Workshop lighting

[Yetty]

Those QVS prices are incredible. Jake, you deserve a medal for high-lighting these! The ‘2 x 5ft 58W Fitting’ price seems very good! Just goes to highlight how expensive Screwfix has become.

 

[chipchaser]

My recollection is that strobe effect is due to the variation in light output which follows the shape of the 50 cycles per second AC current wave form so anything which turns at 50 cps (Hertz now we are European!) or a multiple can appear frozen. This was one of the reasons one always had a tungsten work light on lathes. The tungsten filament reacts relatively slowly so you can see those moving jaws a fraction of an inch from your knuckles

I don't see how mounting your fluorescents at right angles would help.

I think they used to supply alternate rows of lights in workshops from different phases so that as one row dims the next brightens. As there are 3 phases it all evens out.

High frequency lamps run at much more than 50 hertz so avoid the problem.

As to tube colour temperature there is a good explanation on page 185 of the current (I hope- No 95) Screwfix catalogue. There was something on the radio last week about "new research" :lol: showing that bluer tubes in your home made you feel better.

Daylight is also much brighter:
Sunlight 100,000 lux; Full Daylight 10,000 lux; Overcast Day 1,000 lux.
If you want a well lit shop you should aim for 500 lux at the working plane.

Hope this helps

Graham

 

[Doug B]

As to tube colour temperature there is a good explanation on page 185 of the current (I hope- No 95) Screwfix catalogue. There was something on the radio last week about "new research" :lol: showing that bluer tubes in your home made you feel better.

Graham

For once i wouldn`t argue with "new research". The new daylight tubes makes the shop a much nicer, brighter environment to work in, & i don`t have to wear my specs so much. The best £28 i`ve spent in a long time, & that was for 8 six foot tubes.

 

[filsgreen]

I suffer from SAD so I have one of these on the workbench by the window. The garage is also lit by two six foot strip lights
http://www.britebox-light-therapy.co.uk/britebox-main-shop/sad-products-britebox.php

 

[krismusic]

Thanks very much for all the replies guys. Much appreciated. 8) i haven't been able to reply before as my tinternet was playing up. Lovely workshop jter. Where is the jealous emoticon? :lol:
Wizer, the council are sniffing around because my workshop is in a very dilapidated house that is rented out as bedsits. I have used mine as a workshop for 30yrs with no complaints from anyone. It is end of terrace, ground floor, through room. The rent has not changed for any of the flats in all that time. We still pay £40 a week each! :shock:
The next problem is an inspection by the fire brigade so I am trying to address the most obvious issues in the hope that they will pass the place...
Sounds like HF flories are the way to go. Thank you very much for the detailed info, Yetty and Jake for the QVS heads up.

 

[dickm]

I'm a bit puzzled about the high frequency fluorescents and the strobing problem. Have to say I've never seen strobing happen apart from when trying deliberately to use it to set the speed of an old record player turntable. (I know, it shows my age!)

Surely strobing can only occur when there is something with a regular repeat around the rotating item (circular saw teeth, or possibly spokes on a wheel) and the speed of rotation is such that one tooth/spoke moves by exactly one space in 1/50th of a second. Getting precisely those conditions must be pretty unusual. I can see how a higher frequency might make it even more unusual, but still not impossible with, for example, a fine toothed, small diameter saw blade rotating at high speed.

But if HF fluuorescents are more efficient, than that's a good argument, although the difference in running cost for a casual usere would probably mean it would take a long time to recoup the higher initial cost.

 

[wizer]

The best £28 i`ve spent in a long time, & that was for 8 six foot tubes.

Your source, sir?

 

[krismusic]

Does anyone reckon that two double six foot fittings will give anything like the 800 watts that I was running?

 

[Yetty]

Kris, a quick look at the technical stuff on the Osram website does indeed suggest the light output of 'Two standard pearl type bulbs @ 200watts each' are as good as equal to 'One fluorescent tube @ 70watts'.

