I'm new to lighting design, including T5 and T8. I've always just hung cheap T12 shop lights where I needed them. Time for a change, and I need to get educated.
I'm considering using 24x24 suspended ceiling T5 fluorescent fixtures and surface mount them to the ceiling of my shop after enclosing the two open sides with painted sheet metal. Finished height will be 6".
The T5 fixtures I'm looking at have two parabolic reflectors, two electronic ballasts (B228PUNV-C) and holds one, two, or three F24T5 HO bulbs in the center of the fixture. Bulbs are included, temp is 3500K, 2000 lumens per bulb. Spacing criterion is 1.3 x heigth perpindicular to the axis of the reflector and 1.2 x heigth parallel to the axis. Ten foot ceiling in my shop.
I can get these 24" T5 fixtures for a price comparable to the price HD and Lowes ask for surface mount 48" T8 fixtures.
The prevailing opinion I've found on the forum indicates that T5 is both too bright and too expensive, most folks go with T8.
For the same inital money per fixture would you go with F24T5 or F48T8 fixtures?
Do I need more 24" fixtures than would be required for a 48" fixture installation, considering a brighter 24" fixture?
Do I need to calculate spacing based on ceiling to floor heigth or ceiling to workbench heigth?
These fixtures have a 73% efficency rating - is this good, lousy, or what?
Will enclosing the open sides of these fixtures and using them as surface mount fixtures cause any temperature related problems?
Thanks,
Glenn