Cans or Fluorescents?
- Thread starter HIRISC
- Start date
Sorry for making this my first post, but thought it might add to the discussion. Can you install the flush mount flourescent housings w electronic ballasts into a ceiling that has an attic above and there is insulation in between?
mikeyr
Well-known member
WOW all that work for lights ?
Now you have me worried, I wont have enough light in my garage. Its 2 rooms, each 20x22 (existing garage and a addition) and I have one 4ft T8 fixture in the middle of each room on one circuit for when I don't need too much light and then 4 4ft. T8 fixtures in each room suspended from a 10'6" ceiling, so each room will have 5 fixtures total, I thought I would need sunglasses to walk in there and this more than doubled the fixtures I put up and it looks GOOD !!!
Its all wired up and drywaller starts tomorrow and now I am worried
Now you have me worried, I wont have enough light in my garage. Its 2 rooms, each 20x22 (existing garage and a addition) and I have one 4ft T8 fixture in the middle of each room on one circuit for when I don't need too much light and then 4 4ft. T8 fixtures in each room suspended from a 10'6" ceiling, so each room will have 5 fixtures total, I thought I would need sunglasses to walk in there and this more than doubled the fixtures I put up and it looks GOOD !!!
Its all wired up and drywaller starts tomorrow and now I am worried
WOW all that work for lights ?
Now you have me worried, I wont have enough light in my garage. Its 2 rooms, each 20x22 (existing garage and a addition) and I have one 4ft T8 fixture in the middle of each room on one circuit for when I don't need too much light and then 4 4ft. T8 fixtures in each room suspended from a 10'6" ceiling, so each room will have 5 fixtures total, I thought I would need sunglasses to walk in there and this more than doubled the fixtures I put up and it looks GOOD !!!
Its all wired up and drywaller starts tomorrow and now I am worried
Thanks Mike.. I definitely obsessed a little over light
Remember, mine are recessed and and are 2 bulbs wide. You lose quite a bit of light 'bounce' by recessing them and that's why I chose to do 19. I have them on two switches and I can say that 1/2 of the amount I did would not be enough light for 'work space'.
Although the color of the walls/floor/cabinets will come into play, my lighting worked out like this: 19 fixtures x 2 bulbs each = 38 bulbs x 2900 lumens each = 110,200 lumens raw / 512 square feet = 215 lumens per sq ft. Let's say that by recessing them, I lose 20% of total light from the sides of the fixtures, so the net result is 170 lumens per square foot.
Of course, the actual readable lumens is lower, but we're comparing here.
You have 5 (hanging) fixtures x 4 bulbs x 2900 lumens (average per 4' bulb) = 58,000 lumens / 440 sq ft = 131 lumens per sq ft.
Unless you're going to be assembling things in your garage (like me), it should be plenty..
If you have suspended ceilings, you can always add more later.
You can get higher lumen yield T8 bulbs I think too.
mikeyr
Well-known member
Ok, based on your numbers I have a problem.
My fixtures are only 2 bulb fixtures so that makes a 65.9 lumens (lets call it 66). And your comment about 131 being plenty unless I am assembling things hits the spot, yes I am assembling lots of things and welding and machining. Luckily my drywaller called in sick and did not finish up my garage so I have the weekend to "fix" things if I need to.
The garage is wired up with plugs in the ceiling, one plug right in the middle that will be the light I turn on most of the time when walking in, this light has been there for the past 6 months and its plenty of light for finding tools and doing the construction work of the garage itself. The other 4 plugs are evenly spaced around the garage. I plan on just suspending the lights and plugging them in, not hardwiring them.
I have a few options here, I could go buy 4 bulb fixtures or run more wire for more plugs over the weekend. I would not mind (prefer) the lights that you screw directly onto the ceiling and have a cover instead the hanging ones but I used scissor joists in my garage and have cathedral ceilings so the lights would not point directly to the ground. I have done some reading and it looks like I do want to get over 100 lumens and 4 bulb fixtures would do that, but maybe I should just put a few more 2 bulb fixtures.
