Indoor lighting

[Kev F]

Anyone got any ideas about the best interior lighting for detailing?

I took advice from an electrical wholesale place as to what was the brightest starkest light for use in a unit for detailing and applying film to vehicles.
After consulting a few colleagues and a few brichures, the answer was sodium hallide bulbs at 400w.
I have bought a couple and to be honest there pants. They give out a yellowy glow on start up and after around 5 minutes of warming the orangeness goes slightly to give a bright light but certainly not stark.

Apparently, these lights are the same as they have in Mercedes valeting bays (not that that says much)

Before I take them back, anyone got any ideas of something that will be up to the job in hand.
Dont fancy buying 10 halogen tripod lights from Aldi...

Kev

[dominic84]

I believe you can get light blue coloured bulbs that are called 'day light' bulbs, apparently they give off a more natural light.

Also try placing your lights at waist height instead of above the vehicle, that way they will shine in through the open doors.

Trial and error really, working inside will never be as good as having a big workshop under the sky :)

[Brazo]

A single light bulb in a dark garage is actually pretty good!

Why not just get a fluro set up and use a brinkman for the inspecting?

[drive 'n' shine]

How about some of these Kev? http://www.commercial-lamps.co.uk/acatalog/Light_fittings.html

[sleepezy]

I have 4x500w halogen security lights fitted in the corners of my garage (and a double halogen tripod light for good measure) as well as the standard fluro's.

It's a bit overkill but means that you always get a decent amount of light on the area you're working ... and it keeps you warm over the cold winter nights!

[PC_BOTT]

Can you try any of the lamps suggested? sodium lamps always give off a yell/orange tinge, you either want metal halide or mercury vapour, as these are the white variety, sorry can't help further, but should be way cheaper to run than halogens at 500w each. But replacement lamps are much dearer although last much longer.

[steveo3002]

heres my set up kev ;)

http://www.hostdub.com/albums/PanEuropean/Dresden_12.jpg

[ClarkeG]

lol at the pic

[Kev F]

Right...after the wholesaler telling me he had given me what I asked for (metal Hallide), I tookone of the bulbs back and low and behold, the manufacturer had put sodium hallide bulbs in the metal hallide units...:wall:

Now we have the correct bulbs its great. decent light for :buffer: but now you need bloody:cool: to work in there....:lol:

Top job..

K