Workshop lighting: from a Lighting Engineer's experience - Part 1
When you first come to the conclusion that your workshop lighting isn't really quite enough anymore it's easy to put this down to our eyesight failing and a need to install new fittings. This isn't always the case.
It is true that when you get to 80 years old the light your brain receives is around 40% of what you would have seen as a younger person. It's also true that the vision an 80 year old will see is much more yellow in colour than when younger. So when you get older you will need more light to see what you're doing. You may also prefer light sources that are a colder, blue tinge, rather than a warmer, more yellow tone.
If the decrease in light isn't likely to be brought on by age issues, then take a look at the lighting you have. After all, you were presumably happy with it once?
Assuming it's fluorescent lighting you have:
Look at how fat the tubes are, if they're over 1" in diameter, then replace the fittings. These are T12 tubes. The gear in the fittings are old and very inefficient. You'll also struggle to buy new lamps anyway.
If the tubes are about 25mm or 1" in diameter they're T8. These are readily available still, and will be for a few more years. Look at the ends of the tubes. Are they going black? If so, you could get a significant increase in light level by simply fitting new tubes.
All light sources lose light output over time. This isn't a new phenomenon. This is true for every type of lighting including LED. So if the lamps are old consider fitting new lamps.
Before you do fit new lamps also consider the fittings. If they are T8 type they can fit into 2 types. Look to see if your fittings have a round drum-shaped starter switch. If they do, then change the fittings.
What the starter switch tells me is the fittings are older and are flashing at a rate of around 50Hz.. It's these fittings that present a danger of stroboscopic effect.
If they don't have the started switch you could change the lamps, depending on the general condition of the fittings. Fluorescent lighting without the starter will be "High Frequency" circuits. These flash at 400hz So makingthe strobe effect less likely. They're also a lot more efficient than the older fittings.
Other ways to increase light levels:
1. Make sure your lighting is clean.
2. Paint your ceiling and walls white. This may not always be feasible, but if you can do this is can increase the light level in the room by up to 50%
