[Shop-talk] Fluorescent lights (I need help here)

[Randall]

> I hung 32watt, 
> dual bulb T8 fixtures with 6500 Lumens 

I think there must be some mistake here.  Are you sure that isn't color temperature (K) instead of lumens?  The highest output 32 watt T8 bulb I could find is only rated at 2950 lumens (so 5900 for the pair).

Did they have reflectors?  Easy way to nearly double the amount of light where you want it.

To get the light, you're going to have to run the power.  Brightest for it's length would be a T12 HO (high output) bulb, at 60 watts for a 48".  An 8' HO T12 would give you about twice as much light, for twice as much power.

I have (5) 8' 2-bulb fixtures to cover my 2 car bays, but they are only about 8' from the floor.  You'll need more with them up at 13'.

Randall