I do have skylights that help a lot during the day but I also work at night
My fixtures are only 2 bulb fixtures so that makes a 65.9 lumens (lets call it 66). And your comment about 131 being plenty unless I am assembling things hits the spot, yes I am assembling lots of things and welding and machining. Luckily my drywaller called in sick and did not finish up my garage so I have the weekend to "fix" things if I need to.
The garage is wired up with plugs in the ceiling, one plug right in the middle that will be the light I turn on most of the time when walking in, this light has been there for the past 6 months and its plenty of light for finding tools and doing the construction work of the garage itself. The other 4 plugs are evenly spaced around the garage. I plan on just suspending the lights and plugging them in, not hardwiring them.
I have a few options here, I could go buy 4 bulb fixtures or run more wire for more plugs over the weekend. I would not mind (prefer) the lights that you screw directly onto the ceiling and have a cover instead the hanging ones but I used scissor joists in my garage and have cathedral ceilings so the lights would not point directly to the ground. I have done some reading and it looks like I do want to get over 100 lumens and 4 bulb fixtures would do that, but maybe I should just put a few more 2 bulb fixtures.
I do have skylights that help a lot during the day but I also work at night
It seems like I looked everywhere on Lowe's website just to see if they offer a surface mount light housing that would clear my garage door. To no end, I have not found anything.
Can anyone reference anything to flush mount or surface mount fluorescent lighting housings?
I am also trying to be eco-conscious, and really was thinking that a daylight CFL w a kelvin color rating of 6500k would work out better (power consumption and color) than fluorescent lights. But these would only work if I could do can lighting between my drywall and the floor in my attic.
my garage door only gives me 5.5 inches when it is up. My garage interior measures at 18 x 23. Any help or suggestions are welcome. TIA!
Can anyone reference anything to flush mount or surface mount fluorescent lighting housings?
I am also trying to be eco-conscious, and really was thinking that a daylight CFL w a kelvin color rating of 6500k would work out better (power consumption and color) than fluorescent lights. But these would only work if I could do can lighting between my drywall and the floor in my attic.
my garage door only gives me 5.5 inches when it is up. My garage interior measures at 18 x 23. Any help or suggestions are welcome. TIA!
Last edited:
mikeyr
Well-known member
Ok, so I am going to put in more lights.
Since my drywaller friggin flaked out on me and now will not start until Monday (another week wasted) I have 3 choices.
1. put in 4 bulb fixtures where I planned on having 2 bulb fixtures.
2. put in 8ft. fixtures, the one I saw at HD was basically 2 4ft. fixtures put together so the bulbs are only 4ft.
3. since the ceiling is still open put in more boxes and run more wire.
I already went overboard with wire and plugs all over so I would prefer avoiding that but its easy this weekend before drywall.
Again, my garage is 20x22, I have one fixed 4ft. 2 bulb fixture right in the middle on one switch and the other 4 evenly placed around on another switch. The reason for the one fixture in the middle on its own switch is that one is 3-way'd back to the house. My garage is actually 2 rooms since we added on to it but I treat it as 2 garages, one car storage, one work area, the work area is what I am concerned about.
Since my drywaller friggin flaked out on me and now will not start until Monday (another week wasted) I have 3 choices.
1. put in 4 bulb fixtures where I planned on having 2 bulb fixtures.
2. put in 8ft. fixtures, the one I saw at HD was basically 2 4ft. fixtures put together so the bulbs are only 4ft.
3. since the ceiling is still open put in more boxes and run more wire.
I already went overboard with wire and plugs all over so I would prefer avoiding that but its easy this weekend before drywall.
Again, my garage is 20x22, I have one fixed 4ft. 2 bulb fixture right in the middle on one switch and the other 4 evenly placed around on another switch. The reason for the one fixture in the middle on its own switch is that one is 3-way'd back to the house. My garage is actually 2 rooms since we added on to it but I treat it as 2 garages, one car storage, one work area, the work area is what I am concerned about.
Mickey O
Well-known member
Without reading any of the replies, I'd use both.
I visited my closest Lowe's over the weekend, and a guy there told me that I wouldn't have any problems in terms of heat or codes when trying to mount a flush fluorescent housing. Doesn't the ballast get hot? Somehow I am not convinced.
