[TheForge] Shop Lighting

[Grover Richardson]

	Fluorescent lighting with a solid state ballast sucks.  Solid state
ballasts in Georgia don't like cold temperatures.  By this I mean a simple
unheated basement.  Won't come on.

	Go to Home Depot.  Look at the replacement costs of the bulbs and
the expected life times.  You can also get an idea of what the costs of the
lamp holders are as well.  Make yourself a chart for both.  Also put in
columns for color correct lamps.
	Project over 8 years.  I figure most anything of this type
complexity in a bad environment has that life expectancy.  Based upon
experience in a plating lab.  If you use fluorescents you will have to
replace ballasts as well.

	I would also mention to look for ballasts which use a common
connection.  I have seen some oddball ballasts which you may have a hard
time replacing in the future.

	Reflectors over the top of the bulbs is good.  Keeps stuff from
falling onto the top of the lamps and cutting efficiency.

	You may consider only placing color correct lighting in one area of
your shop, the finishing area.  The rest of the shop you only need to see
what you are doing<G>.

	I like to forge in the night.  But when I look at my work the next
day, it isn't nearly as straight as it should be.  If you do go
incandescent, you need more lower Wattage bulbs spaced out so you don't have
many shadows.

	Now, I wonder what other folks have to say<G>.

All the Best



>*>-----Original Message-----
>*>From: theforge-bounces at mailman.qth.net 
>*>[mailto:theforge-bounces at mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of Woolley
>*>Sent: Monday, February 27, 2006 12:50 PM
>*>To: theforge at mailman.qth.net
>*>Subject: [TheForge] Shop Lighting
>*>
>*>
>*>Greetings,
>*>
>*>I'm choosing lighting for my shop.  It is a blank slate at 
>*>this point.  The ceiling height is approx. 13 feet.  The 
>*>walls and ceiling are painted white. Does anyone know any 
>*>reference for selecting  various forms of light fixtures.  
>*>I'm fishing for ideas before I talk to anyone in the 
>*>position to sell me something.  The quality of light (how 
>*>accurately it renders colors etc.) and price to buy and run 
>*>are my concerns. Any help appreciated.
>*>
>*>Regards,
>*>Bill Woolley
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