lighting fixtures in a basement laundry room.

[CTyankee]

I currently have a fixture for 8 foot long fluorescent bulbs in my basement laundry room. They burned out recently. I found replacements but the metal fixture starting falling apart when we tried to get the bulbs in (8 feet is super long!). We taped up the metal plate that was falling (dangling)so it would come loose again and hit me in the head while I was doing laundry.

My architect neighbor says this big a fixture is not appropriate for a house, but more for a factory. I have no idea why it is there since it has been there since we bought the house in 1991.

I am now doing the laundry by flashlight since I discovered that a table lamp I tried to plug into an outlet on the wall won't fit...the outlet was from long before prongs on wall plugs changed with one pront larger than the other...

My question is: what is a better alternative to another 8 ft. fixture, one that looks attractive and does the job, or maybe 2 shorter ones? I'm going to have to do some remodeling of this room because it really is gross and we will eventually sell this house.

Any ideas?

[Wash. state Desk Jet]

1. You can reduce to 4 ' shop lights

and those are inexpensive. You can get into decor in fluorescents of course at more in cost. On the plug you can change that to three prong even if there is no ground wire by adding a ground. Get yerself a home wiring book at a cost of about $15.00 -comes with illustrated drawings. After all basically we do indeed teach ourselves don't we ?

Shop lights or any lights can be wired in -, in series -meaning more than one light fixture .When you ask for suggestions, there are many but you have to know how to do it.

To yer specific question-get a home wiring project book-than come back around and ask questions that have more to do with your uncertainty.

How old is yer house and how many amps are coming into the house ? 100 amps-,200 amps how many ?
Has there been any rewiring done ? What kind of wiring runs through the house ? Is it mostly 12/2 with ground ? Or is it 12/2 without the additional ground? Was the house built in the 40's or before that?
circuit breaker box or fuse box ?

Sure the 8 footer is a industrial shop light or commercial. Learn about series wiring.since yer in the basement working on lights and plugs adding the ground should be a easy thing to do. How to instructional books were created for homeowners .homeowners that want to learn how to maintain the house and property as well as up grade and remodel. There is a book for anything you would imagine you want to take on.

The only other way is to get out there in the field and work with and for those that know how professionally.

Essentially your question seems somewhat vague. But you can do it with the book. You can buy those in dvd instructionals too. But fer first timers I would imagine having the book close at hand would be a comfort.

The answer to your question in short is ,remove the 8 foot shop light and install 2 0r 3 or as many smaller newer shop lights as your circuit will allow all wired in ,in series. and change out the plug.

You will be surprised at what you can do.

Good luck.

[CTyankee]

2. My neighbor also suggest track lighting. He has them in his basement and

he also has an unfinished ceiling (wood rafters with the wires running between them).

We had the electrical service updated to 200 a while back when we decided to get central AC. It was VERY lame before that...

I'm thinking of getting something like this:http://www.elights.com/tracklights1.html

Thanks for your help!

[Wash. state Desk Jet]

3. I have installed those

for people in their homes and office settings -, the lighting does it. It's a good choice.
4 foot shop lights are pretty cheap and would work for a quick fix .No need to be moving around down there with a flash light now ! Home Depot sells those ,simple get one or two and hook those up replacing your 8 footer. About $20.00 or those used to cost about $10.00 a piece plus the cost of the bulbs.

The basement is always a good place to get a start at getting to know your plumbing and wiring ,framing too.along with those books you get the visual. If you get the opportunity to walk around at a new construction site such as a new house or condo building,town houses or apartment building going up,that's the other perfect place to get a first hand visual.

Call that part of studies ! And interesting for those that are truly interested.I have had neighbors come visit me on project sites for that reason.

And there is always good information,- feedback on the DIY home improvement group too !
200 amp is a upgrade and no doubt increased the value of your home. Good investment.
so yes track lighting is a good choice and a shop light or two may be a good quick cheap temporary fix until you figure out how far you want to go with your basement project. There it's about a thing called project planning !

Good Luck.

[CTyankee]

4. Is the one in the photograph that I posted for you the right one?

Neighbor has a flood bulb in a can shaped light. It shines only one way, down. The pic I sent you is "directional." Since it is a ceiling, isn't the can shape better? More light shining down? And wouldn't it be cheaper?

I can't get too fancy with this project. It's really a basement laundry room after all, but I just don't want it to be depressing, as it is now....

[Wash. state Desk Jet]

5. For what you are getting at,

really why not go with lensed fluorescent shop lighting which provides excellent lighting.


Go with the two bulb 4 footers hooked up in series. Use shielded conduit 14 Gage or 12 wiring between the lights.,simple and effective. 14 gage between the lights is just fine for those and you can buy the shielded conduit strung with wire pre cut in 6 foot lengths.Also the knock out inserts are already there on the flex conduit for instant install.Knock outs on the light fixture are same as knock outs on a junction box on the back side and the sides as well. Use white light bulbs for max effect .




Maybe do a vinyl floor to spiff up the laundry room area,not necessarily the whole basement floor. Use concrete wash -self glue 12" by 12 " vinyl flooring tiles -also use glue in the can-multi purpose for permanent install.Simples. Maybe a little paint. Just buy the 12 by 12's in the box-flooring at home depot -not doubt 2 maybe 3 box's would make a big difference ! The light floats across the vinyl and seems to make everything seem bright and white if yer vinyl has a white or off white base !

You would be surprised how little you can spend to make a huge difference ? Those 12 by 12 " vinyl tiles run as little is $15.00 a box ! Do the laundry area to the stair case ,factor in a gallon of paint, when the paint runs out-,yer done ! simples !

To your question, the rotating cans are better for what you want,but remember fluorescents use less watts and frankly put out more light ! Brings down the old electric bill and conserves energy !

