New 24 x 26 garage needs indoor lights. Plan to have a workshop in the back. Should I consider LED shop lights? If so, what lumens? Probably also need an outside light for the man door and spotlight type for the front by the garage doors. I'd like to have a motion light but in the past, our dogs and/or moths set those on our house all night long. Have they come out with anything that a dog or moth won't trigger? Other ideas?
best lighting for garage
- Thread starter lqchar
- Start date
bczygan
Well-known member
Define what you are doing in the building in more detail.
Vehicles, layout etc.
Bill
Vehicles, layout etc.
Bill
klassenl
Well-known member
LED lights for your shop will have a long payback. But if you can get over the initial cost you won't be sorry. My money is still on t8 strips.
As far as outside lights goes I personally have rejected motion lights. Some of them work really well, some don't. I favour photocells and timers.
As far as outside lights goes I personally have rejected motion lights. Some of them work really well, some don't. I favour photocells and timers.
Occasional car repair, workshop in back for small projects, art studio upstairs. And of course storage.
bczygan
Well-known member
When a garage/shop is very large, like a 40x60, I suggest what I call, a low to medium general illumination plan, with higher light levels and task lighting where needed.
In a small space, like a one car garage, it is easier to just install a grid of lights that light up the entire space to a high level. Then it doesn't matter where the work stations are, since you have high light levels everywhere. It is a good idea to switch the lighting in banks, so you can turn on a low level of light when needed.
Your average sized garage can go either way.
What I would do, is to install a medium level of general illumination in the parking area, 50 foot candles at 3'. But then add wiring for additional lights, so once you are working in the space, if you decide to add lights, you can. Switch the initial and future light locations in 2 banks of alternating fixtures.
In the shop space, I would I would make the installation a higher level of lighting, with 100FC. This would also be switched in 2 banks.
Here's a lighting layout calculator to use:
http://www.e-conolight.com/lightinglayouts/FlashIndoor.htm?InputOutputMode=XML&InputURL=FlashIndoor_Input.xml&OutputURL=SaveXML.php&PhotometricURL=PhotometricDB.php&InstanceKey=LightingAnalysts
bczygan
Well-known member
Using the calculator I divided the garage into two spaces to design, a parking area 24' wide x 16' deep and a shop area 24' wide x 10' deep.
9 4' fixtures, with 3400 lumens of output, arranged in 3 rows of 3, fixtures going from side to side, would light the front 16' deep area to 44FC. Make provisions for an additional 6 future fixtures in 2 additional rows for 73FC.
The 10' deep x 24' wide shop area in the back, with 15 fixtures would give 102FC.
Fixtures with higher output would mean a lesser number of required fixtures.
9 4' fixtures, with 3400 lumens of output, arranged in 3 rows of 3, fixtures going from side to side, would light the front 16' deep area to 44FC. Make provisions for an additional 6 future fixtures in 2 additional rows for 73FC.
The 10' deep x 24' wide shop area in the back, with 15 fixtures would give 102FC.
Fixtures with higher output would mean a lesser number of required fixtures.
Stuart in MN
Well-known member
Look through this thread: http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=289441 Board member Platonic Solid was kind enough to do a bunch of lighting layouts for various size garages, there's probably one in there close to yours.
matt_i
Well-known member
My free suggestion is 6-9 of the Costco-style LED tube fixtures. If you have a workbench, then look at a T5HO tasklight over this, could be 2 or 4 tubes.
LED tubes are around 42W so x10 for rough estimation 420W. The 4 bulb T5HO are around 220W for estimating purposes.
Around 5A if you used them all. Easily on a 15A lighting circuit. I'd wire the deepest octagon boxes with a single duplex outlet. If you ever moved, you could easily convert back to a single bulb screw-base fixture and put in a 22W CFL bulb.
LED tubes are around 42W so x10 for rough estimation 420W. The 4 bulb T5HO are around 220W for estimating purposes.
Around 5A if you used them all. Easily on a 15A lighting circuit. I'd wire the deepest octagon boxes with a single duplex outlet. If you ever moved, you could easily convert back to a single bulb screw-base fixture and put in a 22W CFL bulb.
sz0k30
Well-known member
Those Costco 4 ft LEDs are cheap and put out lots of light. I have a few in the garage & basement.
