Title says it all, I need a good quality t8, 4' fixture for woodworking shop/garage. Am interested in using these fancy bulbs and absolutely horrified at their price
Spectra

I figure at $7 a bulb, the fixture better be able to make full use!

Any recommendations?
TIA

 

T8's aren't cheap, but the light you get and potential longevity of the lighting outweighs conventional fluorescent lighting.
Before doing a lot of research, what does "food quality" have to do with your lighting choice in a workshop? Just curious.

 

I think its a typo, the g and f are next to each other.

 

I was wondering. We had to use slip sleeves over fluorescent lighting in the catering operation for a rather large airline I worked with a few hundred years ago. I thought he may have been thinking of that in order to keep broken glass off his work area. Glad you corrected it and me. But "good" and "food" aren't pronounced the same....try it. That goes back to Gallagher days

 

Sorry, and thanks for the correction mod Yes, still looking for some manufacturer's names or p/n's of good quality 4' 2 light t8 fixtures. Anyone? There are so many generic ones around its hard to compare. I have seen some marked as HO, etc. Here is an example of one I have been looking at: t8

 

That's not a bad lamp, if you need all that protection from wx. It didn't specifically say whether or not the bulbs were included. Super deal if they are. OK if they aren't.

 

It's excessive for what I need, but I haven't been able to find a better price on 2 lamp fixtures. I have a local elect. supply that I sometimes go to and they can give me some Nicor 10370EB 4' for $28, the specs on the ballast are :
# is sunpark 120-2/32IS MPF
The last item is what got my attention, power factor greater than 0.5?? Is that sufficient to take advantage and be efficient of the new bulbs? They make a model with a high performance factor ballast but its not available in the area. Is there even a difference between HPF and MPF?
Thanks

· Suitable for Energy Star Residential Lighting Fixture Application · Instant Start · UL / cUL Listed · Crest Factor < 1.70
· Sound Rated A · FCC Class B · Outdoor Type 1 · End of lamp Life Protection 1. Input Voltage 120 V
2. Lamp Qty 2 3. Lamp Type F32T8, 32W / F25T8, 25W / F17T8, 17W F15T8, 15W / F18T6, 18W /F25T12, 25W
F34T12, 34W / F40T12, 40W
4. Input Watts 58W 5. Line Current 0.97A
6. Power Factor > 0.5

 

That is low power factor ballast and the ballast factor for this type of luminaire are genrally low as well.

I have very good grade commercal grade ballast in my shop that have kick out very serious amout of light which I have used on my workbench they are 32wT8 { 4 lamp verison strip with reflector with wireguard } however I have one 8 footer High output that is used for short while on the ceiling on the shop the rest of my shop luminaires are 360 W PS MH { it used to run 400 W HPS but switch over to PSMH for better colour useage }

As far for the electronic ballast the main key item I always look for is ballast factor that will affect the whole thing next step is power factor most good commercal grade will run .90 +.

The cheap strip light which it will be used in resedentail are genrally low ballast factor and power factor will be low as well most will run in .5 range { that why they are very cheap and not quite bright as true commercal grade verison is }

Merci.
Marc

 

Thanks Marc, I was able to get them at the supply house for $24 each and they seem to be better quality that the stuff sold in big box stores. I am hoping that they will suffice. They are rated at greater than 0.5, but who knows if thats the manufacturer saying they are 0.51! Thanks for clearing that up.