Can lights in a garage?

[Chadscamaro]

Getting close to running electric and was thinking of doing basic lighting now then down the road add some 4ft shop light fixtures on a seperate switch. So its a 30x36x 12' celing with 16 x 36 loft. To keep it simple put up 8 cans in garage 2 outer rows of 3 and 2 in center offset of my center garage post. then 4 can lights in loft area. This should be enough to get the job done then when I add more electrical down the road can put up some more light and when i want to work on stuff just flip the more power switch? Any thoughts on this as I haven't seen this at least not on recent posts. Thanks!

 

[polizei1]

I'm about to start electrical as well, recessed lights just don't have the output of "shop lights" if that's what you're after.

I would look into https://www.primelights.com/shop/categories/stingray

Price will depend on the lumen output you want, but one of those Stingray 4 fixtures (88-watt) would put out a lot more light than those can lights.

 

[The Tool Tyrant]

IMHO, can lights belong over a bar top, not as shop lighting.

 

[Whitworth]

I’ve got cans, in roughly the same sq footage. But 24 cans. You might want to install more. With bright white LED bulbs it’s as bright as an operating room.
The cans look great, and no ceiling obstructions. You don’t mention ceiling height but shop lights can get in the way of moving long/tall stock. Shop lights look like **** too. And collect dust.

 

[Platonic Solid]

I'd do a proper lighting plan based on future needs, run electrical accordingly and purchase fixtures as finance permits. A 2-lamp 4ft strip light from Post 1 of the best light fixture thread is only about $30 for 5000+ lumens and good efficiency.

 

[PoorOwner]

You also need fire rated recessed light boxes. I think they are expensive and take around 2 feet of space to install.
Not sure if that applies if garage is detached.

 

[Toomanytools?]

PoorOwner< you can get Air Tight IC can lights insulate over the housing not expensive and don't take up that much space.

ChadSCamaro: If you were just putting up a couple lights for temporary sure can lights would work. If you are going to that trouble just do a lighting layout, as suggested by Platonic, and buy some inexpensive LED 2foot/4foot lights and place them where needed until you can do it all.

I have a fellow woodworker that put can lights in his 30x40 shop lot's like 60 or something it was still dark and had shadows.

 

[Eslader]

A friend has cans in his 6 car garage. They look great, and don't cause any height obstructions like any other lights would. They're plenty bright, and he's still running compact fluorescents in them because LEDs weren't around when he built it.

I plan to do the same thing in my garage.

 

[zmaxmotorsports]

You also need fire rated recessed light boxes. I think they are expensive and take around 2 feet of space to install.
Not sure if that applies if garage is detached.

 

[Platonic Solid]

A friend has cans in his 6 car garage. They look great, and don't cause any height obstructions like any other lights would. They're plenty bright, and he's still running compact fluorescents in them because LEDs weren't around when he built it.

I plan to do the same thing in my garage.

"Plenty bright" for storage isn't the same as "plenty bright" for a functional workshop. The quantity of recessed can type fixtures to achieve recommended 93fc at 30" workplane would be ridiculous.

FYI: In an empty 24' x 24' x 8' space, you need approx 80,000 lumens spread evenly to achieve 93fc @ workplane.

 

[PoorOwner]

PoorOwner< you can get Air Tight IC can lights insulate over the housing not expensive and don't take up that much space.

I thought it would to be covered in an enclosure like this

http://www.ezbarrier.net/one-hour-fire-rated-enclosures/recessed-light/

 

[Shiftless]

"Plenty bright" for storage isn't the same as "plenty bright" for a functional workshop. The quantity of recessed can type fixtures to achieve recommended 93fc at 30" workplane would be ridiculous.

Good point!
So many guys fail to plan ahead for expected future uses. “Uncluttered” ceilings with a dozen can lights might look more attractive to some, but realize that the level of illumination won’t be nearly as good as with other types of fixtures.
For guys that just use their garages to park cars and store a few things SURE!

Most of my neighbors just have piles of cardboard boxes and old furniture stacked up in their garages so a single bare bulb in the middle would be fine!

