Best lighting option ...

[SkizzlePig]

I'm going to need to light a large barn (8400 square feet). I'm trying to decide which lighting option has the best combination of energy efficiency (as I want to power them by solar), lighting output (as I need to have the area fairly well lit) and installation costs (as I don't want the lighting to cost more than the barn itself). I've been considering sodium (I don't know the difference between high pressure and low pressure sodium) and tube flourescent.

I'm thinking there's another option I'm missing, but ... I'm missing it.

Also, looking for your advice on which light to consider most.

Thoughts?

Sodium is a perty expensive fixture not to mention the cost of each bulb. 30 - 40 bucks a peice! Plus, like incadescant lamps, I've heard they are gonna do away with them also.

They do have a new florescant fixture out now that is electronic and takes T8 lamps. The fixture holds 6 lamps and are very bright and are for such places as barns, warehouses, garages, and such. Can't tell you just what the name of them are or who makes them but if you can find a electrical distributor they can tell you more about them. They run you about 130 bucks apiece and come with lamps, but you wont need as many of them as you would other light fixtures. Kind of a trade off.

[TechGuy]

Originally Posted by Unlikely Farmer

I'm going to need to light a large barn (8400 square feet). I'm trying to decide which lighting option has the best combination of energy efficiency (as I want to power them by solar), lighting output (as I need to have the area fairly well lit) and installation costs (as I don't want the lighting to cost more than the barn itself). I've been considering sodium (I don't know the difference between high pressure and low pressure sodium) and tube flourescent.

I'm thinking there's another option I'm missing, but ... I'm missing it.

Also, looking for your advice on which light to consider most.

Thoughts?

First option would be to install skylights since the need zero electricity and put out more light than any other system. If you can't install skylights because of obstructions the next option is light pipes which operated like skylights but let you transport light below a floor.

As far as electrical use, Florescents are the most efficient, but their bulbs don't last as long as sodium or LED.If you go with florescents look at industrial tubes that have extended life, unless you don't mind changing them often.

LEDs are the second most efficient, but can't match the light output of florescents. They are also the most expensive, but have the longest lifespan (~100K hours).

[beaglady]

Fluorescent is your best option for light output per watts. You might be thinking of metal halide, which is another option. Both metal halide and the high pressure sodium have some warm up time requirements (5-10 minutes) from the time you flip the switch til they are lit at full brightness. This can be pretty annoying of you just want to run out to the barn for a minute to check on something.

High pressure sodium is the light that looks kind of pinkish yellow, so it may provide lots of lumens, but is not good for seeing detail.

By day, I design lighting, so if you pm me with measurements of your barn, ceiling heights, what tasks you will be doing, etc, I can help you figure out several options.

[seedspreader]

Power an 8400 sq foot barn for lighting by solar???



Boggles the mind... how much solar are planning on having?

I don't think you COULD run Sodium to light that big of a barn on solar short of having your own solar array big enough to power a small community.

The lights are your least expense if you are going to try to run it by solar.

[WisJim]

Part of the advantage of flourescents over sodium is that they put out usable light over a longer time than sodium bulbs, and they come on quicker, so you are more likely to turn them off for a short time if you don't need the light, but sodium and some other tyes of lighting take so long to reach brightness that you basically turn them on and leave them on.

Many schools and industries are replacing sodium and other lighting with T8 (skinnier tubes) flourescents, as they produce close to the same amount of light per bulb, can be turned on and off without a waiting period, are easier and cheaper to maintain (mostly replacing bulbs). Sodium and similar bulbs loose light output over time, just like incandescents and flourescents, but it isn't as noticable, so the bulbs don't get replaced when they should.

LEDs might use less power, depending on what you are lighting for, but I'm not sure of the cost effectiveness for brightly lighting a large area.

What is the lighting for?

[SkizzlePig]

Originally Posted by WisJim

What is the lighting for?

WisJim ... I need to create a "breeding compatible environment" ... which is basically 14 hours of light per day. I plan on taking the advice here and using sunlight or sun tubes during the summer, but the winter is going to require artificial light.

[rambler]

You need kinda special lights for that, don't you? Or at least a certain level of lighting, not just any old shade but a broader spectrum good light?

I think I'd flesh out those needs a little more, & then add up what kind of wattage you are looking at.

You need to start with your lighting needs, and then supply the power you need. Can't start with the power, & then guess at the lighting. You have a very specific need that has to be met. Certain amount of lumens, and certain spectrum of light. Get that wrong, & the whole deal is worthless. Be careful.

Sounds like it will be kinda expensive.

--->Paul

[diane]

I don't know what your weather is like there in Oregon, but here in Michigan when the temperature gets down in the single digits, the florescents don't want to light up much. What kind of animals are you looking at for creating a breeding environment? If it's goats I can assure you that a smelly buck in a pen in the middle of the barn will do a better job of bringing them into heat that lights :baby04: