Enough Light for 20' x 20' Garage ?

[Westbank]

Hello,

I'm thinking about going with the new Lithonia ZL2N LED fixtures for my garage but not sure if I will have enough lighting. This garage will not be used as a workshop but rather to park our two cars. I still want a good amount of light.

The fixtures are 48" long, 3000 Lumens & 3000K. This would provide a total of 21000 Lumens. I know this is not the best unit to determine the lighting coverage but it still gives a rough idea.

Garage Plan:

Lithonia ZL2N Specifications: http://www.acuitybrandslighting.com/library/ll/documents/specsheets/zl2n.pdf

Thanks

 

[ryolse]

What's your intended garage use, just parking as you stated? Here's a look at mine which has evolved over the years to try and help get rid of dark spots when working on cars. Eventually I want to replace all of the T8s with probably these LEDs. The two 4' LEDs from Lowes are operated off of the garage door opener light as mentioned here



This is a somewhat old picture after installing the right back LED (as seen on the above floor plan) and doesn't include the 4' LED in the middle right side or 24" LED above my work bench, which is also not pictured.

 

[Westbank]

Mostly for parking cars. I will have a small workbench next to the door (exterior door) but I won't use it that much

 

[ryolse]

I'm sure your design will be a decent start. How were you planning on powering them? Would there be a option for increasing if needed?

You might also consider looking up the max Wattage your openers will handle and potentially add each "side" of lights to the opener as I did. It's been really nice having the 2 I put in turn on automatically especially since we have an annoying support pole in the way which requires us to back my wife's CRV in so the drivers door can open.

 

[nafterclifen]

I have a 20x22 garage and installed (7) 4' dual-bulb T8 fixtures, evenly spaced, with 4100k F032/841/ECO bulbs. There is tons of light, I love it. Definitely don't need any more but wouldn't want any less. Total lumens is 41,300.

Technically I have (8) fixtures as one is above my workbench. Not really needed but really good for fine, detail type work.

Only negative in my situation is that once the garage doors are up, half of the lights are mostly covered. Some light gets through around the doors but not a lot. The bulbs in the garage door openers do a pretty good job of lighting the area though.

 

[Westbank]

Thanks for the input. I'm starting to think that 21000 lumens might not be enough for a 20 x 20 garage. Ceiling is 10ft high and all walls will be painted white so that may help.

I have a 20x22 garage and installed (7) 4' dual-bulb T8 fixtures, evenly spaced, with 4100k F032/841/ECO bulbs. There is tons of light, I love it. Definitely don't need any more but wouldn't want any less. Total lumens is 41,300.

Technically I have (8) fixtures as one is above my workbench. Not really needed but really good for fine, detail type work.

Only negative in my situation is that once the garage doors are up, half of the lights are mostly covered. Some light gets through around the doors but not a lot. The bulbs in the garage door openers do a pretty good job of lighting the area though.

 

[nafterclifen]

Thanks for the input. I'm starting to think that 21000 lumens might not be enough for a 20 x 20 garage. Ceiling is 10ft high and all walls will be painted white so that may help.

My ceiling is 9' and the walls aren't finished.

 

[wssix99]

I have 14' ceilings, white drywall walls, and 4 tubes per bay and it's very bright for general workshop work. I have additional tubes in the bay where I'll do car work and more lighting in the space where I'll have my workbench.

So, I'd say you'll be really bright. Just need to watch out for how your garage doors will cover up your fixtures when they open.

 

[Westbank]

Thanks wssix99

Approx how many lumens per bulb ? I really like the lighting coverage you have there.

 

[wssix99]

They are standard 32W T8 Fluorescent bulbs at 2,875 Lumens apiece. I have 4 bulbs (2 per fixture) over the far two bays. The near bay, with the black car, has 4 bulbs per fixture and then there is the extra 2 bulb fixture on the wall at the front. (That wall fixture "looks" in to open engine compartments in that bay.)

I took out the ballasts on the 4 bulb fixtures and re-wired them on to two balasts per fixture. That allows me to separate the extra tubes in that bay on a separate light switch. Under normal lighting, I get 4 bulbs on in each bay. When I need more in my repair bay, if flip another switch and the 4 extra bulbs in the work bay come on. Then, I have the wall fixture on a third switch.