Sugarhouse Lighting Question

[SeanD]

I'm having power and overhead lights installed in the sugarhouse. I was originally planning on two simple fixtures centered on the wall ties with one of them being right over the evaporator. The evaporator is centered.

The electrician is worried about the heat and steam affecting the fixture or bulb and the danger of a broken bulb over the sap/syrup. He's right - especially if I use CFLs.

So, how do you all light up your sugarhouse? Specifically, where is your lighting placed and what kind of fixtures do you use? Mine is 12'x20' and the wall ties are about 9' up. Would four spaced out evenly in each direction like a rectangle be overkill?


Sean

[Thad Blaisdell]

No such thing as overkill. More lightbulbs equal less shadows.

[SeanD]

Does the steam mess with a typical single-bulb fixture?

[Bucket Head]

Spend a little extra money for fixtures and get the vapor proof housings. Its a fixture with an unscrewable, clear bulb cover thats sealed. It will protect the bulb from steam and heat and catch broken glass, but I doubt you'd break a bulb with the cover over it. I've seen these fixtures used quite a bit in new horse barns- they also keep hay dust from building up on the bulb and inside the fixture. Your electrician would know of these.

[SeanD]

He mentioned something like that. Can it be ceiling mounted? What he was describing sounded more like a wall sconce.

Sean

[maple flats]

I have 6- 4' x 2 bulb moisture proof fixtures, florescent. Each bulb is 32 so I have 6 x 64 total watts of lighting in my 16 x 24 sugarhouse. They are placed about 2' out beyond the sides of the evaporator and are suspended from the trusses at about 8.5' high. I have 2 each side, one in front and one in back of the evaporator. They are on 2 circuits. It seems OK but I have been in better lighted sugarhouses. Remember, good lighting helps you see what is happening more easily.

[Thad Blaisdell]

http://www.homedepot.com/h_d1/N-5yc1v/R-100652873/h_d2/ProductDisplay?catalogId=10053&langId=-1&keyword=vapor+light&storeId=10051

I have one of these inside my steamaway. Definitely vapor proof.

[Jeff E]

I have standard, sheilded 4' florescents, but use steamhoods to contain heat and steam.
Good idea to keep lights shielded and not right where you may bump them or where a failure can wreck your product.

[farmall h]

Thad are you self sufficient yet? Probably NOT after this season. Hopefully you'll have a bountiful berry season.:)

[SeanD]

This is all helpful. Thanks!

Sean

[Thad Blaisdell]

Thad are you self sufficient yet? Probably NOT after this season. Hopefully you'll have a bountiful berry season.:)

Not even close after this failed season.... same boat as everyone else.

Berries are coming along nicely. Another few years and maybe have a small u-pick started. Hopefully frost doesnt kill the blossoms. Strawberries are starting to blossom out, scary, from blossom to pick is 30 days on those, that is 3-4 weeks early

[Flat Lander Sugaring]

buy vapor proof T5 two tube 4' fixtures use UF for the wire and weather proof connectors, I hear HD is pretty cheap on them otherwise cost in a supply house will be around 100 a fixture ( at least here in VT).

http://www.cooperindustries.com/content/dam/public/lighting/products/images/fail_safe/220x220_image/113669.jpg

[backyard sugaring]

Thad, Thanks I am going to pick one up for my hood. Lee

[Thad Blaisdell]

Thad, Thanks I am going to pick one up for my hood. Lee

They will take a 150w bulb. And that is a lot of light.

[sugarsand]

We have what sounds like the same type of lite that flat lander was speaking about. I placed one over the flues and one over the front pan, mounted in the steam hood, they really lite it up. Been there four years without a trace of moisture inside them. A little more expensive but the quality of lite makes them worth it.

sugarsand

[SeanD]

Wow. They are mounted inside the hood! That's definitely moisture proof.

I think I'll go with the four vapor-proof singles off to the sides of the evaporator. That will give me even lighting when I need to switch sides. I think it will also leave me enough room to still stack my wood up to the ties on one side without burying a light.

Thanks again,
Sean

[Dennis H.]

Just saw those light fixtures that Flatlander mentioned at Lowes, $67. Then you have to buy the tubes for them then.
They are even cheaper, $62, if you buy 6 or more. What a deal!!