Lighting for Pole Barn

[budlite]

How many 4ft two-tube fluorescent fixtures will I need to install to light up a 30x40 metal pole barn adequately for general tractor maintenance, etc at night? I plan to mount lights above work bench areas as well.

 

[tallyho8]

I would recommend a minimum of 6 for good lighting at 8' mounting height. The higher you mount them the more light you need.

 

[HoustonBrama]

Tally, if you haven't got your lights yet, check ebay, I got 12, 4', two bulb fluorescent fixtures with the zero degree ballast for $15. They are great. Just a food for thought.

 

[Aquaman]

I've been in lots of shops before and I've never seen one with "too much" light. Something to think about.

 

[buckeyefarmer]

I'm planning on 24 in my 30x48 barn, once I get busy and run some electric to it. 4 rows of 6 each.
This will give me an average of 30 fc at the work surface. I will switch them with 4 switches, and stagger them so I can adjust light level by switching.

 

[ray66v]

I'm planning on 24 in my 30x48 barn, once I get busy and run some electric to it. 4 rows of 6 each.
This will give me an average of 30 fc at the work surface. I will switch them with 4 switches, and stagger them so I can adjust light level by switching.

12 years ago when I built it, I switched the lights in my father's 32'x64' barn, so he could use different levels of lighting in each area. He protested, saying it was unnecessary. After using them a while, he told me it was a great idea, and HE was glad HE thought of it.

 

[h2onut]

Check your local craigslist. I bought some 400 watt hi-bay 120vlt lights with shatterproof bulbs for $15 each. They were removed from a warehouse and used very little. He was asking $20 each but I bought 8 of them. They are ready to hang and should throw out plenty of light. I see them all the time on there.

 

[tallyho8]

The Illuminating Engineering Society of North America (IESNA), the authority in lighting, categorizes high-bay lighting for use at 25' or higher. The ceilings of most pole barns are not high enough to efficiently use high-bay lights.

 

[h2onut]

You can afford to be less efficient with a $15 light compared to paying $350 for the same light. With the lens off and my barn at 16 feet in the peaks which is not much taller than most barns. I think you can't beat the price and they are widely available.

 

[actionaj]

I have 12 four footers in my 30'x40'x12 two lights per switch. It lights it up really well.

 

[tallyho8]

You can afford to be less efficient with a $15 light compared to paying $350 for the same light. With the lens off and my barn at 16 feet in the peaks which is not much taller than most barns. I think you can't beat the price and they are widely available.

You're absolutely right about that! I was just thinking that maybe they have some low-bay lights on craiglist too for around the same price. I checked my local craiglist and don't see any good deals on lights around here.

 

[jdmar]

I am not quite ready to put up the lights in my barn. But I was at Lowes today and saw T8 lights with 4 x 4foot bulbs (two 8 foot rows essentially). for $39. They had a box of 25 bulbs for about $38 also ("contractor pack" thing). I would love to find some local used source but if not then I will look at getting these. That would be a lot of new light for little $$. I did not see on the box what kind of ballast. I may be wrong but I hear the newer T8 electronic ballast is not so cold sensitive...maybe others who know alot more can help with that?

Peter

 

[tallyho8]

I am not quite ready to put up the lights in my barn. But I was at Lowes today and saw T8 lights with 4 x 4foot bulbs (two 8 foot rows essentially). for $39. They had a box of 25 bulbs for about $38 also ("contractor pack" thing). I would love to find some local used source but if not then I will look at getting these. That would be a lot of new light for little $$. I did not see on the box what kind of ballast. I may be wrong but I hear the newer T8 electronic ballast is not so cold sensitive...maybe others who know alot more can help with that? Peter

I like to get a deal on used light fixtures but I do not advise buying used flourescent bulbs. As they get old they get dimmer and strain the ballasts causing them to burn out. Many commercial establishments simply replace all their bulbs on schedule to prevent damage to their fixtures. Sometimes the contractor will try to sell these used bulbs but they are not a good deal.