Daylight fluorescents

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ahohen

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Raceland, Louisiana
:D How many of you use "daylight" (some companies may call it something different) instead of "cool white" flourescents? How about regular light bulbs...? For the first time, I visited a shop that started ordering chop mouldings from me a few years ago. The flourescents they use are known as the "cool white"... they add a VERY yellowish tint to everything. I was shocked. The flourescents i have always used, even in my home are the "daylight" flourescents because they are almost like "daytime" outside the shop. I told then about the daylight flourescents and why i use them (more truer to mat colors, mouldings, prints....everything)instead of the "cool white". They were very interested, so i told them where i buy them from. A few days later, when they called to place an order, i asked them if they replaced the cool white flourescents with the daylight flourescents. They said the prices compared to the cool white is way too expensive and "didn't want to take all of the money out of their savings accouont"...so they will stay with what they have...the cool white. I find them pretty cheap. I buy one box at a time (25 flourescents) for $87.25 (only $3.49 each/ $3.89 each from a broken box). One box last me about 3 years. I find their reply is not to encouraging to give them any further advice in the future. What type of flourescents do you use? Or do you use just regular bulbs? I believe using "daylight flourescents" HAS always helped my business grow.
 
I also use the daylight or full spectrum bulbs in the flourescent fixtures that are in the shop.
It's bad enough spending the day under flourescent lights without spending it under those horrible yellowish green ones.

I buy all my bulbs from a lighting specialist that visits from time to time.
He sells higher quality bulbs (halogens out front) for less money than Home Depot and he delivers.
 
I use the same supplier as Deb and have the new Ushio Halogens out front and Panasonic Florescents in the work areas. The Panasonics have about double the light output of regular color corrected tubes and last a great deal longer (they also cost about $14.00 each).
I just started using the Ushios and am very happy with them. They also have a greater light output with lower temperature and less electric consumption, and their color really makes the colors in the client's artwork "pop". They cost a little bit more than store bought halogens,, but make up the difference in energy efficiency.
 
I could use some guidance on this issue too. I want to replace the fluorescent tubes in my back (work) room because of their age (7 years, believe it or not).

Out in the showroom we use a combination of halogen floods in track heads and Daylight incandescent bulbs in pendants above the selection table. This seems good for looking at art in a reasonable simulation of what the customer may have at home. Our work room is lit with the fluorescents . (11 fixtures, 22 tubes total, T-8's)

We currently have
F32T8/ SP35 32 watt, col. temp.3500, CRI 78
lumens 2850 initial, 2710 mean

They seem pretty good, but in researching I have found tubes with higher CRI, that I am considering using in my replacement. They are

F32T8/ SP35/ IS/ WM/ ECO 30 watt, col. temp.3500, CRI 82
lumens 2850 initial, 2675 mean
Same temp., better CRI, uses 6.2% less power but gives only 1.29% less light (mean lumens)

F32T8/ SPX41/ ECO 32 watt, col. temp.4100, CRI 86
lumens 2950 initial, 2800 mean

Here's my question: In my quest for higher CRI (and possibly saving a couple of watts) would I be creating too great a difference in appearance from my showroom to my workroom, making mat colors appear too different in the back room, etc. ?

Any experienced advice would be appreciated.
:cool: Rick
 
The bulb manufacturer's use the term "Daylight," "full spectrum" and a number of different names on a number of different bulbs. The key is to look at the white point color temperature measured in degrees Kelvin. Lowes has some bulbs called Daylight that are 6200K and Home Depot around here have some that are 5000K. The Lowes bulbs run about 4 bucks and the HD ones run about 9 around here. All manner of things can affect the price. (kind of like framing) It shouldn't be too hard to find some reasonably priced ones.

I recently had an "energy audit by Mass. electric and they used a supplier that refered to the 5000K as 850s and the 6200K as 860s. They replaced about 100 bulbs for less than $200. (They also replaced all my balasts.

The 5000K or 850s are bulbs that the lighting people use in hair salons, etc. These are considered "color correct." Either of these will give you a "brighter" "bluer" light than the "yellow" cool white.

ALSO, I bought and installed UV filter sleeves on all my flourescents. These actually cost more than the bulbs.
 
I don't have a lot of experience in lighting. I'm somewhat familiar with wavelength and lux, etc.

I DO know that the old 'Grow-Lites', according to what I read years ago, and what I've been able to find with the search engine are basically the same as the 'Full Spectrum' tubes.

I suspect that one might be able to buy the flourescent tubes under the guise of 'Grow Lites' cheaper than bringing a lot of high-tech terms into the equation. (not that there's anything wrong with high-tech...)
If a 'lighting specialist' finds out you need a full spectrum 4' flourescent tube, the price is gonna go up. If you just go buy an old Grow Light, it might be cheaper.
As I said, I know very little. Just musing.
 
Rats! My 'Time For Edit' ran out...BUT:

Originally posted by Cliff Wilson:
I recently had an "energy audit by Mass. electric and they used a supplier that refered to the 5000K as 850s and the 6200K as 860s. They replaced about 100 bulbs for less than $200. (They also replaced all my balasts).
Click to expand...
That's a heckuva deal any day of the week!!!
 
We recently had the electric company in, and I had them replace all the fixtures and bulbs in our shop - but also in the whole strip mall. (about 10 tenants of various shapes and sizes). They did track lights, new drop ceiling box lights, outdoor flood lights, exit signs, etc

The total bill(all units) was less than 1k and it took them a couple days. They financed that amount at 0% interest for 3 years. The electric consumption has gone down considerably. You can't beat the price for these programs, that's for sure.
 
Originally posted by Cliff Wilson:
I recently had an "energy audit by Mass. electric and they used a supplier that refered to the 5000K as 850s and the 6200K as 860s. They replaced about 100 bulbs for less than $200. (They also replaced all my balasts).
Click to expand...
WHAT A DEAL!!!

Just finished replacing all the lamps & a couple of ballast in our shop. We use 5000K (F40DX) that are mfg by Feit Electric and sold thru electrical supply houses. These fluorescent lamps are less than $4.00 each - and we change our lamps every two years.
 
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