Calling Platonic Solid and other lighting gurus.

[shaggyant]

I got 16 six bulb T5 fixtures for cheap out of a retail store that was remodeling. I am going to put them up in my new shop and I wanted to know how many foot candles I will end up with and if a certain layout would be better than just an even spacing grid.

The bulbs are these:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00I9YN024/ref=pd_aw_sim_60_3?ie=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=1ZR76HBDX59EB1AC4M8D&dpPl=1&dpID=41DHNtyw67L

Fixtures:

http://www.cooperindustries.com/content/dam/public/lighting/products/documents/metalux/spec_sheets/091042-HBI-T5HO-6L-SSS.pdf

My shop is 36 feet deep and 48 feet wide. The front has a centered man door and two 14 foot wide by 12 foot tall roll up doors. My big issue is that when the doors are open it covers a good portion of the ceiling. I was planning on placing the lights above the doors path and just letting the door block half the lights when I open them. Is there any other option here?

 

[cybrdyke]

PS will probably do a layout for you. While we dont agree on everything, its very generous of him to do these for folks on this forum. When you have dozens of requests, it can start to take up lots of time. Something I dont have.
CD

 

[shaggyant]

PS will probably do a layout for you. While we dont agree on everything, its very generous of him to do these for folks on this forum. When you have dozens of requests, it can start to take up lots of time. Something I dont have.
CD

It really is very generous of him.

I hunted a bit for an online calculator or layout program before posting but I didn't find much. To me the best thing really is a practiced eye just saying "yup looks good" or "no way that will be a dark dungeon". A little reassurance goes a long way when someone is embarking on a project they have never attempted before.

A thanks in advance is definitely in order here to all the pro's who help us homegamers on this board.

 

[Shiftless]

I have a few fixtures that are blocked by my roll up door but I don't worry about it. How often do you need to have the doors open at night to work?
If you have great light in the rest of the shop, you probably will be fine anyway.
You could wire those fixtures to a different circuit so you could switch them off and not waste power in that situation.