find 'em now, they'll be hard to find when you need
tubes for it...I'd say just get the commonly available ones to save
later headache.
Try google - I searched for T8 8' and the second link was
http://www.nam.lighting.philips.com/us/ecatalog/fluor/pdf/p-5029c.pdf Its a
PDF, deconstructing the URL a bit takes me to
http://www.nam.lighting.philips.com/us/ecatalog/fluor/ with another 8' T8
listed.
That should get you started.
"Brian Elfert" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Does anyone make true 8' long flourescent light fixtures in a T8 bulb
> design with electronic ballast?
>
> All of the 8' long T8 fxtures I have seen to date actually have four 4' T8
> bulbs instead of 8' bulbs. I want electronic ballasts to reduce the hum.
>
> Brian Elfert
Depot & lowes gets about $3.50 for the four footers.
On Wed, 23 Nov 2005 17:46:36 -0000, Brian Elfert <[email protected]>
wrote:
>Dave Hinz <[email protected]> writes:
>
>>Well, if you can't find 'em now, they'll be hard to find when you need
>>tubes for it...I'd say just get the commonly available ones to save
>>later headache.
>
>I've found the fixtures are available from Grainger and verious online
>places, but they cost $60 to $70 plus shipping versus the Home Depot
>fixture with four 4' bulbs for $40.
>
>I never thought about bulbs and didn't look at what HD, Menards, etc
>carry for bulbs. The bulbs are available at Grainger for a premium price
>I'm sure.
>
>Most of the shop lighting threads I have seen say to use 8' fixtures
>instead of 4' for better lighting. I wonder if the 8' fixture with four
>4' bulbs would work just as well? There is no way I will consider using
>magnetic ballasts.
>
>Brian Elfert
On Wed, 23 Nov 2005 12:56:53 -0000, Brian Elfert <[email protected]>
wrote:
>Does anyone make true 8' long flourescent light fixtures in a T8 bulb
>design with electronic ballast?
>
>All of the 8' long T8 fxtures I have seen to date actually have four 4' T8
>bulbs instead of 8' bulbs. I want electronic ballasts to reduce the hum.
>
>Brian Elfert
I'm in North Jersey and know of at least 2 elec supply houses that
carry them. Not cheap though.
"Brian Elfert" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
: Does anyone make true 8' long flourescent light fixtures in a
T8 bulb
: design with electronic ballast?
:
: All of the 8' long T8 fxtures I have seen to date actually have
four 4' T8
: bulbs instead of 8' bulbs. I want electronic ballasts to
reduce the hum.
:
: Brian Elfert
They're fairly easy to find around here, but ... you usually have
to ask for them. Check your lumber yard and local electrical
supplies; they should have them.
They seem pricey at first, until you realize that, with 4 8'
tubes, you're also getting two ballasts and cktry for them.
As far as bulbs go, well I see those all over the place including
HD and Lowes, True Value, etc etc etc..
I use them in my shop; great light output and it spreads over a
LARGE area too. I pull the mains wiring for the ballasts out and
put two switches to a light fixture so I can have "decent" light
with two bulbs, or "excellent" light with all 4 on. Mixed with a
Halogen, they're perfect for finishing work - the dings & dangs
stand out like a big orange box!
Be sure they're not too much light for you though. My Mother had
eye problems so I put one in her little kitchen when she was
alive. She loved it. But it's too bright for anyone else.
Point is, if it's a small area with standard ceilings, leave
room for one or two smaller fixtures for "just passing thru" use.
Saves on 'tricity too. Ymmv
HTH,
Pop
Brian Elfert said:
>Does anyone make true 8' long flourescent light fixtures in a T8 bulb
>design with electronic ballast?
>
>All of the 8' long T8 fxtures I have seen to date actually have four 4' T8
>bulbs instead of 8' bulbs. I want electronic ballasts to reduce the hum.
>
>Brian Elfert
Yes.
Just go to your local commercial lighting supplier, T-8's are required
in new commercial buildings in most jurisdictions due to their lower
energy use and mercury content. I use T-8s everywhere these days...
Almost all fixtures designed for T-8 bulbs have electronic ballasts.
FWIW,
Greg G.
Brian Elfert said:
>"Pop" <[email protected]> writes:
>
>
>>They seem pricey at first, until you realize that, with 4 8'
>>tubes, you're also getting two ballasts and cktry for them.
>
>Interesting. All of the 4' four bulb fixtures I've seen just have one
>ballast.
They make'em both ways. Slyvania, GE and Triad/Magnetek both make 2
and 4 tube electronic ballasts. Some will even drive one, two, three,
or four bulbs. Inventory reduction...
>I'm not real sure I would want a fixture with four 8' tubes. That would
>seem to be too much light in one spot. Wouldn't it be better to use 2
>bulb fixtures more often to spread out the light?
In your average shop, sounds about right. But it depends on the
mounting height of the fixture and the light needed for a particular
task/area.
>I am very concerned about costs of running all the light people recommend.
>1500 watts of light in a 24x24 shop run a few hours a day could really add
>up along with all other electricity used in a shop.
But Heating it eats even _more_ energy... <sigh>
But you can add it up for yourself - simple math.
Your power rate in KWH is listed on your bill.
Greg G.
On Fri, 25 Nov 2005 01:33:33 -0000, Brian Elfert <[email protected]>
wrote:
>Mike M <[email protected]> writes:
>
>>Yes they make them, but they aren't destined to be an industry
>>standard. Most popular for use in commercial applications now would
>>be the newer T5 HO systems, or using the 4' T8 lamps with a high
>>output electronic ballast.
>
>What exactly does high output gain you? Does it just pump more watts
>through the same bulbs?
>
>I see a lot about T5, but no DIYer is going to pick these up at Home
>Depot, Lowes, or the like.
>
>Brian Elfert
No you probably won't, and for a home shop the 20% extra from a high
output ballast probably isn't worth it. Do check the Ballast Factor
on the fixture you get, as not all ballasts are created equal, and
higher ballast factor will get you more light. If you getones that
have an Advance, Triad or GE or major manufacturer electronic ballast
they will have a 5 year warranty.
Mike M
My local ACE hardware has 8' T8's, I will ask them this weekend if
they are electronic ballasts and what the brand is. It seems to me
that most anything new uses the electronic ballasts, the local ACE is
only about two years old.
On Wed, 23 Nov 2005 12:56:53 -0000, Brian Elfert <[email protected]>
wrote:
>Does anyone make true 8' long flourescent light fixtures in a T8 bulb
>design with electronic ballast?
>
>All of the 8' long T8 fxtures I have seen to date actually have four 4' T8
>bulbs instead of 8' bulbs. I want electronic ballasts to reduce the hum.
>
>Brian Elfert