Finished garage needs new lighting. halp

[RedbeardPete]

Howdy y'all. Forgive me, I'm a noob here and I know I'm risking being a typical noob, so I'll try to be concise. I read the stickys to some extent. Just curious what y'all would suggest. I don't want to spend a bunch of time on research and make this into a big project, I just want to get to a good plan with minimal effort (hopefully that's where y'all can help

I've got a relatively-large 2-bay single-door attached garage. Probably 10ft ceiling. It's fully finished, painted walls, ceiling, even crown molding. I've got 4 LED lamps that came with the house (1 dead, hence this), 2 are kinda in the middle and no lights near the garage door, which I'd like to fix. In the most crude way, here's the light layout:
(had to turn this into an image, lol)

The goal is, of course, bright, shadow-free light within reasonable of amount of effort (I don't want to be doing a lot of drywall work on the ceiling, for example). I'll probably go with 4-5k. I'm happy to mount fixtures to the ceiling and wire them to the existing light circuit.
I saw the sticky thread about T8 light fixtures and 140 lumen/watt bulbs. Since I came to this forum, I'm now thinking that the old-school T8 fluorescent style fixtures with LED bulbs is a smart way to go, especially since it's easy to replace the bulbs (unlike these that came with my house). I also understand at this mount height, I need to go for a wrap fixture. Help me if I'm off.

In my feeble understanding partly developed in photography, the more diffuse/indirect the light, the less likely you will have shadows, and shadows are bad when you're trying to work in a garage/shop. In my case, I have a white ceiling. Often when I put my Dewalt tripod light pointed at the ceiling, I get a great increase in usable diffuse light. Does anyone use lights that diffuse against the ceiling, indirect or direct/indirect fixtures? Like these: https://www.warehouse-lighting.com/collections/led-suspended-ceiling-lights... I realize this may require suspending the fixtures, and that would really go against the idea of this being a reasonable effort, but I'd consider it if it's worth the effort.

A bonus would be architecturally/aesthetically attractive fixtures, but not to compromise performance or great expense. Most of the fixtures I've found are very cheap looking. In general, it would be nice to have something that looks nicer, more high-end, if such a thing exists without too much extra cost or other compromise.

What would you guys suggest I do here, how many fixtures and where?

 

[imma_stocker]

I would pull existing lights out, re-use the wires for led tube lights or led panels. Run perpendicular to the ceiling drop down beam for easier installation and better light coverage. Then mount the new fixtures directly to the ceiling. This should allow lights to tuck above your garage door when open. Depending where you work in there and what you're doing, panel lights might be a better option.

The lower the lights hang, the more direct light they will effectively put down thus creating harder shadows. If shadows are a real concern look for fixtures with diffuser covers. Think about those opaque light covers from school classrooms and various waiting rooms. They spread light more evenly to reduce glare and shadows.

Holes left in the ceiling will just be minor square patches to cover. Depending on wire and breaker size you might be able to add a receptacle up high for a drop down extension cord on a self retracting roller.

 

[AC-WC]

I have 15 of these 5K/5000 lumen lights in my 22X27. How bright do you really want it?

 

[RedbeardPete]

I have 15 of these 5K/5000 lumen lights in my 22X27. How bright do you really want it?

Wow that's a lot of lights, looks very lit! You know "how bright do you really want it?" is an excellent question, one that's hard to answer. I guess the best way I can figure is: the most light I can get for installing 4-8 fixtures.

Run perpendicular to the ceiling drop down beam for easier installation and better light coverage.

I was thinking this, glad you said it.

The lower the lights hang, the more direct light they will effectively put down thus creating harder shadows. If shadows are a real concern look for fixtures with diffuser covers. Think about those opaque light covers from school classrooms and various waiting rooms. They spread light more evenly to reduce glare and shadows.

Depending on wire and breaker size you might be able to add a receptacle up high for a drop down extension cord on a self retracting roller.

Great idea! Thanks for all the input!

I was originally thinking about big 2x4 panel lights like you said, something brand name, of course. This is one of the main reasons I wanted to seek advice here. Am I better of with big 2x4 panels or fixtures and LED tubes?

Do y'all have any preferred vendors to shop for these? I'm assuming nobody is using HD or Lowe's.

 

[Stuart in MN]

Check out the two sticky notes at the top of this section, about 'best light fixture ever' and 'light fixture layout collections'. I haven't looked at the first one in a while so I don't know what the current recommendation is, but it's likely some brand of a four foot LED strip. The ones recommended are typically low profile and unobtrusive so they'll look good. The other thread has a number of recommended layouts for garages of various sizes, and chances are there's a layout similar to your place that will work.

One thing I'll add is besides general lighting, consider additional task lighting over your workbench since that's where you really need it. I put a couple of those recessed can 'eyeball' style over mine, so they can be aimed just right. I also have a vintage Luxo magnifier light which is really handy, besides having a really bright light source the magnifier is great for working on small things (and is especially good as you age and your eyes aren't what they used to be.) One of these things, you can get modern knockoff versions but they aren't as sturdy.

 

[AC-WC]

Other members on here have recommended Barrina.com but I haven't been able to access their site for several months (can't be found). I did find them on Amazon. Very reasonably priced and a 3 yr warranty. On my original batch of lights I bought from Rural King (farm store). DO NOT buy these. I have 1 left from the original 15 after 2 yrs
I should have bought the Barrina as they have a batch of 10- 4 ft for around $120. They have 8 ft as well.

