Lighting above the hoist

[Rod N]

I put my car hoist in and my ceiling was 2" too low so I had to cut out a strip between the joists. My plan is now to just cap it off on top of the joists and all is good.
I'm now thinking I should put some lights up there because more lights is always good and I think they would look pretty cool up there.
Any suggestions?
Currently there is 5 double 8 ft florescent and I can hook into the power from them.

 

[toplessHO]

is that plywood on ceiling?

 

[Rod N]

OSB. I was thinking of using something more reflective above the lift.

 

[toplessHO]

how do you get away without putting sheetrock on ceiling for a fire rated enclosure?
as for the lighting not sure I would put to much into it,its above the area that the car will block light from.

 

[Rod N]

how do you get away without putting sheetrock on ceiling for a fire rated enclosure?
as for the lighting not sure I would put to much into it,its above the area that the car will block light from.

Thanks for the positive feedback.

 

[dave*99]

Sometimes more light is not good. I have a 2 post lift. Cathedral ceiling, sheet rocked, painted semi-gloss white, and a bright set of fluorescent lights on the ceiling. I find when I have a car on the lift, I need a number of trouble lights under the car. When I am under the car looking up, I occasionally catch a glimpse of the brightly lit ceiling. Not good.

It is like a back lit photograph. The stuff I want to see under the car is dark, and the bright ceiling is overpowering.

When the hood is open on the car, and you are trying to see the starter, and you catch a glimpse of the fluorescent lights on the ceiling looking through the engine compartment, not good.

 

[Rod N]

Very good points. Thank you. I was thinking more a couple of reccesed 4" led lights on each side. More ambient than any thing else. I have lots of light already.

 

[sands35]

+2 that putting lights above the car is counter productive. Lights need to be around the car.

So I'd put lights ~2-3' outside the lift and about over the front and rear bumpers. Possibly, even a separate switch on the lights over the bumpers. With a hood open, figure out where the light needs to be so it doesn't cast a shadow on the motor.

When the garage door is opened up, the lights above the door is useless anyway (hence an extra switch.)

Is the garage attached?

If yes, and if you are under a code authority, I'd ask a "hypothetical" question if they will allow OSB for an attached garage. There are specific code requirements for fire ratings on wall coverings in garages. Most certainly, you will need to box in the hole into the attic. Last time I looked, OSB comes in fire and normal ratings. Big Box stuff is probably not fire rated OSB.

Even if you are not under a code authority, selling the house can be problematic if the inspector catches a lack of code compliance or poor workmanship.

 

[Redwolf947]

Rod N, I understand the question. It's good to see you stay positive with some of these reply's..

Recessed 4" led lights might work but if the lift is shinny you might get reflection?

Some small LED puck lights maybe on top of the lift pointing up into the cavity (use magnets to hold em in place??) kind of like the under cupboard lights in a kitchen or the same 4" LED your talking about to light the cavity..

 

[Rod N]

Thanks Gents.

I bought the house 2 years ago and the painted attached OSB garage is 30 years old. It was painted 30 years ago.

As you can see I have 2 8 ft double fluorescent front of the lift and back. (Yes I would have to close the garage door)

I can't have the magnetic puck lights on top of the lift because the cables need to move freely, but it does give me another idea.

Maybe strip lighting in front and behind of the "cavity"? So essentially I would just be lighting up the top of the lift from the sides.

Just going for "cool" factor.

 

[LutzTD]

Thanks Gents.

I bought the house 2 years ago and the painted attached OSB garage is 30 years old. It was painted 30 years ago.

As you can see I have 2 8 ft double fluorescent front of the lift and back. (Yes I would have to close the garage door)

I can't have the magnetic puck lights on top of the lift because the cables need to move freely, but it does give me another idea.

Maybe strip lighting in front and behind of the "cavity"? So essentially I would just be lighting up the top of the lift from the sides.

Just going for "cool" factor.

maybe some indirect lighting? for example: get some under cabinet LEDS and put them in some aluminum c-channel so it shines up against the ceiling?

 

[Rod N]

maybe some indirect lighting? for example: get some under cabinet LEDS and put them in some aluminum c-channel so it shines up against the ceiling?

Yes!