Shaping lights need advice

Older thread; tried to ressurect, but too old;

http://www2.swaylocks.com/forums/shaping-lights-need-advice

 

Alright, I’ve moved from an extra room in the house to a dank, dark
garage.

I want to buy a cheap fluorescent 4 ft long, then either shift the
board or light to an opposite wall to get my work done.

Everything is on the cheap right now.

The ones I’m looking at take 2 32w T8 lamps and ‘plug-in’; It has to be a ‘plug-in’ , I’ve got hot wires here that I cant temporarily shut down.

 

Is there anything wrong with the 2 lamp approach and its maybe low
wattage?

http://www.homedepot.com/Lighting-Fans-Fluorescent-Lighting-Strip-Fluore…

http://www.homedepot.com/Lighting-Fans-Fluorescent-Lighting-Strip-Fluore…

Do you think I’ll be vastly underpowered to get by?

Any recommendations?

 

I’d probably go for an 8ft long fluorescents but havent run into any plug-in ready ones.

 

 

you probably won’t find any 8 footers with plug-ins. the solution is easier than you think.  buy a 50ft extension cord and an additional 3 prong plug. Cut the extension cord in half and then you have to wire the three prong plug onto one half, and cut the receiving plug off of the other half. then wire each extension cord half to each light fixture which will include instructions.

The cord is 12$ and the plug is $2 or $3. 

one 4ft light in your setting might be kind of hard on your eyes and lead to inaccuracies but with two you should be fine. some guys think the 8ft doubles are too bright and rewire then as 8ft singles.

Otis,

Converting the 8-footers into plug-ins is very easy. I’m an electrical kook, and the guy at HD explained it to me and showed me what to buy in one minute.

You buy two plug cords with bare wires on the end and attach them to the bare wires on the 8-footers with those red and black plastic wire-connector thingies. Piece of cake.

Way back when, I shaped with one 4' light. It's lots better than no side lights. Far from ideal, but it's do-able. Just flip the board around to look at other side.

Actually there's some things you can see better with one light; Barnfield has pointed that out before.

Go to an 8' if you can. flatlands is right, wiring a plug is very easy. I'm an electrical kook and even I have done it.

Thanks guys, that about covers it.

Good advice from all. Just have to go looking and pricing now. It may be a single 8footer now or 1 double 4footer. I’m using my extra room for some serious study at present and dont want to disrupt that. One is disruptive to the other. So for now, its setup the garage for make -do.

…hey MD, funny you reminds me that

I started with one 4 too

but I just found problems with the rail simmetry and spent too much time with those…

    Howzit otis, WalMart has 4 ft fixtues with electric start for about $9 and they are plug ins, might as well buy your lights there also since thet have great prices. Which ever you buy just don't get fixtures with ballast starts since they have a tendency to not want to light up if there is to much moisture in the air. Aloha,Kokua

Wow, looks like your advice came too late, already did a HomeDepot purchase.

Would have saved some $$