Shop Lighting

Shayla

WOW Framer
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In trying to make the most of our small space, we might add another layer of mat storage slots above our existing one, along a wall. This would put the top mats just a couple of feet from a light fixture, and we were thinking of adding an overhang (which would be about eight feet up and reach a couple feet out), to block any fading. This led to the idea of switching to LED's, but for all I know (or don't), these also cause fading.

Our fitting area currently has fluorescents. Three-tube, 4 foot long fixtures with plastic diffuser lens covers. We changed our gallery track light system (floods and track lights) to LED bulbs last year, and are considering same in tubes for the fitting area. I've been looking online to see if they work better, cause fading or eye problems, and would like to know your thoughts. We want something good, very quiet, and safe.
 
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Over the last year I have replaced most of my lighting with LEDs.

I originally had a dozen spotlights, each rated at 44w. The replacement LEDs are 5w each and give just as much
illlumination. What's more, they appear to last longer as the old bulbs used to go pop frequently. o_O

The tubes are working fine, in fact I've added a few extra fittings. I like the way they don't flicker on startup.

As for fading, your guess is as good as mine. :(
 
The expert on these issues is Rob Markoff. You might want to do a search for his posts on the subject.
:cool: Rick
 
We had the rest of our tube flourescents (we had already switched the bulbs in the track lighting in the retail area) in the back of the shop switched to LED's, if you pick the right Kelvin the light is virtually the same: the company that did it for us let us experiment with a couple of different Kelvin levels to make sure we got it right.
They don't make any noise, they never flicker, I haven't noticed any eye issues and I'm particularly sensitive to all of the above.
LED's don't emit UV light so I would imagine they're safer fade-wise than flourescents. That seems to be the commonly held belief by conservators if articles online are any indication. Because everything you read online is fact, right?:)
Also, they use less energy than flourescents or incandescents and they create much less wasted heat energy than incandescents so you'll save yourself some money in the long run.
 
I've changed 5ft 58w fluorescent for 24w the same length and light output. I have eight in the front shop and seven
in the back rooms. That a significant saving. If you are familiar with electric wiring it's easy to rewire existing battens
to bypass the starter gear.

** Trouble is, because you know they are saving you a lot of Kwh you tend to leave them on to save more. o_O
 
In the old-fashioned US, standard length is 4' or 8'. 5' is a bit over 1.5m - is that one of your default sizes?
Yes, we use 4' tubes upstairs in the fitting area, and 8' in the basement.
 
I use 5 double-tube fixtures (400 watts of light) of cool white and warm white 40W 4-foot flourescent lights
to render whites as realistically as possible.
 
Go with 5000-5600 Kelvin lamps, either fluorescent or LED.
Cool White are not good for your eyes. They also have a vicious green spike in the output. Most colors look much better under the Full Spectrum lamps. Color matching is easier.

Your shop and display areas will look bright and welcoming, especially when compared to cool white or warm white lamps. You can fit UV protective sleeves over them if you need better protection from fading.
 
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