Low profile LED for 7.5' ceilings.

[mike93lx]

Attached 24x26 garage. Current lighting is about 10 single bulb 4ft fluorescents. Current lighting level is ok, would like a bit more

I need to clean it up, so I want hardwired and low profile due to the low ceiling.

Was thinking 4 of these ($80 each with utility rebate) for the back half:
Lithonia Lighting 8 ft. 90-Watt White Integrated LED Strip Light
https://www.homedepot.com/p/Lithoni...-Light-MNSL-L96-2LL-MVOLT-40K-80CRI/300263606

And around 6 ish of these ($35 each with utility rebate) around the overhead doors:
Lithonia Lighting 4 ft. 50-Watt White Integrated LED Strip Light
https://www.homedepot.com/p/Lithoni...ght-MNSL-L48-2LL-MVOLT-40K-80CRI-M6/300263608

CRI isn't great though. Anything better for comparable money?

The 8ft fixtures are to simplify installation as everything will be connected with EMT

 

[Kevin Essiambre]

I've used both of those fixtures. I've actually sold quite a few of them too.

I have 2 mounted in my kitchen as the main lighting.

They are great lights. If they're identical to mine they will come with a small metal clip to row mount them end to end.

Word of warning, the little plastic end caps fall off... a little silicone takes care of that.

I haven't really paid any attention to the CRI rating of them, although a better CRI would be nice.

Some manufactures are starting to state 80CRI or better on their boxes meaning you don't have the slightest clue the actual rating.

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[mike93lx]

Thanks. Good to hear some first hand experience.

Looking at the layout, I think six 8 footers and four or five 4 footers would get it done

Any other recommendations?

 

[marsh1]

Thanks. Good to hear some first hand experience.

Looking at the layout, I think six 8 footers and four or five 4 footers would get it done

Any other recommendations?

Look through this thread. You should be able to find a similar size and ceiling height layout.

https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=289441

 

[pbon]

LED flat panels would be the lowest profile surface mount.

 

[mike93lx]

LED flat panels would be the lowest profile surface mount.

I think that would leave a lot of shadows, plus they are much more expensive than strips, especially when you consider trim kits

 

[pbon]

Yes, you would pay a premium for LED flat panels. But you lower profile. Not all require mounting kits. And you can get 1x4. Why would they give more shadows? I thought about them, but ended up buying 4’ LED wrap lights instead. Profile went up from about 1” to 2.5” but cost at the time went down from $60 to $40. Both costs would be less today. Cheapest are tube fixtures and tubes if you want the industrial look. One advantage is replaceable tubes if the lights don’t really last the claimed 20,000 hours or whatever. I have mine in my home shop not a warehouse running 24/7 so lifespan should not be an issue.

 

[mike93lx]

Yes, you would pay a premium for LED flat panels. But you lower profile. Not all require mounting kits. And you can get 1x4. Why would they give more shadows? I thought about them, but ended up buying 4’ LED wrap lights instead. Profile went up from about 1” to 2.5” but cost at the time went down from $60 to $40. Both costs would be less today. Cheapest are tube fixtures and tubes if you want the industrial look. One advantage is replaceable tubes if the lights don’t really last the claimed 20,000 hours or whatever. I have mine in my home shop not a warehouse running 24/7 so lifespan should not be an issue.

They cast light down and not to the sides. With low ceilings, I would require more fixtures to get even lighting.

I really just want something lower profile than the current fluorescents. Getting something wafer thin isn't a requirement.

I do not want to go with tubes. These will be on for well less than an hour per day on average, probably 30.minutes, and won't even be turned on at all on most days.

 

[Kevin Essiambre]

They cast light down and not to the sides. With low ceilings, I would require more fixtures to get even lighting.



I really just want something lower profile than the current fluorescents. Getting something wafer thin isn't a requirement.



I do not want to go with tubes. These will be on for well less than an hour per day on average, probably 30.minutes, and won't even be turned on at all on most days.

LED flat panel (AKA LED troff lights) do NOT only cast down. They have a pretty wide beam angle.

Regardless, I would not use flat panel lights. I would stick with what you have. They're a smaller overall profile and will work great for a 7.5' ceiling height.

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[Platonic Solid]

Flat panels with integrated drivers like the Commercial Electric that HD sells (link) are less than 1" thick and don't require any trim kit, but yes, they are more expensive on a lumens/$ basis. Light distribution between the edge lit flat panel and the Lithonia MNSL are practically identical. CRI at 80+ is good.

 

[mike93lx]

Thanks everyone.

I can get the 4ft fixtures at $31/each if I buy 10. I might grab one to test.

 

[driftpin]

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Commerc...ickid=zXFwGPQ7mxyJULGwUx0Mo3YyUkn1jLxJIXACwg0

Less-than 1" thick, 4 ft long, 1 ft wide, color wavelength is adjustable, dimmable, $99. Same as the one mentioned above, from Home Depot. We just installed one in a kitchen, I was concerned about shadows, it does a good job.

 

[mike93lx]

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Commerc...ickid=zXFwGPQ7mxyJULGwUx0Mo3YyUkn1jLxJIXACwg0

Less-than 1" thick, 4 ft long, 1 ft wide, color wavelength is adjustable, dimmable, $99. Same as the one mentioned above, from Home Depot. We just installed one in a kitchen, I was concerned about shadows, it does a good job.

I can get those for 90, but that is going to get seriously expensive to cover the whole area. I like the switchable color temp for living space, but 4000k is fine for my shop and I don't need dimmable here

 

[driftpin]

The FEIT Costco "two-bulb" four foot LED luminaires are fairly-thin, and are $20 on-sale, if you can catch them. I have about ten at two different garages and have-had no issues with longevity, color, mounting, or other things. I measure them at 2-1/4" thick. I like the color wavelength.

 

[mike93lx]

The FEIT Costco "two-bulb" four foot luminaires are fairly-thin, and are $20 on-sale, if you can catch them. I have about ten at two different garages and have-had no issues with longevity, color, mounting, or other things.

Not interested in plug in, but those are a good deal

 

[GRB]

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Commerc...ickid=zXFwGPQ7mxyJULGwUx0Mo3YyUkn1jLxJIXACwg0

Less-than 1" thick, 4 ft long, 1 ft wide, color wavelength is adjustable, dimmable, $99. Same as the one mentioned above, from Home Depot. We just installed one in a kitchen, I was concerned about shadows, it does a good job.

I had a customer install a stack of those in 2016. In just over a year almost a third were dead and one had 1/3 lit and 2x3 out. Only lost two more since so seems most die soon or work for a while. I sent him to buy the Pixie Lights they had at the time and "these were cheaper but the same thing". NOT.
Commerical Electric is not an actual manufacturer so the new ones could be different.