bookman51
Well-known member
I have spent several hours going through the various light threads on this forum and still not sure what I am going to do.
So, I am tossing out my plans out there looking for ideas for particular situation. The floor plan image below may not come through as well as I hoped but I hope it is sufficient.
Anyway, I have a 72'x40' pole building (Wicks) with 14'-4" side walls built a few years ago. The east side is my shop area and has a 32' by 40' cement slab. The west side is a storage area (40' x 40') with a dirt floor. The roof is insulated throughout, but the side walls are insulated only in the shop part.
I had a 200 amp box installed a few years ago and there are outlets every eight feet along the wall, plus 220 welding and air compressor outlets in the north east corner.
I have been mostly working out there during warm weather when heat and light are not problems. There is a 2' strip of eave light (translucent panel) clear along the top of the south wall, so I get plenty of light during the day, plus a couple of windows on the north wall. As I am getting more fully retired (yes, I am now on the right side of 65), I want to work there in the winter months too. I have limped along for a few years with a salamander heater and halogen lights.
In the storage area I need just enough light so I don't trip over things getting out what I need. It is the shop area where I could use the most guidance. There is a 12' wide by 14' overhead door that opens up in the middle of the shop area. The ceiling is open, and the tresses are arched over the door. The bottom of the tresses are about 14' above the floor. The walls consist of white peg board and light colored (not white) drywall and white insulation.
I have installed a couple of 220 volt 5000 watt electric heaters (not connected yet to electricity), and I have four industrial fans to install. I plan to put a drop down curtain between the storage area and shop area so I can heat the shop area during the colder months (this is in Nebraska; 3 degrees this morning). I don't need t-shirt temperature; I found anything about 45 degrees F. and above works for me.
I am looking for recommendations in all areas, but particularly how much light do I need (lumens; candlepower); how should it be placed (how far out from the wall; perpendicular or parallel to the work areas; task light??; T-5s?; T-8s; CFLs?; switch placement; number of lights on switches; and etc. I do mechanical and some paint work on my collection of old tractors and some woodworking. I don't know that I would do much painting at night even with the best of lights.
I don't plan on signing a check and handing it to the electrician to fill out (so money is always an issue). However, I know I remember when I tried to be too cheap a lot longer than when I paid a bit more and liked the results (now I do remember paying a bit more and not liking it too!).
Thanks in advance.
So, I am tossing out my plans out there looking for ideas for particular situation. The floor plan image below may not come through as well as I hoped but I hope it is sufficient.Anyway, I have a 72'x40' pole building (Wicks) with 14'-4" side walls built a few years ago. The east side is my shop area and has a 32' by 40' cement slab. The west side is a storage area (40' x 40') with a dirt floor. The roof is insulated throughout, but the side walls are insulated only in the shop part.
I had a 200 amp box installed a few years ago and there are outlets every eight feet along the wall, plus 220 welding and air compressor outlets in the north east corner.
I have been mostly working out there during warm weather when heat and light are not problems. There is a 2' strip of eave light (translucent panel) clear along the top of the south wall, so I get plenty of light during the day, plus a couple of windows on the north wall. As I am getting more fully retired (yes, I am now on the right side of 65), I want to work there in the winter months too. I have limped along for a few years with a salamander heater and halogen lights.
In the storage area I need just enough light so I don't trip over things getting out what I need. It is the shop area where I could use the most guidance. There is a 12' wide by 14' overhead door that opens up in the middle of the shop area. The ceiling is open, and the tresses are arched over the door. The bottom of the tresses are about 14' above the floor. The walls consist of white peg board and light colored (not white) drywall and white insulation.
I have installed a couple of 220 volt 5000 watt electric heaters (not connected yet to electricity), and I have four industrial fans to install. I plan to put a drop down curtain between the storage area and shop area so I can heat the shop area during the colder months (this is in Nebraska; 3 degrees this morning). I don't need t-shirt temperature; I found anything about 45 degrees F. and above works for me.
I am looking for recommendations in all areas, but particularly how much light do I need (lumens; candlepower); how should it be placed (how far out from the wall; perpendicular or parallel to the work areas; task light??; T-5s?; T-8s; CFLs?; switch placement; number of lights on switches; and etc. I do mechanical and some paint work on my collection of old tractors and some woodworking. I don't know that I would do much painting at night even with the best of lights.
I don't plan on signing a check and handing it to the electrician to fill out (so money is always an issue). However, I know I remember when I tried to be too cheap a lot longer than when I paid a bit more and liked the results (now I do remember paying a bit more and not liking it too!).
Thanks in advance.
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