Have I gone overboard with my light plan?

[haugy]

I like light. Alot. And when working under a rockcrawler or in a boat there is never too much light. My shop is a 30'x40' with 14' high ceilings.

I will be putting in the lights before drywall and such to give it a clean look.

Take a look at my layout.
-The rectangles are 2'x4' T8 troffers that recess into the ceiling.
-The circles will be for incandescents or CFL's if they don't cut it. But I want something that I can rely on in any condition, and also bring some balance to the light.
-The circles along the walls are for where my welding and workstations will be so I have plenty of light beaming down on them.

Please, be honest in your criticism. I'd like to hear all opinions before I end up dropping a buttload on lights.

 

[Cuda]

How many bulbs in the T8 troffers?
In my opinion it's almost impossible to have to much light. I'd just be sure to have plenty of switching capabilities with it to keep your energy costs in check.

 

[Dolfan]

I'm assuming that these T8 troffers have 4 bulbs per unit right? If so that will be plenty of light. I just used 2 T8 bulb units in my upgrade and it really lights things up. I'd say it is totally up to you on the cost between 2 and 4 bulb units. Might be worth pricing it both ways.

I think the spacing you've done looks great as it will wash the area in light and reduce shadows, that's key.

The only other thing I would mention is having multiple circuits as you won't need all those on all the time, especially the specific task lights for welding.

 

[robertlynk]

My shop is 40 x 60 with 8- 6 tube t8 fixtures with 6500 bulbs in them and when i turn them on my welding hood goes dark. seriously put in the largest fixture fixture possible and split the circuit so you can control the amount of light as needed. I did not do this when i installed the electrical wasn't thinking and was being pushed by the building installers

 

[Falcon67]

My 20x24 has 12 ea 2 bulb 4' T8 fixtures with 6500K bulbs. They are arranged just like your drawing and switched in two banks of 6 fixtures. There is a 4 bulb 8' unit over the bench and 4' units over the other benches. I like light and it's reasonably light in the shop. Could use a little more light around the mill but haven't decided exactly how I want it. You can put most of those on "one circuit or two" because they really don't draw that much power - and then run yourself crazy wiring switches LOL.

 

[ods dan]

I put 8 6 bulb t5 4 footers in my 36x36 with 16' ceiling. They hang 2 feet down. Some call the garage ready for surgery. Lol

 

[Grumpy365]

I figure 2 watts a square foot. (A 4foot bulb is 32 watts).

It is just my rule of thumb, but it usually works out nice.

 

[MrMark]

How are you going to recess 2' X 4' fixtures in the ceiling? Are you building a dropped or false ceiling? A suspended ceiling? Your joists are really 24" OC?

 

[Aceman]

How are you going to recess 2' X 4' fixtures in the ceiling? Are you building a dropped or false ceiling? A suspended ceiling? Your joists are really 24" OC?

I've never installed troffers in a sheetrocked ceiling, only in dropped ceilings. Unless they make a different fixture for that, there's no way regular troffers are going to fit. 2x lumber is a heck of a lot wider than ceiling grid......

 

[haugy]

How many bulbs in the T8 troffers?
In my opinion it's almost impossible to have to much light. I'd just be sure to have plenty of switching capabilities with it to keep your energy costs in check.

My bad, 4 bulbs each. And yeah I'm going to have two switch banks for the troffers, and a switch for each wall bank. I don't mind switches. I prefer to make sure nothing gets popped while working or overloaded.

I figure 2 watts a square foot. (A 4foot bulb is 32 watts).

It is just my rule of thumb, but it usually works out nice.

Yeah, I thought about that too, but don't know if I have the room or the $$ for that much light.

How are you going to recess 2' X 4' fixtures in the ceiling? Are you building a dropped or false ceiling? A suspended ceiling? Your joists are really 24" OC?

Nope, pole barn with trusses. Since I'll be framing in the ceiling for drywall I'll also be creating nice small frames for the lights to be mounted into. Should give me a flush mount look.

I've never installed troffers in a sheetrocked ceiling, only in dropped ceilings. Unless they make a different fixture for that, there's no way regular troffers are going to fit. 2x lumber is a heck of a lot wider than ceiling grid......

Should be able to do it with my pole barn and trusses though.

If I'm wrong about that, let me know.