Can someone explain the downsides of doing troffer-style lights built in to the ceiling? It really helps 'finish' the space like in Mech33's garage, but from reading the posts in this thread it seems like some light is lost due to the proximity of the lights to each other and their inability to cast light to the sides? Is that correct?
I have a garage that will have 9'6" flat ceilings (or worst case 9') and am curious what I would need to do to light the space up super bright for automotive detail work but still maintain the clean and finished look as Mech33 has. My space is only 20' wide x 22' deep.
I have a garage that will have 9'6" flat ceilings (or worst case 9') and am curious what I would need to do to light the space up super bright for automotive detail work but still maintain the clean and finished look as Mech33 has. My space is only 20' wide x 22' deep.
( sale has ended on line).Repsolracer22
Well-known member
sams club has some LED ones that are great. I have a thread about them. 4ft "lights of america" shop lights
I got a 40x60 and put up 24 fixtures (purchased 12, 2-packs) and they are awesome. immediate on/off, no noise ever, put off very little heat if any, all aluminum hood, Sams warranties them for life. Literally you can go to sams in 10yrs and return or exchange them. I know that sounds crazy, but you can. And they were like $60 for 2 fixtures. My ceilings are 12ft tall and they are nice
I got a 40x60 and put up 24 fixtures (purchased 12, 2-packs) and they are awesome. immediate on/off, no noise ever, put off very little heat if any, all aluminum hood, Sams warranties them for life. Literally you can go to sams in 10yrs and return or exchange them. I know that sounds crazy, but you can. And they were like $60 for 2 fixtures. My ceilings are 12ft tall and they are nice
Thanks! Appreciate the suggestion and I'll look for your thread!
Repsolracer22
Well-known member
Here's a pic. Did 3 rows of 8 fixtures. So 24 total. They are sold in 2 packs so you only buy 12 packs. Each pack is ~$60. So awesome deal, under $800 for all.
Attachments
I am interested in these as well.
Repsolracer22
Well-known member
Home Depot. $219
Home Decorators Collection
Fenceham 84 in. Brushed Nickel Ceiling Fan
I didnt need a fan with a light, and I didnt care about horsepower and all the BS. I research everythng to death and the **** "big *** fans" and the "big air" brand fans are just not worth it in my opinion. These do exactly what I want them to do, and they are lifetime warranty. Screw it.
The only reason why I got these was to circulate air. Mostly the heat that comes from one high corner. And maybe to circulate the air a little in summer. Thats really it. These fans are LIFETIME warranty so i wasnt worried about them crapping out. They got good reviews. For $219 you can beat it. 7ft wide, all aluminum blades. They look awesome. Wireless remote works both fans, and the only sound you hear is the air moving if its on high. They work well
dontlifttoshift
Well-known member
Those are pretty awesome fans.
rburke65
Well-known member
The only trouble with the "life time warrantee" is.....who's life time? Oh they went out of business.... Oh they don't make that anymore. You get the idea. But I love your ceiling fans and $219 isn't bad at all I my opinion. Very nice.
bcradio
Well-known member
Seems pretty dark for as many lights as you put in.
I wonder how these compare to the Costco lights?
Repsolracer22
Well-known member
I agree with you. But Home Depot ain't going out of business. My lifetime warranty is through Home Depot because it's Home Depots brand fan. So in this particular situation, I feel great about it.
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Repsolracer22
Well-known member
It isn't dark at all. I was in there today actually and had half of them turned off because they were un-necessary. I have use Costco and SAMs. The lights I got are 4300 lumens. The ones at Costco were like 3800-3900 lumens.
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rburke65
Well-known member
That's the same thing about Kodak Film......but I still like your fan and would buy one!
Those fans are currently marked down to $189 if anyone is interested.
http://m.homedepot.com/p/Home-Decor...rv_mobileweb_rr-2-_-100344038-_-205718225-_-N
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http://m.homedepot.com/p/Home-Decor...rv_mobileweb_rr-2-_-100344038-_-205718225-_-N
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The price on the LEDs have dropped dramatically in the last six to eight months. T8 LED (48") can be found for less than $6/lamp. Considering that they are 17W vs a 32W , they will literally use half the electricity making the ROI come sooner than when they first came out.