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Thread: Shed lights

  1. #1
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    Default Shed lights

    I need new lights for the shed. Was previously using salvaged fluro lights which I had wired so I could plug into the wall and turn on when needed. The plug melted so there is something wrong with it and I dont really trust it - dont want to start a fire!

    What is the most cost effective way to get some lighting in my shed? Is fluoro lights the way to go? What type of battens should I get?

    Is this a good option:
    https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/GermanAE...r=591142879857

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  3. #2
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    I am working on exactly the same question for myself.

    One thing is for sure, there is no way I would be looking at fluro anything today - for my mind, it's LED or nothing.

    A number of folk here have talked about using AEG LED troffers they buy on EBay, you can find these here: https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/New-40W-...frcectupt=true

    I found something a bit more local to me at Davis & Spence (Hunter Valley & Newcastle) - the 9754/312TC from this page: https://www.sal.net.au/products/inte...rs/panel-s9754

    The EBay lights at $65 for the 6500k units. If I have a problem with one, I presumably have to ship it back to Melbourne at my cost (I note it's over 1000mm long, so probably cannot go via Australia Post), and then perhaps this seller will no longer be supplying them etc.

    The one I found at Davis & Spence I can buy for $75, and it has a selector switch for 3000k, 4000k and 5700k - so it means I could take them down and alter the colour of the light *if* I ever wanted to do that. I also get local warranty with them, though they do cost $10 more.

    The EBay light is 3800lm, the Davis & Spence unit is 3000lm.

    The advantages of the troffer type light (as explained to me somewhere else in a discussion on these forums) is that it spreads out the light rather than coming from a single "fluro tube" as it were. The "trouble" with troffers is you can't just bolt a couple of supplied clamps to the ceiling and whack them up - you may need to buy or make frames for them depending on where and how you want to mount them, and then you have to consider whether they are rated to have insulation or other material on top of them or are designed to passively cool themselves with an air void above them (the Davis & Spence solution is not rated for insulation or other material, so they do need an air gapped passive cooling space).

    Contrasting all of this is the good old Philips betten unit: https://reductionrevolution.com.au/p...ght-led-batten

    $25 for a 2000lm, daylight light. Get two for $50, and it outputs a little more light than the EBay troffer, you can wire them to turn on individually to give a half-light mode if you want, and you gain a lot more freedom in placement. And they make a half-length version to fit into fiddly spots. I have actually bought a couple of these, they're not bad. If you're buying these in quantity, they do have a price break for larger orders, and it'll bring the cost down: Get 5% off over $500 or 10% off over $1,000 - Applies to products under $500 each. So, in my particular case, if I go with what I plan (see below), the price drops 10%, to $22.50 each, or $45.00 per pair.

    I still haven't decided what to do, though the time is approaching where I will need to make a decision.

    The only other advice/help I can offer are tow further links that will give you luminance information for environments: https://www.engineeringtoolbox.com/l...oms-d_708.html and https://www.omnicalculator.com/everyday-life/lighting

    If I had to decide right now, I'd probably go the way of the Philips batten, and I'd plan on putting up 48 of them across my entire space - it's 36sqm, so by my calculations, that comes to 2,666lm per square metre - it's probably overkill, but my eyesight isn't the best any more, and I will be wiring them in thirds, so I can turn on about 800lm per square metre at a time.

  4. #3
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    I like that Omni Calculator. I wish I had it 3 years ago when planning my shop. After a pile of reading I went with 1000 luminous per square metre ( I won't bore you with the imperial). So for me that was 64,000 lumens. Looking locally costs were ridiculous for LED fixtures so I went to Alibaba and compared those. My electrician said as long as they had Canadian UL certification he can put them up. I found a company with the proper accreditation (they sent me the certificates when asked) called Lonyung Lighting company. https://lonyungled.en.alibaba.com/?s...114167bfOmJ62i . After some back and forth I ordered the lights plus extra for the garage at about $17US each plus delivery which came by Fedex to the door for about $33Can each. They were 1200mm battens with connecting cables/mounting clips etc., 4000 lumens, 6000K fixtures. They are mounted direct to the ceiling in four rows on 2 circuits for a total of 16 fixture.

    I love them and highly recommend you gents look into getting them direct from China. Since most of the lights are made there anyway and manufactures have them packaged in there own packages, I think there is money to be saved. Lonyung have many kinds of lights including some that are water, dust proof and impact resistant. Ultimately do what you are comfortable with.

    Pete

  5. #4
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    1. Omnicalc - definitely! You always need more light than you think
    2. If you still have the old fluoro mounts, you can replace the tubes with LED tubes for a simple solution
    3. In my organically growing shed, I think I’d probably go MM’s panel route if I started again, although the Chinese option looks very good, particularly as Pete has found a decent company.
    4. Reduction Revolution are an excellent company if you decide to buy local. I’ve had the odd LED from them die, and they’ve replaced it promptly, which is more than I can say for any other local company I’ve bought from.

    I also experimented with a DIY option - I mounted 3 cheap Chinese 12V LED strips to an aluminium pole as my workbench light. I mixed 2 cold with one warm. The advantage with strips is that the end result is very flexible - any length, around corners etc. As it’s a 12V system, you’re unlikely to kill yourself while fiddling around with it. The end result in my case is 4.7m long, and it produces virtually shadow-free light to the bench.
    You do need to make sure you deal with the heat, which is what kills LEDs. Don’t stick them to an insulator like wood.

