Enough light?

[bucs012]

My light/electrical guy is telling me that 6 of these 4 ft long, 6 light unit lights will be enough for my 50x30. Said it will be plenty! t 8 bulbs with 9 ft ceiling.

http://www.e-conolight.com/instructions/6-lamp_pages.pdf



Anyone think I need more or it is over-kill?

 

[jdub63]

Most of the guys on this forum use 1 watt / sq ft as a rule of thumb. Given that: You need to light 1500 sq ft (50x30), so 1500 watts. Using 6 fixtures with 6 bulbs @ 32 watts apiece (T-8 output) would provide 1152 watts; a little short. Additionally, IMO, the distribution of light wouldn't be very good either, better to get smaller fixtures and spread them out more. Just my opinion.

 

[GShelton]

You can not have ENOUGH light. LOL!

I have done a ton of reading and such. I have kept "notes" over at the Tool and Fab forum and if you would like to read them. http://www.toolandfab.com/forum/showthread.php?t=476

 

[Gary S]

It depends on you. If you are 20 years old, your eyes can work almost in the dark and see what you need. If you are 60 years old, your eyes need more light than the sun provides.

 

[bucs012]

Most of the guys on this forum use 1 watt / sq ft as a rule of thumb. Given that: You need to light 1500 sq ft (50x30), so 1500 watts. Using 6 fixtures with 6 bulbs @ 32 watts apiece (T-8 output) would provide 1152 watts; a little short. Additionally, IMO, the distribution of light wouldn't be very good either, better to get smaller fixtures and spread them out more. Just my opinion.

Good info- My ceiling will only be 9 feet hight AND I am painting the whole thing gloss white. With shorter ceilings and the white to boot, would that bring the need for light down a little??? Just wondering becasue I know some guys have 12-16 foot ceilings and not painted white.

I appreciate any and all feedback!

 

[GShelton]

I would suggest laying out your lighting with "room to expand" later. I plan to run my lights in such a way that if I end up needing more later, I will be able to install them in between the first set. If I never need to add any, then I am good to go.

And like Gary S said, I can use the expansion as I get older. LOL!

 

[Steevo]

Enough Light?
Isn't that an oxymoron, like:
Bad ***
or
Educational Television?

 

[NUTTSGT]

I'll agree on the "never can have enough light" You can always put them on different circuits and shut off what you don't need.

 

[bop_pa]

Well I am no lighting expert but I put 9 2'x4' (4)bulb flourescent fixtures in my garage ceiling. I did not do the math and it may be a bit much but man, I cannot tell you how great the lighting is. At night it is like daytime. Seriously, no shadows or nothing. I will never have it any other way. I find people way too often skimp on electrical and it always bites you in the **** because it is the one thing that you really need to plan or over plan for. Put in more lights than you think you will need, more outlets, run lines for extra 220v, phone, cable, internet etc while your at it. It's cheap to do those things ahead of time. So I vote, that you need more light fixtures.

 

[Charles (in GA)]

These lights (ones OP linked to) are designed for use from about 15 ft and up if a white reflector, and 20 ft and up if the shiny reflector. If you have a flat ceiling, 9 ft high (to me thats kinda low for a garage, but that is what you have, sooooo....) I think these lights are not suited to you. I really think some regular 2 bulb or 4 bulb T8 fixtures would work well. Probably more than 6 however. Problem is, with six of these 6 bulb fixtures in a 30 x 50 at 9 ft off the floor, the light will be rather concentrated and leave you with dark areas and shadows. These lights, by specification are really more of a high bay light despite the fact the fact sheet says the white reflector model is a "Low Bay", I do not think they are really suited to a ceiling this low, in my opinion.

Charles