Lighting, Light Fixtures, Ceiling and Exhaust Fans - Fluorscent Work Light Fixtures
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multitasker
11-03-08, 07:34 AM
I'm new to the site and I found it to be very informative. So, possibly there's some answers to my question. I have several 4ft fluorscent worklight fixtures in my basement work shop. I installed outlets in the ceiling and I control them from a switch to use upon entrance. I also have a two 8 ft worklight fixtures in my garage both on seperate circuits. One 8ft I hardwired in and the other I installed a cord and plugs into an outlet near the ceiling. I control both from two different switches. I want to be able to cut off certain light fixtures in areas of workshop that I don't need to save on energy and electricity with a pull chain attached to light fixtures. I could attach an on/off switch to cord, but I have cord strung up and not an easy reach. I experimented first with 4ft and didn't much luck first time around. I pigtailed one black wire from switch to power coming in and the other black wire to one of two black wires going into plastic white box that are indivudually soldered to a board. I plugged in fixture pulled on chain and one of two bulbs blew and the other stayed lit. I stopped right there and emailed my electrician friend and I was told 4ft light fixtures sold without pull chains are throw aways and can't be wired for a pull chain because ballast is built into the end cap. Which don't make sense because I can easily remove end caps and can see how everything is wired just not sure of wiring. Once I have success with 4ft fixtures would like to attempt 8ft fixture in garage to have option of cutting off light from chain or switch because I have outlets down below and above to stay powered when I flip switch and use light when I need it. The 8ft thats hardwired I'll leave as is. The other 8 ft is over my garage workbench. Thanks if anyone can be of help.
John Nelson
11-03-08, 08:17 AM
I suggest you rewire so that you have one wall switch for each fixture.
GregH
11-03-08, 09:47 AM
I agree that you need to rewire to do what you want.
You are modifying temporary lighting in an attempt to make the fixtures permanently wired.
You might want to check for second hand T-8 light fixtures of the proper type which you should be able to get for next to nothing.
There is a major move for companies to increase their energy efficiency by replacing T-8 fixtures with the newer more efficient T-12 type.
The hospital I work at has just gone for a complete retrofit of all their fixtures and had so many perfectly good four foot T-8s at the end they could not even give them away.
Another thing to consider is to just buy some new T-12 fixtures that would likely burn so efficiently that you would not have to worry about leaving them on.
You are modifying temporary lighting in an attempt to make the fixtures permanently wired.
You might want to check for second hand T-8 light fixtures of the proper type which you should be able to get for next to nothing.
There is a major move for companies to increase their energy efficiency by replacing T-8 fixtures with the newer more efficient T-12 type.
The hospital I work at has just gone for a complete retrofit of all their fixtures and had so many perfectly good four foot T-8s at the end they could not even give them away.
Another thing to consider is to just buy some new T-12 fixtures that would likely burn so efficiently that you would not have to worry about leaving them on.