Let there be LIGHT!

[kings6]

Once I sold my pumping business, I converted the 24’ x 36’ truck bay into my woodshop. This size gives me enough room for my tools and wood storage but there was still one problem. Because of the height of the trucks I build the shop with a 14’ tall door and 16’ to the bottom of the trusses. Since the door is so high when open I had to mount a big light off the trusses.

With the lights that high it leaves the woodworking tools a long way below the light source. I recently watched a video by Blacktail Studios and in it the owner installed a set of 8’ long dual row LED lights. After seeing how it changed his workshop visibility I went on Amazon and ordered 2 three light sets. These 8’ units can be linked with two other 8’ units so you get 24’ lineal feet of double row LED light controlled by one switch. Each kit comes with linking pigtails, end caps and switch ends.

Since gentries are so tall I decided to build a 4’x8’ grid of frame from 2”x2”s and suspended the grid 6’ below two 2”x4”s I laid across the trusses. Once I spliced in a new section of cord to let the switch reach the closest outlet I plugged the set in viola’! There was light! Talk about difference in work conditions. Now I need to figure out where to mount the other three!

[junebug]

As we get older there is never enough light or it is always in the wrong place. I carry a light on my belt now and use it often, never used to have to do that. I mounted a 4 ft. over my reloading table and another over the drill press. I put one over my wife's sewing machine and she won't work without it now.

[500fksjr]

I have been considering this in my reloading area and work bench...Sounds like money well spent!!

[JM]

Search Amazon for: "Barrina LED Shop Light, 8FT 72W 9000LM 5000K, Daylight White, V Shape, Clear Cover, Hight Output, Linkable Shop Lights, T8 LED Tube Lights, LED shop lights for garage 8 foot with plug (Pack of 10)"

I installed these in my garage a couple years ago.

I like the 5000K daylight more than the 6500K. Huge improvement! Wish I'd known about this type of lighting when I lived in the NW. Would have helped during the winter.

[bigbore5]

I just installed some LED shop lights in my workshop too. Amazing the difference between the old florescent ones and these.

[blacktailslayer]

Good lighting is a must in a shop. I just re-lamped all of the florecent lights above my workbench with LEDs, wow what a difference! Also replaced the florecents in the rest of the shop with LED high bay lights and that made a huge difference.

Welcome to the club Robb.


Don D.

[Gunny268]

blacktailslayer...did you install the "Ballast Bypass" LED tubes in your florescent fixtures? I've been thinking of trying those.

[mcquade]

When doing my shop I ran 2 rows of 8 LED’s. Each light is a 4 foot long, 2 ballast light. I also have work benches on both side of the shop with led’s mounted over them. This is all in a 30x40 shop. metal shop. It’s nice and bright. I also ran the conduit and receptacles waist high all the way aroundaround with receptacles every 6ft. Always near one and no bending over.

[blacktailslayer]

Gunny,

Yes I did, huge improvement over the florescent bulbs. I got them at the Depot, believe that they were about $11/bulb, came in a two-pack with the bulb sockets - I used all of my old ones. It only took about 15 minutes per fixture once I had it figured-out. I have three 4 tube lights over my workbench, I can do some serious surgery there now.


Don D.

[Gunny268]

BTS...Thankyou. Will try one set first. They have different output settings on each tube and no more ballast to go bad.

[sharps4590]

There is advantages to having been an electrician for almost 50 years.........