Any suggestions for new workbench lighting?

[cvanc]

It's way past time for me to improve the lighting at my workbench.  It's a typical 2-tier design, with an upper shelf that holds test equipment.  The upper shelf is less deep than the main work surface.

(It's actually old 'Anthro Carts' - anyone remember those?  I'm not sure they're still in business?)

It seems to me a good way to go is to place long LED strips on the underside of the upper shelf, facing down to the work surface below.  Would love to get some suggestions on what's good and what's crap in this category.  Needs to be bright as my eyes ain't getting any younger.  Also, something I can get here in the States.

Any thoughts on this?  Thanks...

[GreyWoolfe]

My 8' workbench has a pair of 4' 6 LED bulb fixtures from Envirolite mounted to the ceiling above it, 20,000 lumen between the 2 fixtures if spec sheets are to be believed.  The first fixture I got from Homedepot.com, the second came from a different online presence as HD was out.  SWMBO says it like having the sun in the office.  I have the same old eyes as you and I like lots of light on my work area.  My bench has 3 adjustable shelves attached to that is why the lights are suspended from chains from the ceiling.  The top shelf isn't really lit that much, but that shelf is basically for storage.

[cdev]

If your eyes are getting darker, one thing that can help is l-carnosine - a very tiny amount added to buffered eye drops. It literally brightens your vision.

Carnosine helps rejuvenate the proteoglycans and alpha-crystallin in the eye. Its use reduces advanced glycation endproducts. Its cutting edge science for the eye.

You can also buy n-acetyl-carnosine eye drops but they are insanely expensive, not enough to justify the increased price. A tiny amount of carnosine will last a long time made this way. the eye drops must be freshly made every day. It only takes a few seconds. Use distilled water, salt and baking soda.

I have been doing this and telling people about it for over two decades.

This is also good for older dogs that are going blind.  (Miss my dear former dog.. )

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/?term=carnosine+crystallin

[rdl]

If there's a Lowe's or Home Depot near you, go take a look at what they have in stock. Pretty decent LED shop lights are not that expensive. I have three of these and I intend to buy a couple more.

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Commercial-Electric-3-ft-Black-Bright-Cool-Light-White-Integrated-LED-Shop-Light-54254141/206028863

Photo is a little underexposed and I've added another since it was taken. Almost 10,000 lumens for under $100. It's pretty bright.

[nanofrog]

LED is definitely the way to go these days IME.

My shelving is somewhat like yours (DIY), but only ~ half as deep as the work surface. I use LED strip lighting attached to 3/4" aluminum angle (cuts glare in my eyes and acts as a heat sink. Swing lamps that used to use incandescent bulbs have been replaced with LED.

As to lighting color, I've found 5000K to work best (true white; daylight at high noon). No blue or yellow hue.

[Cubdriver]

These LED undercabinet lights were purchased a few years ago at Home Depot, before LED tape was readily available, but they're easy to install and plug and play.  I stuck them to the underside of the top rail with double sided tape, and stuck the power supply & switch to the back side of the rail.


The switch is in the near corner, and the power supply is the white box a few inches away from it.



-Pat

[ez24]

 

This is also good for older dogs that are going blind.  (Miss my dear former dog.. )

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/?term=carnosine+crystallin

What a surprise !  My last dog went blind (at 16) and his son is now 13 and I do not want him to go blind so I will look into this

thanks   

[ez24]

Costco shop LED lights