Workbench lighting

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Workbench lighting

This topic has 8 replies, 7 voices, and was last updated 22 October 2022 at 17:58 by john fletcher 1.

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21 October 2022 at 20:44 #618191
Bill Dawes
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@billdawes
Hi all,

My present flourescent tube over my workbench has just about had it I think.

It is a T12 1500 long single tube, I recently found out that the T12 was discontinued in 2012!!

Sometimes I have to look up at it to see if it actually is on.

So intend to replace with an LED one, any thoughts on size, colour temp. lumens etc.

Bill D.
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21 October 2022 at 20:44 #28888
Bill Dawes
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@billdawes
21 October 2022 at 21:06 #618193
Journeyman
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@journeyman
I use these:

LEDlite, 5ft 24w LED Fluorescent Tube, White
Lumens: 3200lm, Colour: White 3500k.

Bought mine from TLC on line, have 6 in the workshop. You can retrofit them in old style ballast fluorescent fittings using a supplied pass-through starter. To use in electronic ballast units will require a re-wire to take the feed just to one end of the tube. They are more robust (plastic) than fluorescent tubes so can be used without covers/shades. You can even use the tubes without a fitting and supply power just to one end with a suitable connector.

I made 3D printed end covers and brackets for my tubes and connected with a suitable choc-block.

John
22 October 2022 at 01:45 #618200
Anonymous
Bill, can I suggest that you search the site for this topic. It's been done in detail several times.
22 October 2022 at 10:29 #618229
John Doe 2
Participant
@johndoe2
These domestic LED down-lighters I used in the house are awesome. Completely self contained – mains in, 700 lumens out; nothing else required, except to mount them suitably. Sealed to IP 54, so no worries about dust or metal filings getting in. Choice of two colour temperatures. Claimed 30,000 hour life.

Flange and clips could be used to mount them or be removed.

No connection with the company.

Edited By John Doe 2 on 22/10/2022 10:31:35
22 October 2022 at 11:45 #618241
Hollowpoint
Participant
@hollowpoint
I use the under kitchen cabinet type LED's mounted on my bench. Obviously they don't replace a ceiling light but they have a few advantages. The first being that they are low voltage. The second being the light is diffused and much nicer to work under. (Obviously they are designed like that for kitchen use). The third advantage is they are very easy to fit and place where you most need light.
22 October 2022 at 14:20 #618264
Bill Dawes
Participant
@billdawes
Thanks guys for info and thank you Peter, did have a look at past posts which were useful. Should have done that first I know.

Bill D.
22 October 2022 at 17:43 #618276
Clive Foster
Participant
@clivefoster55965
Although past posts on this topic are very useful the market is still in considerable flux. Not only does the best price/performance ratio of the various options keep changing but newer and, possibly better, solutions keep arriving.

Case in point are the down-lighters mentioned by John Doe 2. Around 12 years ago I used GU10 fittings with 240 V led bulbs for what I suspect are similar duties. Best at the time. In the intervening years the most appropriate solution for that job, which wasn't necessarily tied to using down-lighters, has changed at least 3 times! Probably more if I'd really followed the market.

Clive
22 October 2022 at 17:58 #618279
john fletcher 1
Participant
@johnfletcher1
Regarding workshop lighting. Some time before Covid, my workshop 4 fluorescent lights were dark at the ends/ failing and action was required. I bought a 10 metre reel of self adhesive (sticky back) 12 volt LED and 4 length of 25mm angle plastic from B&Q. Then with some assistance from my wife I screwed the plastic strip to the workshop roof, then peeled off the backing paper from the LED strips and stuck them to the plastic angle. One thing to point out is that I had to solder two wires to the strip, so you need to be quick with the soldering iron, otherwise you would spoil the plastic strip and a diode or two. LED'S are polarised so a RED and BLACK thin supple wire is needed, which I'm sure most workshop already have. It's all powered via a discarded computer power supply. My friends remark how good the light level is all over the workshop, no dark areas, and it wasn't expensive either. John
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