hi folks – I have a fairly big unfinished basement with washer dryer and laundry sink in one corner, long workbench at other corner, then at far end of basement well pressure tank, water filters (which need changing regularly), water pressure gauges, oil tanks, and large shelves with paints, caulks, cements, oils, and that kind of stuff. Lights in basement are the old simple ceramic white fixtures that hold an A-base bulb and have the string on the switch you pull (hope I’m explaining this correctly) except for 2 that are controlled by a switch at the top of the stairs. Also the workbench area has three of those shop fluorescent fixtures with the pull string switch. Light isn’t great down there and so I’d like to do something. I don’t ever plan to finish the basement. The walls are all that gray cinder block. Would it make sense to replace the old pull string fixtures with fluorescent fixtures but also with a pull string switch? Or put fluorescent fixtures on wall switches? I was thinking like maybe in one location having a panel with 6 or so switches for a half dozen independent lights. But is that silly? I don’t know what people do today for lighting in unfinished basements? I guess it must depend on what you want to do in your basement and building code. But I’m pretty lost and don’t know where to start. Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated!

Hello, Recently I have been problems with recessed lights burning out quickly. Bulbs that should last two yrs are lasting four months. Also, I noticed electrical surges. I have done the following: 1) electrical company has checked voltage line (no evidence of surges) 2) local electrician checked breaker box and reported no activity for burnt bulbs Any recommended future action to diagnose bulbs and save money from bulb replacements? Thanks, Joey