22x20 Lighting questions

[T4Turtle]

Finally finishing my garage after almost 10 years in the house! Will post some progress pictures this weekend.

I have a 22x20 garage and found a deal on T8 lights including bulbs from a business. I am checking to make sure they are for 120Volt. They are 4 foot dual bulbs for $10 each, and they come with the bulbs. They are the type that can be plugged into one another so it seems like a great deal.

My questions is how many, and would they be OK without reflectors/shrouds? They were mounted in steel frame setup that I would not use. They will be mounted on a white cealing. Here is a picture:

I was thinking 3 or 4 lights running the length of the garage between the door opener and the walls on each side of the opener, and then 2 or 3 running the width of the garage that would be in front of the cars when pulled straight in so there would be no shadowing of the engine compartment. They have 9 foot ceilings.

Thanks in advance for any input.

 

[T4Turtle]

Just heard back they are 120Volt

 

[cncjerry]

This is tough guess I would say 6 to 8 would be good. I am running 5 in my 16 X 24 and i have more that enough light.

 

[T4Turtle]

Do you think not ahving the reflectors will be a big deal? It seem like they need them for dark ceiling just to help reflect the light, but I feel my newly painted white ceiling should be good enough.

 

[T4Turtle]

Well my son picked up the lights for me, 12 of them for $100, way more than I need, but I can put a couple in my storage in my rafters, and maybe a couple in my house attic.

 

[nissan_crawler]

I put 9 4' dual bulb fixtures in my 19x23, just perfect, IMHO.

 

[sammerdog]

Hey T4 - sorry to play Devil's advocate, but being in the great white north, you will likely find yourself disapointed next winter with the flickering poorly lit fluorescent lights due to our cold winters.

I've tried several variations of T8, T4, and screw-in fluorescent bulbs in my Michigan garage. They don't work in the cold. With these lights coming out of a commercial application, it is doubtful they have a "cold weather" ballast (which usually don't work anyways).

Rather than hard wire these lights, you may wish to locate several 110 outlets in your ceiling first, then add 6' or 8' plugs from your lights. That way you're not re-inventing the wheel when you get mad and throw the fluorescents in the trash.

If your garage is insulated and heated, then they shouldn't be a problem.