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11-11-2013, 09:32 AM
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VAF Moderator / Line Boy
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Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Dayton, NV
Posts: 12,256
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Hangar/Shop Flourescents - 4' or 8 ' ?
Hey All - I have to decide right away (contractors are like that) on fluorescent light fixtures for the new hangar. I can reconfigure when we build the shop, and task lighting can be tailored - but for lighting the main space, I have to pick fixtures. I am thinking simple strip fluorescents, and wondering if anyone has any experience that would sway the decision for four foot or eight foot fixtures (4x4" vs 2x8")?
We had big sodium vapor lights in our last place, and it took far too long for them to warm up!
__________________
Paul F. Dye
Editor at Large - KITPLANES Magazine
RV-8 - N188PD - "Valkyrie"
RV-6 (By Marriage) - N164MS - "Mikey"
RV-3B - N13PL - "Tsamsiyu"
A&P, EAA Tech Counselor/Flight Advisor
Dayton Valley Airpark (A34)
http://Ironflight.com
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11-11-2013, 09:41 AM
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Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Saint Simons Island , GA
Posts: 1,523
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Ironflight
We had big sodium vapor lights in our last place, and it took far too long for them to warm up!
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But at least once they warmed up they were EXPENSIVE to operate..
Have you considered LED Bay lights? They cost more to purchase but have far lower operating cost and longevity.
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Jerry "Widget" Morris
RV 8, N8JL, 3,000+ hours on my 8.
VAF #818
Saint Simons Island, GA. KSSI
PIF 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011,2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020
 I just wish I could afford to live the way I do
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11-11-2013, 09:41 AM
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Senior Curmudgeon
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Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Dayton Airpark, NV A34
Posts: 15,420
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I would go with the 8' ones, just simply seem brighter to me.
Are they going to surface mount them, or on drop downs???
__________________
Mike Starkey
VAF 909
Rv-10, N210LM.
Flying as of 12/4/2010
Phase 1 done, 2/4/2011 
Sold after 240+ wonderful hours of flight.
"Flying the airplane is more important than radioing your plight to a person on the ground incapable of understanding or doing anything about it."
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11-11-2013, 09:42 AM
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Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Rochester, MN
Posts: 710
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Paul, do a search on posts by VAF member Jonjay. He does lighting as a profession and I interacted with him 2 years ago when I did the lighting in my shop. Makes a big difference when you get the right amount of light, spacing of fixtures, etc. Definately a science to it and worth getting it right since you will spend alot of time there. He was helpful and even ran some computer simulations for me after I gave him dimensions of the shop. You input dimensions, color of ceiling and walls, choice of fixtures (2x8 vs 4x4), type of bulbs, etc and the program spits out a contour map of light intensity/distribution over the entire space. When I did this for my space I determined that I needed only 4 2x8 bulbs to get the light distribution I needed in my 25x28x14 shop. For my parameters, light distribution favored the 8 foot fixtures, but your params may show something different. I wish I could remember the name of the free online tool that I used to help me determine this.
Last edited by diamond : 11-11-2013 at 09:49 AM.
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11-11-2013, 09:47 AM
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Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: United States
Posts: 263
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The trend seems to be going to 4' bulbs, even if it's an 8' fixture (which uses four 4' bulbs). Maybe it's because they are easier to transport and only one size to stock at the big box store?
__________________
Robert Kramar
Gilbert, Arizona - Vans RV-6A
- Bell 47 D-1 H-13 Sioux Army/Mash Helicopter - Fully Restored and Flying!
- Vans RV-4 (being upgraded to new panel, firewall, weldments and long gear legs)
Yearly VAF dues paid to date.
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11-11-2013, 09:50 AM
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Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Yorkshire, England
Posts: 2,052
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My shop is 23' x 42' with a flat ceiling, all painted white.
We went for 6 pairs of 5' doubles and 1 5' single over the kitchen area at one end.
Would I change it.....
I would separate the switch units into the alternate 3's and put 2 more singles down the middle on another separate switch.
If you can't get 5' units in the States, use 4' as 8' lamps fail much too quickly.
Reason - sometimes you don't need as much light. When you are painting, you need a bit more.
My shop can convert to a paintshop in about 30 mins using a system borrowed from Randy Lervold. Vine eyes on the wall plates at the top of the walls, they use snap carabiners to support large blue tarps from Home Despot.
The roller shutter at the other end traps an extraction fan in a 2' board.
A little more information than asked for, but the justification is also there.
If you want snaps Paul, drop me a line off forum.
Mike
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"I add a little excitement, a little spice to your lives, and all you do is complain!" - Q
Donated in 2020
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11-11-2013, 09:57 AM
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Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Dallas area
Posts: 10,769
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As far as the fluorescents go, I prefer the 4' simply because you can always find them on sale. Never see the 8' tubes on sale.
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Mel Asberry, DAR since the last century.
EAA Flight Advisor/Tech Counselor, Friend of the RV-1
Recipient of Tony Bingelis Award and Wright Brothers Master Pilot Award
USAF Vet, High School E-LSA Project Mentor.
RV-6 Flying since 1993 (sold)
<rvmel(at)icloud.com>
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11-11-2013, 10:07 AM
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Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: NC
Posts: 42
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I had 8 footers in my two- car garage in my previous home. I have 4 footers in my current home. The 8 foot bulbs are inconvenient for transport and replacement from big box stores as previously mentioned.
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11-11-2013, 10:28 AM
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Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Cartersville, Georgia KVPC
Posts: 945
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Iron,
My favorite electrical engineer here in the office tells me that the really cool guys are going with 4' long 5 or 6 lamp low profile T5 units. I have a PDF cut sheet I can email you if you PM me an address. Chris also said that if you send me the size of your hangar (LxWxH) he can figure out how many you'll need.
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Moose
VAF #136
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11-11-2013, 10:53 AM
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Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Scio,Oregon
Posts: 261
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I have the 8' high output fixtures in my machine shop. Part of my shop is not heated all the time so it gets pretty cold in there. The high output fixtures come on bright much faster than the standard 8' fixtures. I bought these from Platt Electric. (Commercial supplier)
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Steve S.
Rebuilding RV6A
Scio, OR
EAA Ch. 292
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