garage lighting idea, CFL, incan,or 4 footers, 4 foot to cfl and comparrison of all 3 styles Options

[Tom]

So I have three 4-foot shop lights in my garage. When they all are working, the light is pretty good. However, the dern bulbs keep burning out!! I have had CFL's in my outside lights for several years and have yet to have to replace one. So, I thought, why not put CFL's in the garage? So here is what I did. I like it so far and only have two 100 watt CFL's in the fixture, with room to add two more.
Found a fixture at Goodwill for $3.99 and 4 CFL's for $1.49 for two, so a total of less than $8.00 invested and about 1 hour to modify.
First is the before pic and then the after, followed by a couple of the modification pics.
Tom

[Tom]

Tom T.,
I have had those 4 footers for 10 years or more and when I disassembled them, I think I see why they ate bulbs so often. There was no ballast, just a transformer and capacitor. They were the inexpensive, about $10.00 shop lights, so I guess I got what I paid for. The single one left in the pic with 4 foot bulbs is an even older one that does have a ballast and it seems to let bulbs last longer. I never had a 4 footer that would last years tho'.
As to more light for less power,? I don't know. I replaced two 4 footers at 40 watts each with two CFL's at 23 watts each and seem to have more lumen's, but I may be a little biased. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif) But thanks for your thoughts and observations. Maybe the best answer would be to buy quality fixtires and the best bulbs to ensure longivity.
JawjaPorsche,
Thanks, but it is a mess really. I don't know why, but the more I organize the harder it is to find stuff. LOL!!! I never saw how messy it has gotten until I looked at the pics! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif)
wingnut86,
Jeeze, I could learn to live with that! Until then, I'll just hate you instead!! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)
Very nice, do you ever do any work in it? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/poke.gif)
Tom