 

[q miester]

If I'm wrong about that, let me know.[/QUOTE]

You are correct if you frame out your lights and you purchase the optional drywall kit for troffers (which is available even at graingers) you can install troffers in drywall.
according to your plan my only concern would be the spacing off the wall on the right side of garage as your facing the garage door. maybe no more than 4'.

 

[haugy]

You are correct if you frame out your lights and you purchase the optional drywall kit for troffers (which is available even at graingers) you can install troffers in drywall.

Do I have to use the drywall kit? Or can I not just use wood to mount the lights to, and have the drywall flush with it? From what I can find, each drywall kit is about $60-70. Plus the lights that makes each light about $110. That's too much.

according to your plan my only concern would be the spacing off the wall on the right side of garage as your facing the garage door. maybe no more than 4'.

You mean the spacing of the Flourescents or the Incandescents? I think I might have misunderstood you. I think you mean the T8's which is why I am putting the incandescents along the wall to help where I'll be working.

 

[q miester]

Do I have to use the drywall kit? Or can I not just use wood to mount the lights to, and have the drywall flush with it? From what I can find, each drywall kit is about $60-70. Plus the lights that makes each light about $110. That's too much.

You can oreder the fixtures with the drywall flange already on which is way cheaper than the kit. if you dont have fixtures yet.
Now i am not going to start a code debate , but i have seen it done with fixture screwed to wood at drywall height, the problem was the gap around fixture you cant mud it will crack and fall off and caulk will fall off when lense is opened. i fixed that problem by ordering the drywall kits.

You mean the spacing of the Flourescents or the Incandescents? I think I might have misunderstood you. I think you mean the T8's which is why I am putting the incandescents along the wall to help where I'll be working.

oh i thought the circles at the wall were your workstations not can lights
then my bad.

 

[MrMark]

What is the drywall kit, some kind of clips to hold the troffers up?

Everything I have seen shows framing it in (essentially adding blocking to the joists) with 2X material.

I wouldn't use clips instead of the proper framing.

OK, I see that you are essentially creating a dropped ceiling. Should be great and that's the right look.


Aceman, thanks for the info. It looks like all I can get in the way of Troffers for a normal sheetrocked ceiling (16 OC spacing) are the 2 bulb T8's. I wish I could at least get three bulb units.

 

[41ratrod]

When I built my 20X24 shop I planed for the lights used t8's I just spaced
the ceiling joists at 24" where the lights are and added a 2x6 on each end to fasten to. I also put them on two switches so the lights in front can be left off when the overhead door is up.Also the lights in back of the shop I spaced about
32" off the back wall so I'd have light for the work bench and grinders and tool box. And the respect. for the overhead door opener I've got a drop pluged into
it.l

 

[haugy]

What is the drywall kit, some kind of clips to hold the troffers up?

Aceman, thanks for the info. It looks like all I can get in the way of Troffers for a normal sheetrocked ceiling (16 OC spacing) are the 2 bulb T8's. I wish I could at least get three bulb units.

Yeah, the kits have cable mounts to suspend them. That's a no go for me. I prefer framing.

And it won't be a drop ceiling. I have no framing right now since it's a pole barn, so I'll be creating the framing, and integrating the light mounts into the frame work as I go so I can hard mount the lights, and still have them flush with the ceiling. Hopefully.

 

[q miester]

MR Mark
not sure if you have a question but here is a link for a 3tube fixture you wish you could find to fit normal 16" oc and it aint cheap
http://www.goodmart.com/products/1083622.htm

 

[MrMark]

MR Mark
not sure if you have a question but here is a link for a 3tube fixture you wish you could find to fit normal 16" oc and it aint cheap
http://www.goodmart.com/products/1083622.htm

That's exactly the type I was looking for, but it is too expensive. The two bulb ones are about $50, if I recall correctly.

Thank you very much for the link.

 

[ket-tek]

I put 18 2 bulb 4' T8 fixtures in my 28x38x12 arranged in 3 rows of 6 fixtures for 36 bulbs total and it's nice but I still feel it could use more. I think I'm still gonna add 12 more fixtures as 2 more rows of 6 on a separate switch for another 24 bulbs..

As long as you have switch bank options to only run what you need then I agree with the others as you can never have too much once you get into a detailed task..

 

[jay50]

You can never have too much light....and your electrical company appreciates every fixture and bulb you install.