Lighting Question for Basement

They sell all kinds of shop lighting at places like lowes, many of which hand from the ceiling at whatever level you want and plug in.

Like Marda, we have fluorescent lights in our basement.
They don't buzz or hum.
I'll bet yours need replaced. They're cheap and the light is good.
You can install many or a few in key places.

You might want to check out this LED Tape Lighting System:
http://www.leevalley.com/US/wood/page.aspx?p=70323&ca...

I'm installing this in sections in my poorly-lit kitchen. I did the first stage by myself (instructions are clear if you read carefully). Much less expensive to turn a dark under-cabinet space into a well-lit work space than any other option I found, and the light quality is warm and beautiful, far gentler than fluorescent, VERY low-profile, VERY low-energy, and because there's a little button light every inch or so (different densities available), shadows are largely eliminated.

I'm pleased with every aspect of this system: low cost, low energy, attractive and adaptable, easy to install.

LED anything. They are small and light. Easy to install.

We had can lights in our crappy acoustic basement tiles in our old house. There is a way if that's what you want.

We have fluorescent lights in our basement. They are inside a long metal hood that hangs from the beams with metal chains and plug into an outlet. In otherwords they are not wired in. I think it's called a shop light. They do not buzz and the type of tubes my cousin bought provide good light that is easy on the eyes.

Years ago I think I heard that when fluorescent lights buzz they need new ballasts.

Our roughly finished basement doesn't have a ceiling at all, just exposed beams, so we installed tracks of floodlights directly to the joists. This part of the basement is half of our house, so appx 600 sq feet, and two tracks with 4 lights each make it look like day light down there and have eliminated the need for task lighting. These provide a ton of flexibility in where you direct the light so you can put more light where you need it. They're pretty durable...we've had them in for 4 years with 3 rough housing boys who play sports in the basement and they only recently hit one of the cans hard enough with a ball that it broke. We do keep a 12 pack of replacement bulbs around to replace bulbs as they burn out or get whacked.

A system like this might work for you in that you could install along the joists above the tiles and cut holes into the tiles for the stems of the lights to fit through. Our system was hardwired in by an electrician because we needed other work done but the one we have could also have been plugged in. If you install the track above the ceiling tiles, it will lower the profile of the lights. My oldest son is over 6 ft tall and has no problem walking under these.

https://www.needco.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductD...

Can lights will actually work. You remove the ceiling tile, mount the can to the wooden rafter so that it comes down flush to where the tile is, trace the tile where the can is, cut with xacto, and put the tile back. Super easy and looks very nice. :-)

However, if your flourescents are buzzing, it's beause the ballast is going bad. A ballast is an easy fix.

And I agree witht he below poster who said to try track lighting. It's light, nice looking, and easy to adjust.

Just use lamps. Get 3 way lamps so you can have less light or more light. He's going to be fine as long as he can see. You can have 3 or 4 lamps too. One in each corner.

I bought a couple of sets for our house, one is a lamp stand and the light shines toward the ceiling and the other is a table lamp. BOTH are 3 way.

The other set is in the den and with 2 lamps the rooms is quite adequate.

When buying these 2 lamp sets there are a couple of things to look for.

BOTH pieces need to be 3 way. Often less expensive sets have only 1 of them 3 way and the other is straight off or on.

Those older style lamps that have those long skinny light bulbs...gosh, I can't think of the name. They have a half dome style base and they shine towards the ceiling and have a dial switch....the bulbs are super hot too.

Had to google it. I put in light bulbs that cause fires...

Halogen lights are bad bad bad. If those bulbs pop and bits fly off they are hot enough to cause a fire in each spot a tiny shard of glass lands. It's nearly impossible to put them all out without at least one of them blazing quickly.

The only way I was able to put them out all quickly was a fire extinguisher in the kitchen about 12 feet from where this lamp did it's spewing.

They are bad lamps.

If you look at this lamp you can see a wire mesh dome that fits inside the light top. This stops most of the tiny little shards from flying off and starting multiple fires.

If you do want halogen this one is the safest style. The ones without that wire mesh dome in the top are not safe and should be tossed.

http://www.amazon.com/ORE-International-3030BK-Halogen-To...