garage lighting?

[rymahoney]

Im looking for a cheap quick way to improve my lighting in my garage. i just have two 100 watt bulbs out there. looking for something to give it more light like outside but not enough time to prolly do it the correct way. just need a quick improvement.

Thanks

[Finemess]

Do you have a chainsaw and any trees nearby? J/K You may want to look at 27 watt CFL's, they come in a few colors and you should be able to get the look you want and add light at the same time.

[rymahoney]

will those just replace the 2 100 watt bulbs?

[Finemess]

Yes sir quick and easy. Any home supply store should carry them. Maybe a 500 watt halogen portable also.

23 to 28 Watt CFL - 100W Equal Compact Fluorescents | 1000Bulbs.com (http://www.1000bulbs.com/category/101-watt-equal-cfl-compact-fluorescents/)

[rymahoney]

Thanks man. Will pick them up at lowes today!!

[Finemess]

Hope it helps, you can return them if not, but I think it will help you.

[BookemDano]

A 28watt CFL will give you about as much light as your current incandescents - not much improvement in lumens.

To get more light that is close to sun light, I suggest getting a 65 watt CFL in either 5000K or 6500K color temperature. For example: Http://www.1000bulbs.com/category/300-watt-equal-compact-fluorescents-5000K/. Those will give you twice the lumens for about 65% of the power usage.

A work light can help, but there are multiple types. A stand light can help light up the side of your car. OTOH...

A single LED light will help find swirls. I have an LED Lenser H7 that I've used for two years for multiple tasks: Amazon.com: LED Lenser 880002 H7 LED Headlamp, Black/Red: Home Improvement (http://www.amazon.com/LED-Lenser-880002-Headlamp-Black/dp/B0053H1842). I just tried it for finding swirls and it works great.

Good luck.

Dan.

[ScubaCougr]

Don't see how replacing 2 100 watt bulbs with 100 watt equivalent CFL's will improve much.

Another idea as long as you're at Lowes, is 2 cheap 4 foot fluorescent shop lights...the ones with the chains to hang from your ceiling. Then get an adapter to turn your socket into a plug, and a small bag of screw-in hooks, or plant hangers with a molly.

Hang the lights in the ceiling, plug the cord into the socket/outlet and you now have 4 4'foot fluorescent lights in your ceiling. You'll have more light, and because the fixtures are 4-feet long, it will be spread over a wider area.

[bimmerchuck]

OP, had the same as you. 2 bulb setup in the garage. Now I have this setup. You said inexpensive, but if I am not mistaken I paid somewhere around $35 per. Got them at Home Depot. I started with just 2 and the next day went and bought 4 more. They are 48" dual T5's.

No flash on camera:

http://i623.photobucket.com/albums/tt313/chuck_1173/BMW%20E90/DSCN0661.jpg

http://i623.photobucket.com/albums/tt313/chuck_1173/BMW%20E90/DSCN0663.jpg

[Sunstealer]

My attached garage had two 100-watt bulbs too. I replaced them with strip fluorescents and got a lot better light. I don't think just replacing the bulbs will do much.

[BlueZero]

Plus one on BookemDano's suggestion. Lowes and Home Depot also carry the larger CFL bulbs. As long as you just have bare bulbs and no fixture they will work great. If there is some sort of light fixture they are probably too big to fit. Those big CFL's are huge!

[rymahoney]

the bulb i found says it needs a mogul base im not sure that i have that base. i know that a regular house bulb will fit so im assuming it not a mogul. anyone know if there is an adapter? this is the bulb
Shop Feit Electric 65-Watt 6500K Fluorescent Lamp Mogul Base Light Bulb at Lowes.com (http://www.lowes.com/ProductDisplay?partNumber=57889-75774-PLF65%2f65&langId=-1&storeId=10151&productId=3220087&catalogId=10051&cmRelshp=req&rel=nofollow&cId=PDIO1)

[BillE]

the bulb i found says it needs a mogul base im not sure that i have that base. i know that a regular house bulb will fit so im assuming it not a mogul. anyone know if there is an adapter? this is the bulb
Shop Feit Electric 65-Watt 6500K Fluorescent Lamp Mogul Base Light Bulb at Lowes.com (http://www.lowes.com/ProductDisplay?partNumber=57889-75774-PLF65%2f65&langId=-1&storeId=10151&productId=3220087&catalogId=10051&cmRelshp=req&rel=nofollow&cId=PDIO1)

Mogul base 'bulbs' are about twice as big in diameter than the 'regular' bulbs we are used to seeing. At one time there were adapters available, but don't know about nowadays.

Bill

[kbmag1]

Plus two on BookemDano's suggestion. 6500K is closer to mid day sun. 10,000K replicates noon time sun...funny when one hobby (saltwater reef tank) helps my other hobby. FYI, the K (kelvin) degrades/lowers over time. The output will remain, the K will get lower. Also, if you were to change out the bulb base to a base that allows a screw in bulb and has a plug in (Lowes: Cooper Wiring Devices 660-Watt White Hard-Wired Ceiling Socket Item #: 71102 | Model #: 667-SP-L; sorry could not hyperlink this) you would be able to add additional 4 foot shop lights.
The home centers sell 6500K bulbs in four foot lengths.