 

[RedbeardPete]

Other members on here have recommended Barrina.com but I haven't been able to access their site for several months (can't be found)...

this? https://barrina-led.com/

check these out, seems like a lot of light for the money, but I wouldn't expect them to be serviceable: https://barrina-led.com/products/ba...0&_fid=c5f60a468&_ss=c&variant=41892949065787

 

[AC-WC]

Must be a home laptop issue. I can access it from work (don't tell anyone)

 

[tworley]

I used 10, 4-foot LEDs from primelights. They call it the "bolt". 5k color temp, each unit draws 44 watts. Looking at their website now and they have gone up considerably in price, unfortunately ($73 and 6500 lumens).

 

[AC-WC]

I have been able to save a few bucks by purchasing from Menard's and HF but had I known then vs now I would have bought the ones from Barrina and spent 1/2 the money. The package deal of 6 lights for $70+ is one heck of a deal.

 

[imma_stocker]

Barrina have solid reviews... except when they fail and you try to use the warranty. Friend of mine redid his shop with them but kept the working lights as insurance. He recommends them without social media compensation and I trust him.

That being said, I'm not sure how many can actually be tied together. In the same page or their site, it says 4 can be connected then it also says 8 can be connected. I'm planning lighting for my 40x40 (basically 3 bays including 2 lifts plus fab area) so that's a big difference with 12-16 8ft fixtures on the ceiling alone. Then add North wall, South wall, East wall, welding/fab, and individual benches.

 

[RedbeardPete]

Cool. I like what I see with the Birrina stuff, and seems hey have a lot of buzz, but it also seems like they aren't serviceable. I like the idea of a fixture with replaceable elements. Still, those tiny, linkable, lightweight strips are tempting and seem like pretty low effort to install... and I suppose one could get a few extra as spares if they're cheap enough. I'm not necessarily going for cheap, though, I want the right solution, whatever it costs.

So, how much is too much light for any given space or ceiling height?
I get that 30k lumens coming from 4x 4ft fixtures will look different from 30k lumens coming from 10x 4ft fixtures. I may be willing to put more up for better diffuse light, but I just don't have a good frame of reference.

I have checked out the 2 stickys, they've got some good stuff for sure. I'll refer to the layouts again.

 

[Bert_]

4' led ready strips and led tubes. Good quality option that still gives a good bang for your buck.

 

[AC-WC]

There are lighting calculators you can google. The one I found (don't remember it off hand) said I needed 60,000 for my 22X27X12 and I have about 72,000. I am not aware of ANY LED lights that are 'repairable' Once they go, they go without serious electrical knowledge to repair. Think TV circuit repair. They're disposable and not designed for repair.
Barrina did have some panel style lights but not with the options of the shop light styles.

 

[dave*99]

I was originally thinking about big 2x4 panel lights like you said, something brand name, of course. This is one of the main reasons I wanted to seek advice here. Am I better of with big 2x4 panels or fixtures and LED tubes?

You mention panels, I like mine. I hope you find the story useful. Do the calculations, they worked for me.

Lighting for 24x28 shop

So I think I'm off to a rocky start..... I've been reading the best light fixture ever thread for a long time. And I still think I need some help. The basics: Woodshop above garage. Under construction. I have some woodworking machinery to go in the shop. It will have drywall finished...

www.garagejournal.com

 

[RedbeardPete]

You mention panels, I like mine. I hope you find the story useful. Do the calculations, they worked for me.

Lighting for 24x28 shop

So I think I'm off to a rocky start..... I've been reading the best light fixture ever thread for a long time. And I still think I need some help. The basics: Woodshop above garage. Under construction. I have some woodworking machinery to go in the shop. It will have drywall finished...

www.garagejournal.com

I do like the aesthetic of the panel lights! your shop looks real nice and those panels look great. As trivial as aesthetics seem, it's something I do care about. Typical trade-off, all the T8 fixtures look kinda trashy.

 

[dave*99]

I do like the aesthetic of the panel lights! your shop looks real nice and those panels look great. As trivial as aesthetics seem, it's something I do care about. Typical trade-off, all the T8 fixtures look kinda trashy.

As I noted in my thread, there are many versions of that particular panel. 4000 or 6000 lumens, dimmable or not, with a ceiling bracket included of without. Shop carefully.
The ones on the shelf at Home Depot are 4000 lumens. I bought one to experiment with. Due to the 11' ceilings, it was inadequate. I now use it in a space with 8' ceilings and it's fine. I had to order the 6000 lm units for the shop.

 

[RedbeardPete]

Hey y'all, why not close the loop on this. I kinda got tired of researching, and already exhausted by the thought of installing a crapload of fixtures all over the finished ceiling. I hit the easy button, 0.0 hours of drywall or running new wires and junction boxes, and got 4x really bright 8ft fixtures, installed them on the existing junction boxes.

I got these: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B099K66MLJ?tag=atomicindus08-20 AntLux 110W 8FT LED Shop Lights Ultra Slim LED Wraparound, 12600LM, 5000K, 8 Foot Strip Light, Flush Mount Garage Office Warehouse Ceiling Lighting Fixture, 8 Foot Fluorescent Tube Replacement, 4 Pack

$260 for 50,400Lm (advertised) doesn't sound so bad at all. Heck, even if they underperform by 10%, it's still more than 10x the light I had before.

1st shipment came totaled, 2nd one was good. Will they last 10 years, who knows? Are they serviceable?... no, but these are so lightweight it only took a drywall screw at each end. Job done.