 

[Eslader]

"Plenty bright" for storage isn't the same as "plenty bright" for a functional workshop. The quantity of recessed can type fixtures to achieve recommended 93fc at 30" workplane would be ridiculous.

FYI: In an empty 24' x 24' x 8' space, you need approx 80,000 lumens spread evenly to achieve 93fc @ workplane.

Well, I don't know what his numbers are, but it's plenty bright when we do engine swaps without needing supplemental light except for under the car.

For me the can lights aren't for the "uncluttered ceiling" look, it's for the "actually be able to use the full 10' ceiling height in my garage" aspect. When I stick a lift in there, artificially limiting the already limited maximum height would be foolish.

 

[southalabama]

Only cans I'd put in shop would be over bench.

 

[Bert_]

I can't stand the idea of cans for general lighting. Houses are bad enough, a garage would be even worse.

 

[Chadscamaro]

I appreciate all the input! I guess my thought was if I'm in there grabbing stuff, parking etc with cans as a basic light source its fine then have another "shop" switch to flip on more powerful lights if Im in there working. This would allow me to get lighting for now then down the road when funds build back up add the bright lights. Just a thought

 

[Platonic Solid]

For me the can lights aren't for the "uncluttered ceiling" look, it's for the "actually be able to use the full 10' ceiling height in my garage" aspect. When I stick a lift in there, artificially limiting the already limited maximum height would be foolish.

This is actually not an issue if you put the light fixtures in the correct locations = If the vehicle hits the light fixture, the light fixture is in the wrong location. Fixtures should be installed around perimeter of lift/vehicle, thus no chance of interference.

 

[James-W]

I appreciate all the input! I guess my thought was if I'm in there grabbing stuff, parking etc with cans as a basic light source its fine then have another "shop" switch to flip on more powerful lights if Im in there working. This would allow me to get lighting for now then down the road when funds build back up add the bright lights. Just a thought

I get what you are saying, but in the final analysis what you are actually doing is to buy some lights and light fixtures and install them. Then, later on, if they don't work as well as you would like them to work, you will buy more lights and light fixtures and install them. Now you have twice as fixtures in order to get the amount of light that you want/need and you have spent more money that it would have cost had you got the right stuff the first time.

 

[James-W]

This is actually not an issue if you put the light fixtures in the correct locations = If the vehicle hits the light fixture, the light fixture is in the wrong location. Fixtures should be installed around perimeter of lift/vehicle, thus no chance of interference.

I get the logic of that, and I agree with you EXCEPT that I don't think you can apply that logic to a home garage lift. What I mean is, he may not use the lift all the time. Assuming only occasional lift use, that means the rest of the time there won't be light above the area where the lift is. If he works on projects in that area of the garage he won't have anywhere near as much light as he would if there were lights above where the lift is. If he uses the lift all the time, then I agree completely, there is no need for lights to shine on top of the vehicle when it is up in the air on the lift.

 

[Chadscamaro]

I get what you are saying, but in the final analysis what you are actually doing is to buy some lights and light fixtures and install them. Then, later on, if they don't work as well as you would like them to work, you will buy more lights and light fixtures and install them. Now you have twice as fixtures in order to get the amount of light that you want/need and you have spent more money that it would have cost had you got the right stuff the first time.

Not my plan at all. Most garages are not lit up like a repair shop so I think for basic needs/use the cans will light it up to see what I need to. Im not wrenching on cars daily or looking for a thumbtack in a trashcan to need super lights on a regular basis. So why burn 60 bulbs when not needed was my thought. I have kids they like to leave lights on and I could be wrong but I do think 8 cans will be plenty to see whats in the garage. Down the road a seperate switch will light up a few rows of t8 lights. Maybe this is not my final plan and is just a thought but I like the idea of having a low light/high light option but maybe thats not a common thought?

 

[Chadscamaro]

Here's a rough diagram I drew up anyone have an idea what it would take with the t8 fixtures for full shop effect lighting and does it makes sense to have 2 switches to not have all on all the time?

