This Lighting *****

Smiles79 · Aug 23, 2018

Hey all,

So my 30 x 36 shop is finally ready to move-in. The place I'm at is a rental so I'm trying to make the most out of what I've got. The landlord has 4 fixtures in the building currently with the parabolic style bulbs (see below). Since I don't own the place I won't be installing any fixtures, are there any replacement bulbs that I can use that will really light the place up? Currently there is a lot left to be desired.

Thanks I'm advance!

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TheLurker · Aug 23, 2018

If they're not recessed cans, I'd go with these:

https://www.rockler.com/led-big-bulbs

cybrdyke · Aug 23, 2018

That is a BR30 lamp. Typically emits 650 lumens, downward in a 120 degree beam. You would find these in a recessed fixture. There are other lamp styles that will fit into the same fixture that deliver more light, but in a much tighter beam. The result will be more light that is spread out less. If your ceiling is only 8 or 9 feet, this might not be desirable as it will give you pools of light on the floor and areas that are dark. For instance, a PAR30 lamp will get you about 1000 lumens, but only in a 40 degree beam.
Does that make sense?
If you have recessed downlights, then you can find inexpensive inserts for them, these can have around 800 to 1000 lumens, and might be a great answer for you.
So...what does the existing fixture look like?
CD

alwaysFlOoReD · Aug 23, 2018

This is one of those times I would go old school....use 300watt incandescent.

Smiles79 · Aug 23, 2018

They aren't recessed, they're just the screw-in type of fixture fixed to the ceiling. Sorry, I'm not overly familiar with lighting.

Do these pictures help at all?

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cybrdyke · Aug 23, 2018

those pictures help alot! Forget my previous answer.
Go on amazon and search for LED Corn lamp. Get 4 of them that are 2500 lumens minimum. Dont go over 8000 lumens. They're really glarey, and you'll see spots for a long time if you accidentally look right at them.
Look for 5000K color temperature.
Good luck,
CD

Smiles79 · Aug 23, 2018

Something like this?

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Platonic Solid · Aug 23, 2018

How about 4 of these:

Image linked to HD

and 8 hanging shop lights (link).

Shiftless · Aug 23, 2018

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

That’s the best suggestion so far.

Smiles79 · Aug 23, 2018

It's not s bad idea, but I'd prefer to not buy a bunch of fixtures that I'll have to move when I move out. And I'm trying to not spend a bunch of money.

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Platonic Solid · Aug 23, 2018

It's not that much more money. Depends how much you'll use the space and how long you'll be there. If you want to be comfortable in the space, you need to spread the light fixtures out. You don't want to go from not being able to see anything cause there's not enough light to not being able to see anything cause the glare from the corncobs is blinding you. Worst case scenario - sell the shop lights for $10 a piece when you move and you've mostly recouped the $ difference between the corncobs and shop lights.

techieman33 · Aug 23, 2018

I would buy one of the 1 to 7 adapters. Then you can just throw whatever cheap LEDs you can pick up at the store in them, and you can do a little to direct the light where you want it. It will help you get the light out to the edges of the shop without being nearly as hard to look at as the corn cob bulbs. And then if you move out of the shop you have plenty of bulbs to put in at your next shop or house or wherever.

bridferr · Aug 23, 2018

Choose led lightning that has brighter lights but lower wattage. It would be more practical and more useful.

cybrdyke · Aug 23, 2018

Smiles79 said:
Something like this?

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Yes, but in 5000K, not 6500K. 6500K is a weird blue-ish white color.
CD

Stuart in MN · Aug 24, 2018

If you could find something cheap and colored white (plastic sheeting, canvas, old bedsheets, etc.), and staple it to the bottom of the trusses to create a 'ceiling', I bet it would help brighten up the space.

CNGsaves · Aug 24, 2018

Platonic Solid said:
How about 4 of these:

Image linked to HD

and 8 hanging shop lights (link).

x2 on this idea.

I would NOT be satisfied with 4 single bulbs in nice big shop like that.

Platonic Solid · Aug 24, 2018

Platonic Solid said:
... Worst case scenario - sell the shop lights for $10 a piece when you move and you've mostly recouped the $ difference between the corncobs and shop lights.

