[CET]

It has become painfully obvious that my lights in the garage do not work when it is cold outside. They start up but do not fully
"light"

Is this normal or do I have to take them all down, return them and put in incandescent lighting?

Thanks

Tom

[BOBCRMAN@aol.com]

It's been 1 degree F. all week here and half of my shop lights won't even come on for ten-fifteen minutes... I think it's normal.

[Huckster]

Normal for Winterpeg weather, same happens here in my garage in Alberta .
If the garage isn't heated (like mine) they wont go to full at all once the temp drops below minus 5 (at least thats what happens with mine).
Doesn't matter to me right now tho as I put my project on hold till warm temperatures return. Cold metal and frozen fingers......I think I'll pass.

[Kevin45]

It's normal for fluorescents. They will be fine once the heat builds up. They're just telling you it's too cold to be workin' in there. Add a few incadescents to have light until the others warm up.

Kevin

[1ownerT]

If you use high output w/cold weather ballast they will not do that, they claim instant start to -20. I have them in my garage, rarely it gets to freezing in the garage but they always light right up.
Menards ad this week 8' w/o bulbs, $ 38 ea.

[CET]

Originally posted by Huckster
Normal for Winterpeg weather, same happens here in my garage in Alberta .
If the garage isn't heated (like mine) they wont go to full at all once the temp drops below minus 5 (at least thats what happens with mine).
Doesn't matter to me right now tho as I put my project on hold till warm temperatures return. Cold metal and frozen fingers......I think I'll pass.

Thanks for the info guys. I guess maybe the bone heads at the store should have told me this when I went in and bought them ( I told them they were going in an unheated garage)

[Dubz]

I live in brandon, and the lights are super dim when it's as cold as it is now, best bet would be to get a small heater, i got a small construction heater and with an insulated door it can keep it out of the negative without too much trouble. It's warmer to work, and my lights work too

[F1 Owner]

CET (Tom)
Hey Tom , Just wanted to let you know what I did in my garage for lighting (just built about 5 yrs. ago) I did a little studying , and when I bought my lights ,I opted for the dual bulb halogen units .You know the ones...they are long (3 ft.)and have a 150w. 2 1/2 inch long halogen bulb on each end . These lights will work even when it's 20 below zero here in balmy so.Minnesota . I hung mine about 4-5 inches below the ceiling ,(DON'T mount them tight to the ceiling,as they DO get hot as hell ). And.. don't put more than a FEW on the same electric circuit , or you will blow a fuse, or circuit breaker, or, overheat your wiring .I also would not use the heavy duty ones with 300w. bulbs on each end ,unless you have very high ceilings for PLENTY of clearance between both you ,and ceiling . My older brother used just one of those big bad boys over his work bench( 9ft. ceiling) and he had to take it down ...said it felt like he was in the Bahamas in July whenever he stood by the work bench . Anyway,...you don't have to replace all your flourescents , just put a couple in key locations until your heat comes up enough to make flourescents work !
Hope this helps, it worked well for me ! Rick

[5window]

I put the cold-weather,high output fluorescents in my shop-got them at Lowe's and I spent about $50 apiece for them to get the ones with the reflector flanges. They work well even when it is cold, but I think they work a little better when the shop warms up to about 45. So do I.

[CET]

Thanks a lot Rick. It is time to go shopping.