Workshop lighting.

[garywayne]

Hi all.

I need to sort out lighting for the shed, now the duller than summer days, and early evenings are here.

There was a thread on the other channel where I asked about low voltage lighting. The general consensus was for the workshop in general, use fluorescent lighting.

When I looked into it I just got confused.

Do I need dust-proof lights, or will ordinary fluorescent be OK? With or without a diffuser?

What is the difference between, LPF, and HPF?

In the Screwfix catalogue under, "fluorescent batten accessories" it says, "East-fit spring loaded white end caps. Single-piece control mechanism and no stroboscopic effect". Then you have three (very bad) pictures of fluorescent lights headed, Prismatic, Opal, and Reflector. Do I need any of these? If so which?

The other thing is what bulb is preferable, bearing in mind finishing and colour matching.

Did you get that?
Can someone please help. I will be most grateful.

[modernist]

Can't help on the electrics but at least the no stoboscopic effect will avoid making the saw appear stopped when its actually in finger chopping mode ;D

[jake]

I just bought a load of these to replace some old fluos on which the ballasts were going.

They are a bit pricier than normal fluos, but at an excellent price for type of fitting - especially as they have high frequency electronic ballasts (nicer light, fast starting, probably more efficient, and won't strobe) and dust proof - less bothered about that but it is nice to have a polycarbonate cover (won't shatter if you whack it) especially as my ceiling is very low in the workshop, with it being a cellar.

[nickw]

I've got the same as Jake (Wonders - did I point him in that direction in the first place?). Add some 'daylight' tubes and you're cooking on gas.

[jake]

I don't think so, Nick - just a case of great googlers purchase alike.

I went for white tubes. Daylight is a bit cold for my liking at lower brightness levels.

[garywayne]

Thanks guys.

I just had a look at that site and noticed that the 5' tubes are 58W, (From £19.75) and the 6' tubes are 70W, (From £33.59).
Is there much differance between the two Wattages, as in brightness for the difference in price?

[jfc]

I have diffusers on mine as its supposed to stop shadows . Handy when marking out .

[paulchapman]

Hi Gary,

In addition to several flourescent lights for general lighting, I think it's also useful to have some directional lighting for more detailed work. I have an old photographic lamp (an aluminium reflector on a stand, in which I use an ordinary light bulb) which I can move about and position anywhere. I find it very useful.

Cheers

Paul

[lynx]

I agree with Paul, flourescent are ok but a directional light is very handy

[jake]

Nov 5, 2008 8:33:45 GMT garywayne said:

Thanks guys.

I just had a look at that site and noticed that the 5' tubes are 58W, (From £19.75) and the 6' tubes are 70W, (From £33.59).
Is there much differance between the two Wattages, as in brightness for the difference in price?

The differential isn't worth the extra money - I think the pricing is much better on those which are most in demand.

Better to spend extra money on twin fittings - there it is worth it in terms of more light per £.

[nickw]

I must say that I didn't buy my tubes from QVS, get them much cheaper from a discount electrical store round the corner. The daylight tubes do give a colder light, the advantage with that is colour faithfullness. They are also better for those of use who are prone to SAD I believe.

[garywayne]

Well. Thank you all for your replies.

jfc. Good point. Diffusers it is.

Hi Paul, jake. I had thought of directional lighting. More along the
lines of low voltage or LED's. Thanks for your input. At
the moment I am thinking more of general lighting to
continue the workshop build, (inside). As I said
earlier, it's so dark and dingy now.

jake. Thanks for that thought. I was also thinking of more
lights at those prices. (I think they are the prices of twin
fittings).

Nick. My wife uses daylight bulbs for her jigsaw puzzles. I
think it will be easy to get used to.
SAD. I think that I have been that for the last seven
years.

Again. Thank you all very much for your help and advice.

[wizer]

I keep meaning to try Daylight bulbs in the workshop. SAD is one of those conditions like all types of depression which people roll their eyes if you suggest you might suffer from it. I don't know about SAD, but I do know that I loath the winter months.

[garywayne]

I'm with you there wizer. I'ts mainly the cold that gets to me.