ceiling light recommendations

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Things are moving along with the shop makeover. I'll be ready for new lighting soon. Shop build thread coming soon.

First reaction was to hanget several 4 or 8 foot T8 bulb fixtures and flip the switch. Then I went to can lighting. Contractor today suggested LED.

8.5 foot ceilings, currently 7/16 OSB stapled to the joists and blown in insulation up to. Don't get me started on the staples, PO cut corners.

He recommended flush mount LED's that would not require anything more than poking the wires though, no energy loss or drafts, easier to install and lower bills. Which all sound great.

Shop is about 36x24. No less than 12 6" lights is my preference. I want the shop lit up like a paint shop. No opposed to hanging a 4 foot fixture over a bench, etc.

What have you guys used, liked, or hated. Please give me make/model recommendations if you can.

TIA!

Todd

 

[maynard9089]

I bought and installed 3 of these in the soffit of our new building.
http://assets.sylvania.com/assets/Documents/LED279.7d853c5f-71b4-449a-8ff2-7c9ee94dabf5.pdf
I never expected the 13w version to be anywhere near as bright as it is. It has changed our thinking for the interior lighting and we will be installing them inside now. They mount in j-boxes or cans. Our first electric bill was only 3kwh after running all 3 lights between 5-6 hours a day for 11 days.
BTW- ours are the 900 lumen version. Inside will probably be the 1100 lumen ones.

 

[stroked89coupe]

I wanted recessed lighting. I was pretty set on that. I did not want broken bulbs. I did not want bulb guards. I did not want lights hanging off of the ceiling to collect dust or look like ****. I wanted the option to use LED, CFL or Incandescent.



Can lights it was.




I love them. I have total flexibility on what bulbs I can run. And for 8.00 plus an 8.00 led Bulb I have a 16.00 fixture that I can pretty much forget about for the rest of my life.

 

[Wildcat65]

New member here, but was installing Big *** Lights today. Made a huge improvement over the metal halides. Price is not good, a 6 way t-8 probably would have been adequate!
Ted

 

[jlckmj]

If you heart is not set on strip lights already, check out this thread,

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=38658

Jim

 

[scoob8000]

I was in the same boat. Cost per fixture/bulb, and lumens per watt I ended up going with T8 fixtures.

So far I've been using the Metalux tandem 4ft (8ft lenth) fixtures from lowes with no complaints.

4 temporary strips is lighting my 24x32x12 garage well enough to work in. This is all with unpainted OSB.

I plan on eventually running 3, strips of 4 fixtures. One down the center of the 24', and one on either side 6' off center. That with white walls and ceiling, it should be like day light.



[EDIT]
This is 4 of these fixtures down the center:
http://www.lowes.com/pd_163731-337-SSF296T124WP_0__?productId=3563422

 

[Cool C6 Vette]

New member here, but was installing Big *** Lights today. Made a huge improvement over the metal halides. Price is not good, a 6 way t-8 probably would have been adequate!
Ted

I’ve searched for them online and could not find a price anywhere, what do they cost?

 

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Thanks guys. I really like what you showed me Maynard 9089. Had a nice chart for light spread and everything!

Need to get a build thread going but an update here, trench is dug, water, new power line, 1" conduit with Cat 5e, co-ax, LP line, and a 6 pair cable are in. Local electric are coming our early next week to bring a new line in and set a new transformer near the shop.

Had the ceiling drywalled, holding off on the walls until I get all the outlets run.

Backfilled most of the trench today. Should have power back to the shop by Wednesday/Thursday.

 

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Rresurrecting an old thread for this comment. The LED's I put in I regret a bit. I had 12 installed and it just isn't what I wanted. Don't like the looks of hanging florescents, but wish I'd have gone a different route. The light is OK, but its not 'bright'. Ended up putting supplemental lighting over a few work stations and I'm constantly reaching for a trouble or flashlight working under the hood.