Batten light buying guide

Garages, basements and workshops need good lighting not just in terms of comfort but also for safety.

If the room is not heated, it's best to choose a waterproof batten light. If your light will be exposed to a lot of dust, be sure to pick an IP rating that will provide it with adequate protection.

You'll also have to choose between fluorescent and LED batten lights. Fluorescent lights are cheap but use up a lot of energy; LED lights are more expensive to buy but are more energy efficient and durable.

It's important to ensure you have enough light output so no spot is left unlit. Be sure to select the right colour temperature and colour rendering index score for the types of tasks you plan to carry out in the room. From there, you can think about any additional features such as a built-in socket.

Fluorescent or neon battens

Used in garages, basements or any other type of work space, fluorescent batten lights can be installed on walls and/or ceilings. They can be installed individually or in groups to provide even lighting and deal with any poorly lit areas.

As the name suggests, this type of batten light is fitted with a fluorescent, or neon, tube light which can vary from 5 to 120 W depending on your needs.

While fluorescent lights are cheaper to purchase than LED lights, the operating life depends on the type of ballast used. A light with a magnetic or digital ballast will last around 10,000 hours. Comparatively, a digital ballast that pre-heats the electrodes before start-up will last about 16,000 hours.

On the downside, fluorescent ballast lights are much more energy intensive than LED batten lights and some people don't like the way that they flicker.

LED battens

LED (or light-emitting diode) batten lights light up instantly and are becoming increasingly common in not just garages and workshops, but also in wine cellars. This is thanks to the fact that the bright light produced by LED lights won't alter the taste of wine over time.

What's more, LED lights use up much less energy than fluorescent lights with an operating life of up to 50,000 hours. That said, LED batten lights are more expensive than their fluorescent counterparts.

In terms of sizes, you have a wide range of choice. It's possible to find batten lights measuring 20, 60, 90, 120 and even 150 cm in length. Your decision will come down to what you want to light whether this be a workbench, a wine rack or even an entire room.

Moisture is often present in garages, workshops and basements, and there is also a risk of impacts which is important to bear in mind when choosing the batten light material:

• plastic: a cheaper but less durable option;

• anodised aluminium: more stylish and rust-resistant;

• stainless steel: very moisture-resistant.

If your garage, basement or workspace is not heated and moisture is present, you will of course need to choose a water-resistant batten light. To do so, you need to think about Ingress Protection or IP ratings. The same goes if you carry out any tasks that raise a lot of dust.

IP ratings define two types of protection for batten lights. The first digit on an IP rating indicates the level of protection from solid matter and the second indicates protection from liquids. IP ratings range from 0 to 6 for solid matter and 0 to 8 for liquids. These ratings vary from no protection to maximum protection.

Ingress protection

Light output

Light output is indicated in lumens and determines the intensity of the light produced by the batten light. Lux, on the other hand, is a measure of the total amount of light that falls on a surface per square metre. In a garage, basement or workspace, it's best to go for a background lux of about 100 with additional spot lighting of about 400 lux (provided by workbench lamps, for example).

Colour temperature

Colour temperature is measured in kelvins (K) This provides information on the kind of light emitted by the batten light. The lower the colour temperature, the more warm-toned the light tends to be while the higher the colour temperature, the closer it is to daylight.

• In a work space, go for a neutral light with a colour temperature of 3500 to 4500 K.

• In a workshop or service room, go for a cool light with a colour temperature of 5000 to 6500 K.

Colour rendering index (CRI)

The colour rendering index (CRI) is important if you are carrying out any tasks where colour is important. It's a good idea to pay close attention to the CRI when purchasing a batten light. The index goes from 0 up to 100 for the most faithful rendering of colours.

You might also want to look out for extra features designed to improve the performance of your batten light. Here are some of the most common additions:

• a built-in socket: handy for plugging in a drill, for example;

• an adjustable light to direct the light towards different areas to match your needs;

• a remote control or smart control: a practical option that involves controlling your light using a remote control or through a smartphone or tablet via a downloadable app.