10x16 lofted shed lighting

[adamgibbs]

I have ordered one of those 10x16 old hickory buildings to be my workshop. I bought it because i only rent my home and dont have alot of space on the property. Also the shed is moveable for when i decide to leave and finally buy a home.

Anyway its a lofted shed. when you walk in you are under a 4 foot loft section then it opens up for about 6 or 8 ft then has the rest a loft above. I know basic wiring but i cant seem to invision how would i do the lighting so that it wont blind me. One 8 ft shop light would be great up top but under the lofted sections will be dark. Any suggestions?

Also failed to mention that it obviously would be powered. I spoke with my landlord and they said as long as i take everything with me when i leave then i am good to go. so i decided to go 110v to the shed. It will be placed about 10 ft from the house and ran under and across the house to the power pole. total of about 80 to 110 feet.

so my other question is, with this length and running 110v, what size wire should i use? i assume 12/3 or 10/3 ? any ideas

 

[theoldwizard1]

First, you don't want an 8' light. 2 - 4' are much more practical.

The best way to light the underside of the loft is 2 - 2' fluorescent fixtures with reflectors, one on each side, pointing UP ! Paint the bottom of the loft white.

Why do you want to run the power to the pole and even once you get there how are you going to connect it ?

 

[adamgibbs]

I thought i could connect it to the breaker box outside for power. Stuff like a compressor will go inside there also other stuff that will be plugged in occasionally like a harbor freight 110v welder, grinder, circular saw etc.

I want to set it up as organized and neat so i can ultimately build a motorcycle from the ground up.

I like the idea of florescent fixtures with reflectors but unfortunately floor to under the loft is about 6 ft. Tho i am short and can walk straight under there, it would get harder with something hanging from there.

I thought about mounting it on the wall directing light into the shed but i like those daytime bulbs that would blind you being that close to eye level. Take about frying your retinas lol.

I may be asking to much bc i don't what shadows but that may be inevitable. The loft up top would be the location of the air compressor.

this picture is pretty accurate but no window. I feel like a window is another way for someone to get into my little workshop. the lofts front and back extend a little more as well.

 

[Bigbandguy]

Do you already have it in place or is it yet to be delivered? If the latter are they building on site or pre built? The reason I ask is that if it is built on site, rather than cut off the wall studs at 7 feet they might build it with full length wall studs if asked. I have seen some done that way. It give you more height under the lofts. If it is already built with 7 foot studs this would not apply but worth asking.

 

[adamgibbs]

Unfortunately it's not in place yet but it's coming. Hopefully in the next day or two. And it will already be assembled.

Any idea on size wire gauge I should use? Or how to have adequate lighting in here. Under the loft ends will be dark.

 

[theoldwizard1]

I like the idea of florescent fixtures with reflectors but unfortunately floor to under the loft is about 6 ft. Tho i am short and can walk straight under there, it would get harder with something hanging from there.

Use a 2' fluorescent on each side under the loft mount it to the wall (or top plate of the wall) point up. You need some kind of a shield on the side so that you are not directly looking at the bare bulb.


Something like this. Mount it upside down and backwards. Use some L-brackets attached to the top (now the bottom) and then to the wall.

 

[theoldwizard1]

I thought i could connect it to the breaker box outside for power.

How about a picture of this box.

If your total length from shed to box is 110' you are likely going to need 10/2 UF-B cable especially if you are going to run a 120V compressor or welder.

 

[C. Charles Hahn]

In my 12x20 I mounted a pair of 8' T12HOs with 2 lamps on each fixture... that was before T8s were common. Now I'd go with a pair of 8' T8 fixtures with four 4' lamps on each.

 

[adamgibbs]

So resurrecting my old thread! The shed has landed! What I did as far as lighting is using shop lights from home Depot. I asked the shed with 12-2 indoor wire and the outside write is 10-2 uf-b wire. The inside of the shed had a sub panel with 3 breakers. One for future 220v circuit for welder, one circuit for lights and one circuit for outlets.

The bulbs I'm using is daylight deluxe, that are very bright. Future plans are to reinforce the loft by adding another 2x4 in the floor joints. It's measured at 24 inches on center. With plywood laid on top.

What I'm doing with restarting my thread is to get suggestions and ideas for storage and neatness. I just moved my stuff in about 3 nights ago. What would look better or nice to add?what can be moved ?creative ideas and criticism is welcomed .thanks again for reading my thread .

 

[CJ7VFR]

Nice shed!

When you placed the sheet of plywood up in the loft did you leave room to be able to reach around up there? One of the things I did in my shed was I left an access "hole" in the center of the plywood loft so I could reach all the areas of the loft from the "hole". Otherwise stuff that got pushed to the back was almost impossible to reach!

One of the other things I did was I built shelving around one side and along the back, about 5 feet off the floor so I could store things on the shelves and not block off any of the floor space to keep my tractor and other lawn items.

You can also build some narrow shelving up higher that you can use to store a lot of smaller items. I did this over the top of the windows in my shed. I cut the plywood shelves so that they would fit into the area created between the wall framing so that once the shelves were up, stuff would not fall off the back of the shelves.

You have a nice start going there! I think once you get more things in the shed, you will be able to get a better idea of just where shelves and storage items will fit and need to be.

Jim

 

[dfiler2]

Congrats on the new shed, looking good! I agree with the shelves up about 5' along both sides, the hole for the loft is a great idea and will probably give you more usable space. Plans for a work bench?

 

[Vette10R]

Hi I'm looking at this exact shed right now. Do you still have it and if so how is it holding up?

How did they do the foundation when delivered?

Thanks