Im starting to look into which lights id like to have in the garage. My initial plan was to have 2 circuits so that I can turn on half the shop lights individually in order to reduce the brightness when not required. I figure I can simplify the wiring if I have them on one dimmable circuit. I know LED’s can be a little squirrelly when it comes to dimming, and I’m having trouble finding a set which make the claim that they are in fact dimmable. Anyone have any luck finding a good set of 4000-5000lm, 5000k 4’ light fixtures that are dimmable?
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Dimmable 4’ LED shop lights
- Thread starter Mike_72
- Start date
jpcjguy
Well-known member
I am looking at these: https://www.ledlightingwholesaleinc.com/E5SLB35D4-850-p/e5slb35d4-850.htm?CartID=1
I use a cousin of those:
https://www.ledlightingwholesaleinc.com/ZY-ST4FT40-p/zy-st4ft40.htm
Have 30 of them and ran additional insulated wiring for dimming with combination switch/dimmer in the same box. They have been good for the 2 years I have had them for my relatively light duty DIY shop use. I installed them myself and thought they were pretty well made and well designed, but don’t know enough to judge the electronics quality. Lighting is great — I use 20 downstairs in about 800 SF.
One of the lighting experts here noted that the name brand version that costs about twice as much is guaranteed 10 years and 100,000 hours. If budget is not an issue, it would be the best choice.
https://www.ledlightingwholesaleinc.com/ZY-ST4FT40-p/zy-st4ft40.htm
Have 30 of them and ran additional insulated wiring for dimming with combination switch/dimmer in the same box. They have been good for the 2 years I have had them for my relatively light duty DIY shop use. I installed them myself and thought they were pretty well made and well designed, but don’t know enough to judge the electronics quality. Lighting is great — I use 20 downstairs in about 800 SF.
One of the lighting experts here noted that the name brand version that costs about twice as much is guaranteed 10 years and 100,000 hours. If budget is not an issue, it would be the best choice.
nadogail
Well-known member
Why not have the advantages of both a split circuit and dimmable lights?
jpcjguy
Well-known member
I use a cousin of those:
https://www.ledlightingwholesaleinc.com/ZY-ST4FT40-p/zy-st4ft40.htm
Have 30 of them and ran additional insulated wiring for dimming with combination switch/dimmer in the same box. They have been good for the 2 years I have had them for my relatively light duty DIY shop use. I installed them myself and thought they were pretty well made and well designed, but don’t know enough to judge the electronics quality. Lighting is great — I use 20 downstairs in about 800 SF.
One of the lighting experts here noted that the name brand version that costs about twice as much is guaranteed 10 years and 100,000 hours. If budget is not an issue, it would be the best choice.
Those actually have a little more lumens than what I was looking at. Wow - you have 30 in a 800 square foot area? I am looking at 18 in 960 (32x30) area - link to thread - https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=460206
Either your area could be seen from miles away or I am way under lighting....got any pics you can share?
I dont think that you'll find that you can "simplify the wiring" by putting them on one dimmable circuit. The LED fixtures will have a power circuit and a low-voltage dimming circuit. So, you'll still have two separate circuits to wire. Plus the low-voltage circuit will likely require you to have separate dimming controls from the on/off switch, or you'll have some other hurdles to jump over. You can get a combo MC cable that has the power and control wires combined in one jacket, but now you're spending more money.Im starting to look into which lights id like to have in the garage. My initial plan was to have 2 circuits so that I can turn on half the shop lights individually in order to reduce the brightness when not required. I figure I can simplify the wiring if I have them on one dimmable circuit. I know LED’s can be a little squirrelly when it comes to dimming, and I’m having trouble finding a set which make the claim that they are in fact dimmable. Anyone have any luck finding a good set of 4000-5000lm, 5000k 4’ light fixtures that are dimmable?
CD
Those actually have a little more lumens than what I was looking at. Wow - you have 30 in a 800 square foot area? I am looking at 18 in 960 (32x30) area - link to thread - https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=460206
Either your area could be seen from miles away or I am way under lighting....got any pics you can share?
20 in 800 SF. The other 10 are in the storage area upstairs.
I used 14-2 for the lights plus 600v rated 18-2 for the 0-10v dimmers, on 4 combined switch/dimmers in the same box. In hindsight, 4 switches was overkill. 2 would have been fine. I wanted one switch for a single light I could leave on 24/7 while away but the motion sensing door opener lights have pretty much taken the place of that light.
Last edited:
jpcjguy
Well-known member
20 in 800 SF. The other 10 are in the storage area upstairs.
I used 14-2 for the lights plus 600v rated 18-2 for the 0-10v dimmers, on 4 combined switch/dimmers in the same box. In hindsight, 4 switches was overkill. 2 would have been fine. I wanted one switch for a single light I could leave on 24/7 while away but the motion sensing door opener lights have pretty much taken the place of that light.
Ok, that makes me feel a bit better - 18 vs. 20. My plan is 3 switches. One for over a gym area, one for the bay with 10' ceilings and then 1 for the lift bay.
How high are your ceilings? would you do 20 again or fewer or more?
For the wire I was thinking maybe grabbing a roll of 14/2 Duo (https://www.lowes.com/pd/Southwire-200-Ft-14-2-NM-B-PCS-Duo/1002838608)
I think 20 is fine for my 800SF, but I also have task lighting for under the lift, under the hood or any other place I might want it. I have 17 of the 20 in the main 24x30 garage and 3 in the 6x15 bump out. If I did it over again, I’d either do the same or maybe a few more. However my layout is not ideal due to a beam across the middle of the garage, a raised ceiling over the lift, the garage door tracks, and a stairway. If I had a more conventional layout, I could make better use of the lights I have.
I dont think that you'll find that you can "simplify the wiring" by putting them on one dimmable circuit. The LED fixtures will have a power circuit and a low-voltage dimming circuit. So, you'll still have two separate circuits to wire. Plus the low-voltage circuit will likely require you to have separate dimming controls from the on/off switch, or you'll have some other hurdles to jump over. You can get a combo MC cable that has the power and control wires combined in one jacket, but now you're spending more money.
CD
Thanks, this is helpful information.
Yes, these modern lights are not like old school dimmable lights that you dim through the 120v circuit. You dim these through a separate 0-10v circuit. It’s much more advanced. Some newer lights are dimmed instead through remote control - no separate wiring required.