And you are accustomed to the light the 8 footer fluorescent throws out. less than that may very well seem more so dismal.Or will. A little something to consider.

[CTyankee]

6. I see what you are saying...however, fluorescent lights to me are a turnoff aesthetically.

I never liked the 8 foot ones so I'm not sure how I would feel about two of the 4 foot ones...

[Wash. state Desk Jet]

7. Think about it as you look over the track lighting

Recently I did a remodel in a basement apartment and one problem at the end of the job was dim lighting. There were four over head lights that should have provided enough light but, did not. Looking over lighting at Lowe's I noticed fluorescent lighting and some fixtures looked like standard ceiling mount ,you know round globe all that. Actually with the low over head down there flush mount was the only real option short of recessed can lights which will have been a major job. I bought two with the idea in mind if it works I'll buy two more . The price was right too.

As it turned out the two threw enough light around the rooms and blended well with what was there.The lights came with bulbs but replacement bulbs cost about $15.00. The owner saw the basement unit brightly lite for the first time and said to me for what that does the cost of replacement bulbs is too little concern, and it' looks great.

You might take a look at some of those. The basement in the old house was laundry room and coal furnace before the house was converted to apartments.

Just a thought.

All I'm trying to point out is,- once you try out the track lighting-you are stuck with it and there is no way to tell what the actual effect will be in your basement ,looking at store display lighting in the store,short of being a lighting expert.

You have more options than you realize and track lighting is not all that great.

Although sometimes track lighting does look very cool !But how cool can it look in a unfinished basement ?

[CTyankee]

8. You make a good point. What wattage do yousuggest for the fluorescent bulbs?

Maybe I was just looking at this jerryrigged fixture and envisioning more of the same.

BTW, you made a good suggestion about flooring. However, this basement occasionally gets wet if there is excessive rainfall. It doesn't flood, tho so I don't need a sump pump (I don't think). What could I do other than put down some kind of non skid floor mats, similar to what I have at the entrance to my kitchen from the driveway...

[Wash. state Desk Jet]

9. How wet is wet ?

How much water collects ? I think those bulbs are 23 watts per bulb. So two per light is only 46 watts per light.
40 watt bulbs in those 4 footers throws out a lot of light.

Some are 13 watt. You will go with what the lighting fixture calls for,generally you buy the bulbs when you but the fixtures.

Vinyl will stand to occasional wet and dampness. How does the water get in,threw the floor or the foundation ?

[CTyankee]

10. Lately, dampness and a little water I think is coming from the corners but

it could be from the floor...I wonder about that because the floor is concrete, but I don't know.

It used to get a lot wetter but lately it has waned. Once I clear out the basement we might find some leaky areas that were the source of the problem...

[Wash. state Desk Jet]

11. Good idea and look around the outside around the foundation.

Look at gutter downs where the water rolls off to the ground.

There is a sealant you can brush on outside and inside -the foundation.

Here is a quick idea. There is no glue linoleum sheet flooring made for oh, bathrooms and places where you don't generally move things around, like refers or stoves or pushing furniture across the floor.

The stuff lays flat as a pancake and will bring instant brightness to your basement floor-when it rains heavy,you can roll it back. comes off a twelve foot roll ,you can buy a two or three foot pull to experiment with. something like a floor runner. Water doesn't destroy sheet flooring that is why it goes in kitchens and baths !

If the water gets in through the foundation ,on those 12"by 12 ' squares you would run a caulk bead around the edges to keep the water on top of the flooring material. A industrial vac. picks up water by the way! A good thing to have around the home for projects. !

You can brighten up your laundry area in the basement without spending a lot of money or going full bore into something. And it's a plus when you sell.

Take a look at that no glue sheet flooring-home depot or lowe's !

What's the weather like back there,I was stationed at General Dynamics years ago.

[CTyankee]

12. Sounds good! It might solve some problems I have down there...

thanks so much for all your help!:hi:

[Warpy]

13. Two shorter ones would be nice

Light that is directed onto the work surfaces would also be nice.

You want to throw as much light around in a laundry area as possible and it doesn't need to be flattering light, just enough to see what needs pre treatment and which pockets contain old Kleenex. Fluorescent lights are the most economical way to do this. You do want to make them easier to handle than that 8 foot monstrosity, though.

Whoever put that in probably got a deal on it. If it's falling apart, it might even have been a used fixture from a tear down.

[CTyankee]

14. god knows where one of the previous owners got this thing.

I suspect it was from a factory.

Cheapest way was with a 4 foot long fluorescent bulb but with a glass cover to make it look more finished. There's not a lot of light, tho, so to me it is a little depressing overall in the room, even tho the new fixture is an improvement in style.

[Kolesar]

15. I have seen 8 foot fluorescent lamp fixtures at Home Depot

I don't have an opinion on the eight footers.
Don't buy Lights of America--they sell junk.

[Wash. state Desk Jet]

16. You can buy another 4 foot shop light

and 3 or 4 feet of 12/2 indoor wire,bulk off the spool or a 4 foot length of shielded conduit with 12/2 plus ground ,about $5.00, than hook the two lights up in a series connection =,s the same output as the 8 footer you had. It is a simple thing to do and that will brighten it up quite a bit. black wire to black wire white to white and green ground-, yer installed light becomes the power feed to the 2nd.light. 12 or 14 gage is ok for that series connection.

Since there's no hurry ,you can put some time between the expense you incurred.That should do it for you.

[Lugnut]

17. I have a 4' plug-in shop light.

My dad put a receptacle in between the floor joists 30+ years ago. Some eye hooks and S hooks hold up the cheap shop light over the appliances. It works like a charm.