Save your receipts - sell them to your landlord when you move. The difference between what's there now and 8 strip lights is ... well ... like night and day.

Smiles79 · Aug 24, 2018

Thank you all for your input. I agree that the strip lighting would be the best and is definitely what I would do if i was going to be in this shop for the next 20 years. If I did this, what would be the best way to mount them?

Id still like to entertain the idea of using some kind if LED bulb in the fixture I've got though. If I used something like a corn cob light, could I get a reflector that would help direct the light more downward?

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Platonic Solid · Aug 24, 2018

4ft plug-in work lights usually come with hanging chains. 2 screws in the joist per fixture. It really doesn't get any easier than this. My prior proposal only comes to $210. The corncobs you posted are $76. So we're debating a $134 difference between something decent and something less effective. This is a no brainer in my book. If $134 makes that big a difference, I'd leave the lighting alone and focus on more important things.

If you're only going to be there 1 year or less then the corncobs are better than what you have, but don't expect miracles. Reflectors will push more light down, but do nothing for uncomfortable glare.

If you were going to be in the shop long term you'd want a lot more than 8 4ft strip lights. Just guessing by your picture - horizontal ceiling joist height looks to be about 10ft. Cost to properly light the space would be around $800 - $1,000.

thewatusi · Aug 24, 2018

Seems like it would be easy to rig up a bunch of 4' led shop lights with some temp wiring that could be removed when you move.

Smiles79 · Aug 24, 2018

Thank you guys for your help.

Platonic, I see that the lights you linked can be Daisy chained. Is there a downside to this? Would they not work as well of one was plugged into the light socket and another we're plugged into the first, or is it going to depend on the length of the supplied cord?

Edit to add: The adapter you linked, does that have two power plugs and one socket for the light? So I could plug in two power cables and still use the light that's there? It's kind of hard to tell from the picture.

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Platonic Solid · Aug 24, 2018

Lights: Yes, you can daisy chain the lights, no downside. This gives you more flexibility in fixture placement.

Socket with Outlets adapter: Yes, you can plug in both power cables and still use the existing lamps. Just make sure you don't exceed 1800 Watts for the entire circuit (which is not likely) - Total wattage of 8 strip lights = 320W + whatever the wattage of the 4 existing bulbs is.

Smiles79 · Aug 24, 2018

Awesome, thanks. The more I think about it, I'll probably go with your suggestion. Thanks for all your help.

Just out of curiosity, is 1800W just a common number for max output of a 120v circuit?

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Platonic Solid · Aug 24, 2018

Typical lighting circuit is 15A x 120V = 1800W lighting doesn't require a safety factor, but for other 15A circuits you would multiply 1800W by 80% giving you 1440W max. The breaker will be 15A and the wire will be 14Ga.

A 20Amp circuit = 20A x 120V = 2400W x 80% = 1920W max. The breaker will be 20A and the wire will be 12Ga.

alfredeneuman · Aug 24, 2018

All 15A receptacles in garages (even ones that adapt edison base lampholders to receps) are required to have GFI protection, so you'd need a GFI breaker on the light circuit.

Platonic Solid · Aug 24, 2018

alfredeneuman said:
All 15A receptacles in garages (even ones that adapt edison base lampholders to receps) are required to have GFI protection, so you'd need a GFI breaker on the light circuit.

That's so not going to happen. As long as the outlets are only being used for lighting this is a non-issue.

alfredeneuman · Aug 24, 2018

I know it's not gonna happen ...... but nevertheless it's in the Code and worthy of mention.
There is no exception for just lighting.

Platonic Solid · Aug 24, 2018

alfredeneuman said:
I know it's not gonna happen ...... but nevertheless it's in the Code and worthy of mention.
There is no exception for just lighting.

Yeah, I know you're right, just don't want to unnecessarily scare the OP back to the screw-in bulb solution.

In theory, if we crazy-glue the light fixture plugs to the outlets, then it's no longer an outlet and there is no code issue.

Smiles79 · Aug 24, 2018

Platonic Solid said:
Yeah, I know you're right, just don't want to unnecessarily scare the OP back to the screw-in bulb solution.

