Any solutions for open overhead door blocking lights?

DENALIAKITAS · Jun 27, 2013

I have a 16'w x 10't door that will be open a lot which will block any lights that are mounted on the ceiling above it. I was wondering if anyone has mounted their lights in some form or fashion to be below the overhead door track? Thanks

Jack Olsen · Jun 27, 2013

I did.

Video showing how it works.

Garage Journal thread.

Obviously, the trade-off is overall height for going in and out of the place. For me, that wasn't an issue.

rburke65 · Jun 28, 2013

I mounted an 8' florescent fixture right on the inside portion of the garage door. I ran a piece of SO cord...small round black heavy extent ion cord....from the ceiling, looping the cord to allow for the movement of the door. The SO cord is stapled to they'll inner edge of the door, along the top, over toward either side, and then it goes ABOVE the horizontal track, loop hanging, then to the ceiling. I tied into an existing recessed light fixture in the ceiling of the garage. Door is down....I got light. Door opened....I got light. You can do this.....its easy.

Speedy Petey · Jun 28, 2013

DENALIAKITAS said:
I have a 16'w x 10't door that will be open a lot which will block any lights that are mounted on the ceiling above it. I was wondering if anyone has mounted their lights in some form or fashion to be below the overhead door track? Thanks

Other than swing-away lights like Jack shows, just how do you propose to have lights lower than the OH door???

Just add more lights.

DelayedZ · Jun 28, 2013

Wall mount a fluorescent light on either side and use some type of smoked or frosted shielding to spread the light.

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk 4 Beta

Rodhotz · Jun 28, 2013

rburke65 said:
I mounted an 8' florescent fixture right on the inside portion of the garage door. I ran a piece of SO cord...small round black heavy extent ion cord....from the ceiling, looping the cord to allow for the movement of the door. The SO cord is stapled to they'll inner edge of the door, along the top, over toward either side, and then it goes ABOVE the horizontal track, loop hanging, then to the ceiling. I tied into an existing recessed light fixture in the ceiling of the garage. Door is down....I got light. Door opened....I got light. You can do this.....its easy.

X2^^

Gary S · Jun 28, 2013

If you need the lights with the door open, the best solution is to move the lights to a location where they aren't blocked.
Personally, when I open my doors, outdoor light is all I need, so any interior blocked lights don't matter.

DENALIAKITAS · Jun 28, 2013

Gary S said:
Personally, when I open my doors, outdoor light is all I need, so any interior blocked lights don't matter.

.....and what about at night?? Regardless for my situation i need to come up with a solution to light the area directly under the overhead door while it is open.

Speedy Petey · Jun 29, 2013

DENALIAKITAS said:
.....and what about at night?? Regardless for my situation i need to come up with a solution to light the area directly under the overhead door while it is open.

Lights on the side walls seems like your only option.
Body shops have been doing this for years.

RocketTR · Jun 29, 2013

You could get one of these:

Blk88GT · Jun 29, 2013

I mounted the lights for my Liftmaster 3800s off to the side of the rails and configured all 3 of them to come on when any door opens. If you can't find your way around in a garage with 600W of light.....

Gary S · Jun 29, 2013

DENALIAKITAS said:
.....and what about at night?? Regardless for my situation i need to come up with a solution to light the area directly under the overhead door while it is open.

At night I don't leave the doors open with the lights on because it invites the bugs to live in my garage. I don't need them.

tjcanno · Jun 29, 2013

I had this same issue with my 18x8 door. I hung two 8 foot fluorescent fixtures from the ceiling with lightweight chain at a position just along the top edge of the overhead door when up, and down just to a point where the bulbs were not shadowed by the door. I get light under the open door. With the door closed the light is great.

Sorry, no picture available.

I thought about attaching them to the top panel of the door but did not want them that far forward when the door is closed.

Mike-Trident · Jun 30, 2013

I solved that problem by purchasing QTY 2 four foot double fluoro tubes and mounted them parallel with the opener. They are also controlled by the opener (socket to plug adaptor with ground wire adaptor (socket to plug adaptors have no grounding and they block the ground pin on the plug).

Nice thing is, the motion sensor on my Liftmaster turns them on (as well as when the door opens or something/someone breaks the beam sensors).

No more forgetting to turn off the lights...

Mike

rv245 · Jul 19, 2013

I'm at this point also, but here's by problem. I have 2 garage doors (actually 3, but a partition separates the other 1) that are opposite each other, basically a drive though. I thought about making a "H" pattern with the light fixtures, one on each side of the rails and another one in between the openers. Is it possible that you might be able to get by, by having a fixture on each side of the rails?

hippie2cams · Aug 16, 2013

mine has a 16x8 door and I have an 8 ft. light on each side of the garage door, my wall height is 10 ft. but there is a little shadow when lights are on and the door is open but not bad. I have eleven of these lights in the garage with 6 on one circuit and 5 on another. there is plenty of light at night because the door is closed to keep creepy crawlers and monsters at bay and during the day the door is mostly open for air circulation but now that I am installing a central ac and heat unit that may change. :dunno:

d.swanson · Aug 16, 2013

If you have windows in your door just mount your lights over were the windows are when the door is up.

Any solutions for open overhead door blocking lights?

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