 

[Jake]

But if HF fluuorescents are more efficient, than that's a good argument, although the difference in running cost for a casual usere would probably mean it would take a long time to recoup the higher initial cost.

I find them nicer subjectively, I hate flicker on fluos and crts - that may be placebo.

Instant start-up, no starters to go wrong (and replace), more efficient.

 

[chipchaser]

Sorry James, I should have made it clear that my reservation was the announcement that this was "New" research. Lighting designers in the 1970's knew that very brightly lit supermarkets made shoppers feel better and encouraged them to spend. SAD was known about over 20 years ago.

I find I am out of date on workshop lighting 750 to 1000 lux is now recommended with 1500 lux or more for fine detail work. I need 7 no 58w tubes (over 400w total) to light my 3.6 x 4.2 m workshop to 1000 lux.

Graham

 

[Doug B]

The best £28 i`ve spent in a long time, & that was for 8 six foot tubes.

Your source, sir?

The electrician i work with got me them from his wholesalers.
The first quote i got when i initially looked into them was £8 a tube, £64 for the 8 i needed, which put me off for a while, until the sparks said his price was £3.50 each.

 

[wizer]

ah, I need to find me a friendly electrician then

Thanks

 

[krismusic]

Kris, a quick look at the technical stuff on the Osram website does indeed suggest the light output of 'Two standard pearl type bulbs @ 200watts each' are as good as equal to 'One fluorescent tube @ 70watts'.

Nice one Yetty, I'll check that site out. At that rate with two doubles I will have twice the lux I had before. :shock:

 

[white_sw]

Anyone in the market for daylight fluorescent tubes, this is where I have just got mine from and at a pretty good price.
£23.37 for 8 tubes...... I live locally so picked them up, otherwise delivery is about £5.

http://www.tlc-direct.co.uk/Products/LA ... LIGHT.html

Cheers,
Sam

 

[krismusic]

Hmmm. This didn't work out too well. I bought and installed the fittings that Jake kindly recommended. With "White" tubes (Triphosphor coated). The light I am getting is rather peculiar. Directly underneath, there is a fair amount of illumination but they cast rather unpleasant "greenish" shadows. Because the fittings are designed to throw the light downward, the ceiling in the shop is dark. Not that I do much work on the ceiling. :lol: It is rather off putting though. I doubt that changing the type of bulb is going to solve the problems and am thinking of going back to the soon to be phased out incandescent bulbs, £100 poorer! (No blame to Jake,or anyone else BTW. 8) )

 

[yetloh]

I stongly recommend using "daylight" tubes. The quality of the light is so much nicer. Also, people think it is unnecessary to change tubes until they start to flash. A tube near the end of its life will emit around 40% less light so it is worth changing them when things start to look a bit dingy.

Jim

 

[wizer]

Anyone in the market for daylight fluorescent tubes, this is where I have just got mine from and at a pretty good price.
£23.37 for 8 tubes...... I live locally so picked them up, otherwise delivery is about £5.

http://www.tlc-direct.co.uk/Products/LA ... LIGHT.html

Cheers,
Sam

Thanks for reminding me of TLC who are really good suppliers and always keen prices. I take it they have branches because I have one local-ish too. SO much on in the workshop that I won't get round re-arranging my lights and installing daylights for quite some time.

 

[krismusic]

I stongly recommend using "daylight" tubes. The quality of the light is so much nicer. Also, people think it is unnecessary to change tubes until they start to flash. A tube near the end of its life will emit around 40% less light so it is worth changing them when things start to look a bit dingy.

Jim

I am tempted to try daylights. Would either save the day or be good money after bad. :?

 

[Doug B]

I stongly recommend using "daylight" tubes. The quality of the light is so much nicer. Also, people think it is unnecessary to change tubes until they start to flash. A tube near the end of its life will emit around 40% less light so it is worth changing them when things start to look a bit dingy.

Jim

I am tempted to try daylights. Would either save the day or be good money after bad. :?

Must be worth a punt for £3-odd, try one, nothing ventured etc....