Fluorescent Light Fixtures

Popular in businesses and other industrial settings, the fluorescent shop light will give you a very focused source of lighting that shines directly onto your workspace.  This may be especially useful to you if your line of work requires attention to detail, as more light is always conducive to the best results when this is the case.

There are two major benefits to using a fluorescent shop light as opposed to other sources like incandescent lighting.  First and foremost, the intensity of the light is extremely powerful.  This makes working conditions much easier and far less strenuous than they might be in a situation with dimmer, softer yellow lighting.

The second benefit is the fact that fluorescent lighting is usually more energy efficient than traditional lighting.  This means that your monthly power bill will be significantly lower than it otherwise might be were you to use traditional lighting.

While the use of a fluorescent shop light is clearly advantageous in a few respects, there are some drawbacks as well.  Let’s look at them, no matter how minor, as they may impact your decision as to whether fluorescent shoplights make the most sense for your situation.

First of all, the bulbs are more expensive than traditional bulbs, so the up front cost may be a bit higher than they would be with traditional lamps.  If you’re more long term oriented, consider the initial layout an investment that pays itself off over time.

Another thing to consider with fluorescent shop light fixtures is that they won’t really work as well in colder rooms.  If your room is below 50 degrees Fahrenheit, fluorescent shop lighting may have difficulty working since part of their functionality depends upon the presence of some heat.  They’ll still work, but they may take several minutes before warming up and emanating the full amount of light that they’re capable of giving off.  You can always remedy this by getting a few incandescent lights to hold you over until your fluorescent shop lights warm up, but this may be more effort than you prefer.  Therefore, you may want to consider an alternative to garage fluorescent lighting if you live in a colder climate.  Electronic ballast fluorescent lights may be a bit more effective in this regard, and you should look some more into those if you’re curious about them.

Fluorescent shop lighting will usually hang from the ceiling, so proper height placement is integral here.  Make sure to keep it at a height that’s close enough to emanate light onto a focused area, but tall enough so as not to get in the way of your head.  The last thing you want is to injure yourself by hitting a fluorescent shop light, as the effects of this could be damaging.

Lastly, you’ll want to consider the placement of your fluorescent shop light fixtures with respect to glares.  Many people like to work near a window, as the natural source of light and our general desires to be near natural light play a hand here.  Unfortunately, your nearness to a window may increase the risk of a glare, as your fluorescent light may reflect off the glass of your windows.  You’re best suited placing these all in the middle of the room.