    16474DAF-2374-4018-964E-636BFFEC2B6E.jpg0129B813-F2AF-48E1-93BE-D57FC485DFC6.jpg2997FFA9-250F-4D7D-A029-71864D1B99AE.jpg

  6. #5
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    I agree led is best if you go to a lighting shop you will see and get advice on what suits your situation.

  7. #6
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    Quote Originally Posted by Midnight Man View Post
    If I had to decide right now, I'd probably go the way of the Philips batten, and I'd plan on putting up 48 of them across my entire space - it's 36sqm, so by my calculations, that comes to 2,666lm per square metre - it's probably overkill, but my eyesight isn't the best any more, and I will be wiring them in thirds, so I can turn on about 800lm per square metre at a time.
    It's not over kill above benches where you'll be wanting to see detail but it's not needed for areas like timber storage or operating machines.
    However, if your eyes are not good and deteriorating you may need more than 2600 lux ((lumens/m^2) to see very fine detail. eg sanding scratches.

    I'm using more than 6000 lux at my electronics workbench and sometimes find even that is not enough so I tend use spots and even an LED torch to better see really fine detail on circuits.
    For example, a 5W/350 lumens spot focussed on a ~100 mm diameter circle provides an illuminance of ~45,000 lux
    Even a 150 lumens torch on the same 100 mmm circle generates 20,000 lux.
    If this sounds like overkill, daylight at noon on a clear day with the sun directly OH is about 100,000 lux.

    A more practical approach to shed lighting might be to set up 750 to 1000 lux as a general lighting level and then concentrating more lighting above areas where you need to see detail like benches and budget for a number of spots to really boost light levels in very specific areas.
    In some cased angled or side illumination works better because OH illumination is blocked, eg bandsaw use, and looking inside bowls on lathes.

    Currently in my shed if I turn all my LED fluoro replacements on there's an average of ~1000 lux but this varies from 500 to 4000 lux eg above my WW and MW lathes and my main bench. Plus I have 3 spots 2 of which can be moved around.

  8. #7
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    Quote Originally Posted by Midnight Man View Post
    The "trouble" with troffers is you can't just bolt a couple of supplied clamps to the ceiling and whack them up - you may need to buy or make frames for them depending on where and how you want to mount them
    Something to note that may sway your choice - the SAL troffers you linked to normally come with a kit similar to this one -
    accessories-kit.jpg
    The tabs can be attached to the outer frame and jack chain or catenary wire can be used to hang them.

  9. #8
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    Quote Originally Posted by maxxsinner View Post
    Something to note that may sway your choice - the SAL troffers you linked to normally come with a kit similar to this one -
    accessories-kit.jpg
    The tabs can be attached to the outer frame and jack chain or catenary wire can be used to hang them.

    I 3D printed mounts for mine due to them not being supplied. I have installed only one of the four I bought and began to receive complaints form Mrs P and Master P that sometimes when I turned on the workshop lights the internet & LAN feed stopped and then after a minute or so resumed, this was very noticeable because the SONOS feed stopped working and had to be reset. I disconnected the light and it has not happened since so I am going to leave it off for another week then re-connect it to see if the problem returns. The problem is because it does not happen every time I can't outright blame the light panel just yet.
    CHRIS

  10. #9
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    Thanks everyone.

    I think I will go with these:
    https://www.bunnings.com.au/philips-...atten_p4371386

    and get bunnings to price match online suppliers at $25.

    @25 for 2000 lumens sounds like a good deal to me and since I can get them at bunnings it will be easy to add more to the system where necessary. Does anyone know if these come with a plug or need a sparky?

  11. #10
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    Quote Originally Posted by qwertyu View Post
    Thanks everyone.

    I think I will go with these:
    https://www.bunnings.com.au/philips-...atten_p4371386

    and get bunnings to price match online suppliers at $25.

    @25 for 2000 lumens sounds like a good deal to me and since I can get them at bunnings it will be easy to add more to the system where necessary. Does anyone know if these come with a plug or need a sparky?
    I used these in my shed, bought them when they were only $20....every time i walk past them in Bunnings i see their price have gone up

    ....if i remember correctly they did not come with a plug

  12. #11
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    Quote Originally Posted by qwertyu View Post
    I think I will go with these: https://www.bunnings.com.au/philips-...atten_p4371386

    <snip>

    Does anyone know if these come with a plug or need a sparky?
    These come with an unearthed (2 core) cable hard wired into the light. They run directly off 240V, but they are intended and designed to be installed by an electrician.

    I can see no harm in mounting them where you want them, then get your sparky to hook them all up.

    As a thought for you, qwerty, go buy one and hook it up for testing yourself, you'll get a good idea on how bright it is and how well it'll work.

  13. #12
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    $20 bucks what an absolute bargain!!

    Does something like this need a third/earth cable which the sparky hooks up? I think I want another cable/RCD in the shed so might get it all done at once

  14. #13
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    Quote Originally Posted by qwertyu View Post
    $20 bucks what an absolute bargain!!

    Does something like this need a third/earth cable which the sparky hooks up? I think I want another cable/RCD in the shed so might get it all done at once
    It sure was a bargain....after that i bought a few for our roof space and paid $25

  15. #14
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    This is how i did mine...

    shed109.jpg

  16. #15
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    When I look at your link I see $27 for 2000 lumens so 4000 lumens makes it $54ish. The lights I referred to were about $35 for 4000 lumens for about $19 saved. Like I said do what you are comfortable with but you might save up to a third buying direct.

    Pete

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