Does code only become an issue if it we're a new building that had to be inspected or if it were being sold?

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Platonic Solid · Aug 24, 2018

I'll leave that to the sparkys to properly answer. My field is lighting design and manufacture. I don't keep up on what residential code says today.

Showkey · Aug 24, 2018

Smiles79 said:
Does code only become an issue if it we're a new building that had to be inspected or if it were being sold?

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Not to mention old Work is grandfathered if it’s not remodeled or reworked.

Another super low cost fix for this situation..........3 or 4 bulbs adapter with LED bulbs.

alfredeneuman · Aug 24, 2018

Showkey said:
Not to mention old Work is grandfathered if it’s not remodeled or reworked.

Rework=to revise
By the additional lighting alone it I'd think it would be considered to be reworked. :sad:

Shiftless · Aug 24, 2018

A.E. Neuman I know what you’re talking about. I have had inspectors call out very minor variations and insist on changes I knew to be something other than code requires. However...

I certainly hope that no inspector is so tight assed as to pull something like that.
Somebody unscrews a bulb, screws in a widely available adapter, and then plugs a few shoplights into the outlets. I would hope that reasonable people would not consider that to be a “rework”.
Nobody opened a box or untwisted any wire nuts.

Showkey · Aug 25, 2018

alfredeneuman said:
Rework=to revise
By the additional lighting alone it I'd think it would be considered to be reworked.

Nit pick much..............this is the GJ chuck full of DIY..........Nobody pull permits for DIY stuff.

themiller · Aug 26, 2018

The LED corncob bulb listed would work very well. I use a 300w equivalent CFL version because the LED ones were $100ish when I bought my CFL for $20. Also in a rental garage here... A LOT of light and only takes a few seconds to screw out and screw the old bulbs back in. Landlord can't say squat about me making any holes. I have put them in lamp fixtures as well over the winter when it gets dark and dreary out here.

GirlnAgarage · Aug 29, 2018

OP, hit the easy button on this, use the adapter and linkable lights. When you're done with them you could easily pull them down and sell them.

Showkey said:
Nit pick much..............this is the GJ chuck full of DIY..........Nobody pull permits for DIY stuff.

Hah, I wish. I remember back when I added new surface mount outlets to my old garage someone in that thread mentioned permit and opened that can of worms. I pulled one though $27, Murphy's Law always bites me in the ****, my house would have probably burned down if I didn't. I just finished adding the same to this new house, yes I pulled permit - $60 :shocking:

Not because I wanted to though. My house better not burn down.

Platonic Solid said:
How about 4 of these:

Image linked to HD

and 8 hanging shop lights (link).

I'm taking this suggestion for my 21x21x8'3" space that's currently lit by a single flood light. Is 4 the max you'd link together? Or possible to put 6?

Shiftless said:
A.E. Neuman I know what you’re talking about. I have had inspectors call out very minor variations and insist on changes I knew to be something other than code requires. However...

I certainly hope that no inspector is so tight assed as to pull something like that.
Somebody unscrews a bulb, screws in a widely available adapter, and then plugs a few shoplights into the outlets. I would hope that reasonable people would not consider that to be a “rework”.
Nobody opened a box or untwisted any wire nuts.

My train of thought is the same on the matter. I'll do more invasive work to install a new GFCI outlet in place of the non-GFCI receptacle on the wall than I will to screw in a plug adapter to an existing fixture and a plug in the lights.

Smiles79 · Aug 29, 2018

I decided to order some of the lights and adaptors mentioned by Platonic.

It seems like I'm getting mixed responses, do the gurus here think I'll have a garage-burning-down problem? I didn't even consider it until it was brought up.

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GirlnAgarage · Aug 29, 2018

If Platonic Solid suggested it, that's pretty good to me.

Platonic Solid · Aug 29, 2018

According to HD site the adapter is rated for 660W so that would be a max of 16 fixtures on one adapter. Standard medium base lamp holders are also rated for 660W, so we're good to go. The fixture spec on Amazon says 10 fixtures linked max. I think someone smoking a **** in your garage presents a higher risk of fire than putting a couple of these fixtures on an adapter.

bczygan · Aug 29, 2018

Get a real bright headlamp.

Bill

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