Adding more lighting...

[audi noroad]

So I found out on Friday that at work one of the fluorescent light fixtures broke and they are going to replace all 4. The remaining 3 that are still working are going to the dumpster. As you probably already figured out I asked about taking them off there hands, and it sounds like there ok with it.

So now I'm trying to figure out if it's going to work ok in my garage. I still need to figure out what kind of wattage I'll be dumping out and if the 20 amp breaker is going to be enough. The area above the garage door doesn't have any lighting at all and I'd like to add something there that I'll turn on when the door is down. The second issue is I think the bulbs are T5s in the fixtures at work, and of course we have something bigger I think T8s I'll have to check again it's whatever you find the most of at Home Depot.

So here's my thought if it's ok to mix them put the T5s where the current fixtures are and put the third one by the door into the house since there is more space over there. Then put the current fixtures above where the garage door is.

Here is a photo that shows the current setup. The lighting in my opinion is good as long as your standing under it or just getting something out of the garage. I have to pull out a shop light every time I want to even think about working on the car. Even if it's something on the door.

I guess I should mention the reason I'm being cheap about it is that this is my mother's house and I'll be moving out at some point so I don't want to invest a bunch into a garage I won't be using for more then 2-3 years. If it were my own garage I'd probably either take the 3 from work and buy 2 more or just buy all new ones.

 

[Charles (in GA)]

T5's are so new that I cannot imagine anyone throwing away such fixtures. Its OK to mix fixtures such as T5's, T8's, and T12's on the same circuit, but as is readily apparent, its not OK to mix sizes of bulbs in a single fixture, they just won't work, or not work properly.

As far as amperage, you will have to wait and see the fixtures you get to see what they draw, it will be on the data plate or ballast. Are you sure these are 120V fixtures? many lighting fixtures in large business/industrial settings that have 460v three phase feeds, use lighting that is 277 volts. Quite common.

Charles

 

[KenS]

One factor to consider is that T5s have a tendency to run hot. A friend who sells the bulbs said the T5 and T5 HO lifespan is yet as good as its predecessors. Also they need special ballasts.

I agonized over installation of T5s or T8s in my garage this year, but in the end I didn't have to make the decision. I came home and my electrician had already installed 4-foot T8 fixtures. The supply company had a sale on them and it saved me several hundred dollars. Also, my detached garage is heated so I didn't have to worry about starting problems in the winter.

 

[audi noroad]

The fixtures are T5s and currently have 32 watt bulbs, the ballasts are 120v 60Hz I couldn't find a wattage rating does it matter? I got one fixture today and should have two more by Thursday, would 3, 32 watt T5s be brighter then 4, 40 watt T12s? Excuse my lack of education in fluorescent lighting.

 

[audi noroad]

Well I did some more research, and it appears I got confused. I currently have T12s in the garage and what I got at work would be T8s but it's fine by me beggars can't be choosers.

So hopefully i can install them today or tomorrow. The plan will stay with what I was originally planning on doing since it looks as though the light output is going to be the same. I will post some photos when some progress is made.

 

[audi noroad]

Well I got all the fixtures up today, I'm quite sore and tired but it'll be worth it in the end. I'm still trying to decide what bulbs to go with, I bought a pack of 5000k but I'm not sure if that's what I should go with. What's currently in the fixtures is what they used at work a mixture of various bulbs.

Mom came out and said "Well you do know how to make one hell of a mess I can give you that."

The picture just doesn't do the lighting justice.

Ah, much better lighting so I can see my tools... I'm not loosing it there isn't a bulb in the fixture yet I'll have to pick one up tomorrow, can some one say GE reveal?

 

[rburke65]

Ya never know what good lighting is...until you get it, then it's almost a joy to flip that swich and watch it light up.

 

[Torque1st]

Running the lights down the sides and on the center in a double garage helps sometimes. Working inside a vehicle or under the hood is hard with lights directly over the vehicle and none to the sides. Being able to position a vehicle in the center of a double car garage is nice.

As far as shop trouble lights go, -get a fluorescent one. A compact fluorescent bulb will work great in an old trouble light. It is sooooo nice not to get burned by your light! The CFs seem to be more drop resistant. Unfortunately if broken they contain mercury.

Just a tip- People that wear glasses find out it is real difficult to look from a bright area into a dark one. We actually get a reflection of our eyes on the inside of our glasses. An anti-reflective coating on the INSIDE of eyeglasses helps a lot. Unfortunately most stock safety glasses or goggles do not have AR coatings and are an absolute PITA to see with.

 

[kbs2244]

Amen on the CFL in the shop light.
One of the best brain spasms I ever had.
Just be sure to get on of the newer ones that turn on fast.

I love the lights.
Next thing is to paint the inside of that door white.
You will be amazed at how it brightens the room when the door is down.
(Don’t forget to adjust the door springs for the extra weight when you are done.)

 

[Torque1st]

Amen to painting the door and everything white. A good coat of semi-gloss or gloss off-white or even white will do wonders to brighten the workspace. Don't use the cheap flat white latex tho because it is difficult to wipe off and keep clean.

 

[JB740i]

I think that place has character. I definitely wouldn't paint the garage door white. It looks good in wood like it is already.

 

[6skott]

Should we read anything into the Obama-Biden lawn sign that suddenly appears in the 'junk pile' background of your later photos? Are you subliminally trying to tell us something?

 

[audi noroad]

Here is what I want for my shoplight. I currently have a twin head halogen work light, the thing is going through bulbs like my car goes through gas.

6skott, no need to read into it, we have a group of signs, we put two up in the windows. I'm not sure what mom was intending to do with the lawn one. She might be giving it to someone who doesn't have one.

 

[Kevin54]

By the way, anyone use LED shop/trouble lights? CFL is nice, but they still can break. LEDs can not break and use less power. Can even get handheld cordless models that last several hours.

I just bought a B&D from Lowes the other day. It states it will last 7 hours on a charge. I bought it mainly for emergency purposes but to also us if working on the car. So far...and I have not used it but lit it up at night to see how it is......I think it is better for emergency purposes but not so much as a trouble light. Mainly because the light output is a narrow area. And between the bright and dim it does not seem like too much of a difference in intensity although only half the bulbs are lit. For the money it's not too bad, but I am leaning towards a fluorescent light for a trouble light.

 

[Galvatron]

I just installed 10 banks of dual 4' T8 bulbs in my garage. I went with 4100 kelvin phillips bulbs ($20 a ten pack at HD). I love the tone and output. It made a world of difference in my space.

Here's a shot of the output on my GTI (for sale on ebay)

 

[Torque1st]

Another technique that works well is to install some general lighting along with some switch controlled outlets for plugging in some 4' shop lights suspended wherever you need them.

 

[audi noroad]

I was looking at a pack of 5000k Philips the 850 series at home depot. I'm currently trying to save my money so I can go snowboarding this winter. So the garage might come to a halt until the spring. We will see, what happens. Thanks for the info about fluorescent bulbs JustBoosted, helps a lot. The bulbs from work seem to be ok not my fav. but enough to get me by till I have more money.

I like the garage and the car Galvatron, did you pick the colors yourself? I'm still up in arms about painting ideas for my garage. I've decided the ceiling will be pure white, but I want some sort of gray on the walls knowing they will get dirty. One idea is do a two tone like yours, I'd love to do a red stripe but there's too many cabinets and stuff in the way for it to really show. My friend tonight suggested do a light gray on the walls and a darker on the cabinets.