Help me design my garage lighting

[ScaldedDog]

My marathon garage build is wrapping up, and I need to design the lighting. I downloaded the Visual lighting software, but it seems that one has to have at least some clue what they are doing to get good results with it. Imagine that... :bounce: So, I'm asking for help, please...

Here's a decent picture of the space:

http://www.scaldeddog.com/images/Garage-inside-100108a.jpg

The building is 32x30 inside, with 9'6" walls. Roof is 5/12 pitch, with 3/12 pitch scissor trusses in the front 22', and attic trusses in the rear. Walls and ceiling will be drywalled and painted white semi-gloss. Floor may just be sealed, which will make it "dark concrete". I might put an epoxy floor down, mostly to lighten up the floor. Light grey, no flakes.

There will be two trucks and car parked in front, with a workshop area in the far corner of the photo, maybe with a flat screen TV. :thumbup: I mostly work on the vehicles in this space.

I'm assuming the 4x4' T8 fixtures, unless someone has a better idea.

Where should they go, and how many? My thought, based on next to nothing, was three on each side of the scissored area, running parallel to the trusses, and perhaps 2 or 4 fixtures near the top, running perpendicular.
Then perhaps 2 of the fixtures in the workshop area?

Wherever the lights go, I was thinking that the two ceiling "banks" would be on separate switches, with the workshop lights on the third switch. This is really just so I can leave the garage doors open without blinding the neighbors. Is this a good idea, or not so much?

Talk to me...

Mark

[2LTim]

Mark:
Your initial plan sounds workable, but remember. Lighting and women are similar in this respect, what loods good to one guy may look terrible to another. You can always use the trial and error method, hang them temporarilly and try them. If it looks good, make it permanent. If not, change it around 'til you like it.
Good luck and have fun with it,
Tim

[Torque1st]

I always like running lights between the vehicle stalls and along the sides so they get as much light into the vehicle interior and along the sides for working on doors or wheels etc as I can. Wiring each row to a separate switch seems to work for economy. Overhead lights in the workshop area should be biased a little to come from behind you while working at a bench just like a reading lamp should come from over the shoulder. This cuts down on glare. The same lighting from over the shoulder helps in the engine compartment. If the workbench area lights are installed with some switched outlets the outlets work great for task lighting or those cheap 4" plug in fluorescent shop fixtures that can be hung with chain most anywhere they are needed. Do not use those lighting outlets for a drop cord or tools.

Don't forget the motion sensitive light INSIDE the garage as well as the one outside the garage for security. You can wire those direct to a breaker, don't use a switch.

Also remember the emergency lights for when the power fails and you are left with a spinning saw blade... The E-light can be wired from the same breaker that powers the main lights.

Sealing concrete does not necessarily change it's color.

[Torque1st]

One more thing, the E-lights can be on the same breaker as the interior motion light so no matter what a thief does to the breaker there will be lights on inside. If the E-lights and motion lights are way up high covered with 1/4" screen wire panels it makes them harder to access or break.

[viperguy]

where did you download this software? I am in the same position of trying to design a garage. Thanks!

[ScaldedDog]

where did you download this software? I am in the same position of trying to design a garage. Thanks!

http://www.visual-3d.com/

[rust bucket bronco]

I've tried to use that design program but I cant seem to find 4' fluorescent tubes in the photometric file. Does any one else have this problem or is it just the computer challenged knuckle dragger?

[kvom]

I installed 4x4' T5 fixtures in my build, with the BlueMax bulbs. Excellent result.

[viperguy]

I found the software difficult to use as well.

I have T5s in my big shop (100x60, 22 ft ceiling) and love them. kvom - how many T5 do you think I need for a 50 x 63 area that has 5 garage doors and two cars per garage door?

I have 16ft ceilings and will probably lift several cars as well to increase my capacity.

Thanks,
Dave