another shop light thread

[brickwhite]

Looking to get some advise on adding some extra lighting to my garage.

size - Approx 24' x 36' x 10.5'

I want to add some 4' or 8' foot lights in Green.

like these - http://www.homedepot.com/h_d1/N-25ecodZ5yc1vZ12l0/R-100192753/h_d2/ProductDisplay?catalogId=10053&langId=-1&keyword=lithonia&storeId=10051#.UQF2qh3rSnO

I have attic access above each side of the garage the center is a extra room so no access.

My question - Can I put all the new proposed lights on the existing light switch? Or do I need to fish new romex and another switch to to control the new lights? What would be the easiest and safest way to add the new lights?

Here's the lay out:

Idea of the setup:

Garage is finished

 

[pattenp]

If the three existing lights are just simple incandescents then there should not be an issue of adding the new lights to the existing light circuit. You don't want the combined amp load of all the lights to exceed 80% of the amp rating of the circuit.

 

[rburke65]

I would think it would depend on the load on the existing lighting circuit, but in all probability, you should be ok to add the new to the existing.

 

[Falcon67]

If it's just the lights on that circuit, should be no problem.

 

[MPOWERD]

Nice Bimmer Garage! Love the e30... She is a 325i Cabriolet, right?

 

[PhysicsDude]

On a 15A circuit you shouldn't draw more than 12 amps, which comes out to 1440 watts at 120V

8' T8 lamps are about 64W a piece, so you can run 22 of them on a single circuit without issues. You're not even close to the limit. Run them all on the same circuit and switch. But I would make sure nothing else (wall plugs) are on the same circuit as the lights.