Too many lights?

[Iroc-Z]

I am finishing up my 25x25 two stall garage. I just installed lights. Right now I have 10 8ft T8 fixtures and 1 4ft T8 fixture. I just built a shelf across the front of the garage that is 32 inches deep and 19ft wide. This sits right over my work bench. So I was thinking of adding two more 8ft T8 lights on a different switch. Am I crazy? That is like 13 light fixtures in a two stall garage.

 

[olytdi]

Absolutely not crazy. I, too, have 10 eight-foot four-light fixtures in a 28 x 28. Painted white as well.

I have NEVER seen a workspace too brightly lit.

 

[Iroc-Z]

Absolutely not crazy. I, too, have 10 eight-foot four-light fixtures in a 28 x 28. Painted white as well.

I have NEVER seen a workspace too brightly lit.

I live in a small town and people are starting to make fun of me because they can see my garage lights from main street. But I can tell you there are no dark spots.

 

[eljefino]

The glossy ceiling and white drywall help things too!

The seperate switch is a good idea so you aren't shocking a dozen ballasts with a quick on off if you just run in to grab something.

 

[Iroc-Z]

Well the way I have my garage set up is on two light circuits. I split them evenly so I don't have to turn on all the lights to go out there. The wall that my Tool box is against now has the shelf above it. I planed for this and have a hot wire sticking out of the wall that now is on the inside of my shelf so I can add the extra lights. I will throw some pics up when I am done.

 

[Jack Olsen]

Absolutely not crazy. I, too, have 10 eight-foot four-light fixtures in a 28 x 28. Painted white as well.

I have NEVER seen a workspace too brightly lit.

Room lighting is self-regulating. Your pupils contract.

 

[dankicksass]

Room lighting is self-regulating. Your pupils contract.

But too little light and your pupils won't help you find that lost bolt in the shadow anymore.

 

[jeff000]

But too little light and your pupils won't help you find that lost bolt in the shadow anymore.

This!

OP, you have the same amount of lighting that I want to do.

 

[grissom]

I am finishing up my 25x25 two stall garage. I just installed lights. Right now I have 10 8ft T8 fixtures and 1 4ft T8 fixture. I just built a shelf across the front of the garage that is 32 inches deep and 19ft wide. This sits right over my work bench. So I was thinking of adding two more 8ft T8 lights on a different switch. Am I crazy? That is like 13 light fixtures in a two stall garage.

I have to determine how much lighting I need in my garage as well so this thread is interesting.

From the pictures didn't you install 10 4' fixtures and not 8'?

 

[Ben7203]

Not crazy... overkill is underrated

Might want to add shades/reflectors to the fixtures above your work bench or maybe suspend a couple above your work surface

 

[pattenp]

Very good lighting you got there. Is that the top of a marijuana plant I see in one picture?

 

[ptschram]

Good job putting them up in other than straight rows. The polarization of light from straight rows has the same effect on your eyes as fingernails on a chalkboard (yeah, one of my many jobs was industrial lighting sales).

 

[Iroc-Z]

I have to determine how much lighting I need in my garage as well so this thread is interesting.

From the pictures didn't you install 10 4' fixtures and not 8'?

I did 10 8ft fixtures and 1 4ft fixture.

 

[Iroc-Z]

Good job putting them up in other than straight rows. The polarization of light from straight rows has the same effect on your eyes as fingernails on a chalkboard (yeah, one of my many jobs was industrial lighting sales).

Thanks it just kind of worked out that way. I started with the perimeter lights and then figured out the middle. Like I said it seems overkill but everyone who has walked in there sure likes to work in there.

 

[Iroc-Z]

Very good lighting you got there. Is that the top of a marijuana plant I see in one picture?

That is what my wife said coming home one night. She said everyone is going to think we grow drugs.

 

[Iroc-Z]

Not crazy... overkill is underrated

Might want to add shades/reflectors to the fixtures above your work bench or maybe suspend a couple above your work surface

I was thinking of doing something like this.
http://www.goodmart.com/products/cr...t-reflector-strip-light-fixture-rn1321k1y.htm

 

[grissom]

4 x 8' = 32' In the photos I see four lights in a row in a 25 x 25 garage

 

[KPSquared]

No such thing as to many lights. . . I'm planning on 28 4', 2 bulb T8's in my 30x36.

This whole concept about running them all the same direction is new to me though. . . Perhaps I will have to change my layout. . .yet again.

If you click on my link below, I have my lighting layout posted. . . should give you a good idea of what I intend (or at least intended) to do . . .

 

[ptschram]

This whole concept about running them all the same direction is new to me though. . . Perhaps I will have to change my layout. . .yet again.

The company I used to work for did a bunch of studies of different lighting scenarios and found that lights with higher color rendering indices that were randomly arranged had a positive and nearly soothing effect but that either cool or warm whites in evenly spaced rows resulted in all manner of physiological responses that were rarely positive.

Ever since I read that, I have made it a point to mount my lights in a definitely random pattern.

In my last shop, I found it really helped with shadow and glare reduction. I had them as random as I could get them overhead and mounted them in really random fashion on the side walls.

