Lights for a 24x30

Polen21 · Jan 24, 2013

Ive been looking through alot of lights trying to figure out what the best would be for my application. My garage is going to be completly steel lined with white steel. I was originally lookibg at the led tube lights but can not afford to pay 60$ a 2 pack. Looking for the clearest anx bright application. Lets here some suggestions. Thanks

rburke65 · Jan 24, 2013

Welcome to The Garage Journal. It would help us to help you if, in your profile, you could list what part of the world you live. Thanks.

Polen21 · Jan 24, 2013

forgot to add 9' ceiling

jlckmj · Jan 24, 2013

I just installed the lights in my 24x36 yesterday. I used (10) 105 watt / 400 watt equivalent compact florescent bulbs. I have them spaced about 5 foot apart lengthwise and about 10 foot apart width wise. I got the idea from a thread Veno put together, http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=38658

Everything you see here cost me less than $200. I paid about $14 per bulb from amazon.com, (plus shipping) and the conduit, boxes, and fixtures are cheap.

The picture looks a little foggy because my brother in law and I just finished a cigar in there. But to say it is like daylight in there is not an exaggeration!

Jim

Polen21 · Jan 25, 2013

Looks good. I was also thinking 6 4ft 4 bulb t8s at 5100k

MacTexas · Jan 25, 2013

jlckmj said:
I just installed the lights in my 24x36 yesterday. I used (10) 105 watt / 400 watt equivalent compact florescent bulbs. I have them spaced about 5 foot apart lengthwise and about 10 foot apart width wise. I got the idea from a thread Veno put together, http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=38658

Everything you see here cost me less than $200. I paid about $14 per bulb from amazon.com, (plus shipping) and the conduit, boxes, and fixtures are cheap.

The picture looks a little foggy because my brother in law and I just finished a cigar in there. But to say it is like daylight in there is not an exaggeration!

Jim

What are your plans for the plywood squares attached to the wall?

Crazy Legs · Jan 25, 2013

In my 24x30 I used 9 8' 75w T8 lights in mine, you practially need sunblock

jlckmj · Jan 26, 2013

Crazy Legs,

How many bulbs in each of your 9 fixtures?
What was the cost of the each fixture and bulb(s)?

Jim

Polen21 · Jan 26, 2013

Also how did did you have them staggered? Got a pic?

Crazy Legs · Jan 28, 2013

I've got (2) 8' bulbs in each fixture, they are American Flouresnt (sp?) from Menards. they were $26 each + cost of the bulbs which I can't remember. Mine are not the cold start versions since I knew I was going to have it heated.

I'll take a picture but basically I've got 3 inline in the middle of my running the 30' length and 3 perpendicular to those in the middle butted up against the wall equally spaced apart and a mirrored version of that on the other side of the garage.......that makes sense?
Like below
I I I
- - -
I I I

PhysicsDude · Jan 28, 2013

I would stick with florescent lights. They're the best value on the market right now in my opinion. I also prefer tube lamps to compact florescents, because I think they gives off less "shadows". But that's just a personal preference.

I use the rule of thumb of minimum 1 watt of light for 2 square feet. So, you have 720 sq. ft. of space, I would use ~360 watts. A standard 4' T8 lamp burns 32W, a 8' lamp burns 64W. So, I would run 12 4' lamps (6 light fixtures with 2 lamps a piece would do the trick), or 6 8' lamps.

Of course, that's a minimum in my opinion, the more light the better.

Lights for a 24x30

Polen21

New member

rburke65

Well-known member

Polen21

New member

jlckmj

Well-known member

Polen21

New member

MacTexas

Well-known member

Crazy Legs

Well-known member

jlckmj

Well-known member

Polen21

New member

Crazy Legs

Well-known member

PhysicsDude

Well-known member