 

[dscheidt]

Not my plan at all. Most garages are not lit up like a repair shop so I think for basic needs/use the cans will light it up to see what I need to. Im not wrenching on cars daily or looking for a thumbtack in a trashcan to need super lights on a regular basis. So why burn 60 bulbs when not needed was my thought. I have kids they like to leave lights on and I could be wrong but I do think 8 cans will be plenty to see whats in the garage. Down the road a seperate switch will light up a few rows of t8 lights. Maybe this is not my final plan and is just a thought but I like the idea of having a low light/high light option but maybe thats not a common thought?

The other problem with cans is that they cast a cone of light. If your cones don't intersect (or very nearly) at the work surface level, they will have shadows. Putting brighter bulbs in the cans doesn't help, it makes the shadows deeper. There's a reason good can light plans have lots of cans, and a dimmer switch. You need the fixtures to provide even light, and use the dimmer to control level (because the number of fixtures installed is so high, you rarely need them full bright.)

 

[jvitez]

I've had can lights in my last 2 houses and I've come to dislike them, especially with our current house as it has a darker interior paint scheme. I very much dislike the "cave effect," meaning a dark ceiling with illuminated furniture and floors. If I ever move again I would want light fixtures than illuminate the ceiling and shine downwards, or a mix of both, anything to not have the cave effect.

IMO can lights don't belong in a working garage. You need an illuminated ceiling. If you don't have a proper lighting plan yet, just put 6 cheap porcelain lamp holders in as a "grab and go" type of lighting. Install CFL's or the highest lumen output LED's with screw in E26 bases you can find. If it's still too dark then buy a double lamp adapter for each and double the luminosity.

Now you have a functional garage and can take your time doing a proper lighting plan. Put the switch for this away from the first so your kids will only leave one set on at a time.

 

[850xpeps]

Look into edge lit led recessed lighting like the slim led. Have time in my house and can’t tell they are recessed lights. No cave like lightning and they are bright.


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[MushCreek]

As other have said, it depends upon the usage. Our 16 X 24 X 9 attached garage has four cans, and it's fine for walking around, but not working on anything. In the shop- 28 X 32 X 12, I have 25 cheap 4' LED lights. Better, but I still need to put some task lighting over the machines and benches. Finishing my walls and painting them white will no doubt help a lot. Cans are fairly cheap- $7 or so, plus $10 for an LED fixture, but you'd need a ton of them for working.

 

[Platonic Solid]

I get the logic of that, and I agree with you EXCEPT that I don't think you can apply that logic to a home garage lift. What I mean is, he may not use the lift all the time. Assuming only occasional lift use, that means the rest of the time there won't be light above the area where the lift is. If he works on projects in that area of the garage he won't have anywhere near as much light as he would if there were lights above where the lift is. If he uses the lift all the time, then I agree completely, there is no need for lights to shine on top of the vehicle when it is up in the air on the lift.

With a proper layout - which I have provided very many examples of here - you can have even lighting throughout the shop without having a light fixture directly centered over the project of the day. Lift or no lift, the fixtures should be place around the perimeter of the vehicle. When there is no vehicle there you can still have even illumination.

 

[Radix2]

Now that led panels have come down, you can get fixtures that are only an inch deep that put out 2-7000 lumens and since it is over a decent area, they are not too glaring. Many more choices than just shop lights and cans.

When I finished my basement, in a 16x16 area I used 9 60w cans...I was surprised that in the end it was only about as bright as it was when it had the single 60w bulb the builder put in. The fact that they put out a cone and no light on the ceiling really cuts down on how they fill up a space. Unless you really work on them, cans also let a lot of air and moisture into the attic ..not a fan outside of accent lighting.

 

[justinthurn]

I have 12 13w cans in my 24'x30' attached garage. I use this space for wrenching from time to time. There is plenty of light for that. I like the look of a clean ceiling, much nicer than strip lights in my opinion. I do have 2 ceiling fans and they cause a little flicker with the cans being fairly close together so be mindful of that if you are putting ceiling fans in.