 

[olytdi]

Room lighting is self-regulating. Your pupils contract.

You crack me up, Jack!

The real test is when you're looking at a specific task. If I can task at the workbench (or wherever) with the ambient shop light, it's bright enough.

Someone else mentioned setting-up your light banks such that you don't have to turn on all of the lights when you just need to run in and get a tool. I kept two incandescent fixtures up high on an individual switch just for that dash in and out need. I also put it first in line on the bank of switches so that it's what you feel first in the dark. Subsequent switches in the bank then activate east or west banks, etc. All that and drop lights and over bench lights in addition to the overheads.

I like lots of light in the shop.

 

[Falcon67]

I would say that when you can feel the heat from the bulbs, you might be near the limit. Other than that, light that sucker up.

 

[CRE Neal]

I went a little overboard on my lighting, but I am very pleased with the results..... 22 x 28 shop, 10' ceiling and I went with 10 2 bulb T5HO strips...I run 55watt 5000 K bulbs..... then above my lathe and workbench I have 2 1050 lumen 5000K LED spotlights......It is bright, but makes life wonderful for working on small engine parts.... Also very good for taking photos ..But will make the camera go dark if you try to take a direct photo of the HO bulbs......

 

[Iroc-Z]

4 x 8' = 32' In the photos I see four lights in a row in a 25 x 25 garage

8 ft fixtures use 4 bulbs per fixture.

 

[MoonRise]

25' x 25' = 625 ft2

general desired lighting level for detail-oriented task is ~100-150 lumens/ft2

That leads to a desired 'target' lumen output of 62,500-93,750 lumens overall.

Each 4 ft T8 tube outputs ~2500 lumens. Multiply by a 'fixture efficiency factor' of 80% and that gives a more real-world output level of ~2000 lumens per 4ft T8 tube.

62,500 desired lumens / 2000 lumens per tube = 31.25 tubes = 32 tubes desired

93,750 desired lumens / 2000 lumens per tube = 46.875 tubes = 47 tubes desired

You list 42 4ft T8 tubes ( 10 fixtures x 4 tubes per fixture + 1 fixture x 2 tubes). Right on the money.

The light colored walls and ceiling help a lot with 'spreading' the light around. As long as you don't have glare or dark areas, I think you are just about right for the lighting.

 

[marty_p]

Just remember these two things:

1) It's YOUR space...

2) YOU make the rules...

I like all that lighting too, Boss!

 

[Steevo]

My wife swears that the house lights dim and she can hear the meter spinning when I turn on all the lights in my shop.

 

[grissom]

8 ft fixtures use 4 bulbs per fixture.

In my garage I have 2 bulb x 8 foot long fixtures

25' x 25' = 625 ft2

general desired lighting level for detail-oriented task is ~100-150 lumens/ft2

That leads to a desired 'target' lumen output of 62,500-93,750 lumens overall.

Each 4 ft T8 tube outputs ~2500 lumens. Multiply by a 'fixture efficiency factor' of 80% and that gives a more real-world output level of ~2000 lumens per 4ft T8 tube.

62,500 desired lumens / 2000 lumens per tube = 31.25 tubes = 32 tubes desired

93,750 desired lumens / 2000 lumens per tube = 46.875 tubes = 47 tubes desired

You list 42 4ft T8 tubes ( 10 fixtures x 4 tubes per fixture + 1 fixture x 2 tubes). Right on the money.

The light colored walls and ceiling help a lot with 'spreading' the light around. As long as you don't have glare or dark areas, I think you are just about right for the lighting.

When I look at the OP pictures I see 2 bulb x 4 foot long fixtures

 

[Speedy Petey]

When I look at the OP pictures I see 2 bulb x 4 foot long fixtures

Since you are still questioning this, and it has yet to be cleared up....

The OP has 8' strip lights using FOUR 4' tubes. They are tandem 4' fixtures.

If you see four twin 4' tubes, as in the front and rear of the space, that is TWO fixtures end to end. In the middle of the garage are SINGLE fixtures.

 

[Falcon67]

In my garage I have 2 bulb x 8 foot long fixtures



When I look at the OP pictures I see 2 bulb x 4 foot long fixtures

What you see is similar to what I used: T8 4 bulb 8' long fixtures - Lithona, $40 each.

 

[SiGmA_X]

Man, I want to re fixture my shop even more now! We have 6 x 4 bulb (side by side) 4' T8 fixtures for 24x36. Its kinda dim!

 

[TireTracks]

In our shop we have 3 8ft t8( IIRC), 5 4ft t8's, 1 100w incan, 2 permanent drop lights, some halogen work lamps and a whole bunch of smaller work lamps, and it's usualy bright enough.

 

[grissom]

Since you are still questioning this, and it has yet to be cleared up....

The OP has 8' strip lights using FOUR 4' tubes. They are tandem 4' fixtures.

If you see four twin 4' tubes, as in the front and rear of the space, that is TWO fixtures end to end. In the middle of the garage are SINGLE fixtures.

 

[porschedude996TT]

No such thing as too much lighting, unless you are living on the sun...LOL

I have a 30' x 40' shop and I have 72 T8 tubes in the main section and another 16 in a long storage area. Love light...