Also, after going there to look, it seems I am more confused now as to what to get. I really want something that is Energy Efficient (as energy efficient as a CFL) and cost effective. The Lowe's display was not helpful. Price tags that had all the information were to high to read, and everything was scattered as to where you would find it below. I gave up. If anyone can reference anything that they believed to work out good, could you link me to that?
Thanks
Also, after going there to look, it seems I am more confused now as to what to get. I really want something that is Energy Efficient (as energy efficient as a CFL) and cost effective. The Lowe's display was not helpful. Price tags that had all the information were to high to read, and everything was scattered as to where you would find it below. I gave up. If anyone can reference anything that they believed to work out good, could you link me to that?
Thanks
very happy with my t8's! Totally different from the light you show with cans. The can photo you show looks more like a showroom or art gallery? JMO.
How many lights and what is the size of your space?
rwhite692
Well-known member
+1 for High Output T8s....I used 16, 8-foot long, 4-bulb fixtures.
R_Willis
Well-known member
Are those the same ones your using HIRISC?
I originally was going to use a standard mount 2 or 4 bulb fixture (like your link) but ended up using troffer (recessed) fluorescent fixtures. I'm very happy with them.
http://www.homedepot.com/h_d1/N-5yc...splay?langId=-1&storeId=10051&catalogId=10053
End result:
Of course it'll be death by beer.1Garageman
Well-known member
Damn that is a super nice garage now! Which I could fix mine up like that! I just added 1 T8 and it made a big difference. Couldn't imaging doing what you did!
Great job!
Great job!
End result:
What kelvin color are the fluorescent bulbs? Did I mention I really like the final product?
I originally was going to use a standard mount 2 or 4 bulb fixture (like your link) but ended up using troffer (recessed) fluorescent fixtures. I'm very happy with them.
http://www.homedepot.com/h_d1/N-5yc...splay?langId=-1&storeId=10051&catalogId=10053
End result:
I know its the lights we are looking at, but nice job on the workspace area. I was wondering where and what kind of stools are those under the bench? I've had a heck of a time finding something with wheels and a back.
thanks,
rob
Hi Rob,
Got them at Global Industrial. Good place to buy.
Great stools.. I have them at home too. Quick assembly, good quality, look great.
Here's the link:
http://www.globalindustrial.com/p/w...lyurethane/5-way-adjustable-ergonomic-stool-2
Hi,
The floor was ground with a circular grinder, then coated with an acrylic product called MMA.
Looks great, doesn't scratch very easily, but is showing some tendency toward brittleness, like when you (always) drop a socket on it from 3' up and it kind of crushes the coating where it lands.
I'm going to call the install guys to see if this is considered normal and/or if they may have over-used the hardening agent when they put it down.
More to follow.
Absent of that, it's cool.. One thing to know is that unless they re-grind below the sublilmation layer (1/4" or so) of the MMA, one cannot change up and go with Epoxy over the top.
Very overdue post.. sorry Scramblur
Cabinets are Moduline.. I love them.
http://www.modulinecabinets.com/
Thanks!
Cabinets are Moduline.. I love them.
http://www.modulinecabinets.com/
Thanks!
Shiny Lil Detlr
Member
Cans are great in a basement or showroom, but in a work environment your best bet for efficient lighting is going to be fluorescent.
kyles974
Well-known member
excuse my words, but holy ****, that's some awsome lighting! Garage too!
I know this older, but had a couple of questions, if you see this and don't mind.
Thanks for all the detailed info on this thread.
When installing the lights, do they just sit on the 2x2's you installed, or do they need to be attached somehow?
On the openings on the drywall, did you put a trim piece around the opening or was the "raw" edge covered by the light fixture.
Thanks, and once again, I love the space.
Thanks for all the detailed info on this thread.
When installing the lights, do they just sit on the 2x2's you installed, or do they need to be attached somehow?
On the openings on the drywall, did you put a trim piece around the opening or was the "raw" edge covered by the light fixture.
Thanks, and once again, I love the space.