Flourescent strip lighting layout

[911mick]

I'm about to set up the lighting in my garage. The garage is a strange shape (refer to theattached picture) as is in the basement of my townhouse.

The total area is about 450sq ft. I'm planning to use 6 double 4' T8 strip lights. Would this be sufficient? I would like the shop to be fairly bright.

The ceilings are 11 ft high but I really don't need more than 8 or 9 ft clearance so I plan to hang the fittings off 2ft jack chains. This will help me get around the numerouse pipes etc on the ceiling.

Are diffused or bare lights generally better? I'm figuring the diffused lights will do a better job of scaterin gthe light around the shop.

The walls are light gray in colour and the floor is light grey epoxy. The ceiling is raw concrete (unfortunately paining it is not an option).

I would appreciate any suggestions.

Thanks in advance.

 

[onething]

i would put one directly over the workbench near the wall. I hate working in my own shadow.

 

[hllon4whls]

The open lights work fine because they illuminate 360 degrees for 4 foot.

I agree to put some light over the WB, even it separate from your main lighting.

Take it from me, spend a little more than the cheapest lighting and upgrade to a better fixture with a better ballast. I bought the cheapest thing I could find and its getting replaced because it flickers, hums and flickers horribly when the garage is cold.

I just bought 2 8 foot T8 lights (4 bulbs) from HD for $56 each. They have the cold start to 20' and overall I think its a better ballast inside. Find the same in 4 foot tubes and I think you will be happy. I'll let you know when mine is out of the box.

You could even split the difference between the 2 sets of staggered 4 foots to go with the 8 foot and go that route for a little bit in savings. BTW, I suggest mounting them to the ceiling simply because I would rather they have a solid mount if they were mine.

 

[911mick]

Thanks for the tips guys.

I should have mentioned a couple of things.

1) I'm in Australia, so the 8ft tubes are as rare as hens teeth.

2) I have some shelves on the wall behing the bench, and I'm planning to mount 3 small T5 fluoros under the shelf above the bench. I agree...working in your own shadow is almost worse than being in the dark

 

[hllon4whls]

Thanks for the tips guys.

I should have mentioned a couple of things.

1) I'm in Australia, so the 8ft tubes are as rare as hens teeth.

2) I have some shelves on the wall behing the bench, and I'm planning to mount 3 small T5 fluoros under the shelf above the bench. I agree...working in your own shadow is almost worse than being in the dark

The setup I am talking about is an 8 foot fixture using 4 4 foot tubes.

 

[dougmac]

Here is a poist that I put together some time ago that might give you some ideas to think about.

Lighting Tips Thread

 

[Thruxton]

Here is a poist that I put together some time ago that might give you some ideas to think about.

Lighting Tips Thread

Great post- thanks for reposting.

 

[jvitez]

Welcome. Hope you're OK and not close to Brisbane.

I've downloaded this free light calculation software. It's excellent, and lets you play with many parameters. I've found it very helpful.

http://www.visual-3d.com/Software/Basic/Default.aspx

 

[GTOGreg]

definitely one over the workbench and depending on what you're doing in there you may want to run 3 more longitudinally centered in-between the others. Put them on 2 zones and provide yourself the ability to turn the workbench light on/off independently, by pull-chain or switch. If you really wanted to get crazy you could put 2 more on the sides, against the walls and directly parallel with the ones I mentioned you should add. Again, it depends on what you're using the space for too. My suggestions would be for a bright, working garage where you're maintaining a car, doing woodwork, or other fine detail work.

 

[Cryptic1911]

I would turn the lights the other direction, so that they go in the same direction as a car would if you parked it in there. If you have the lights directly over the top of a car, the light will get blocked and cause shadows. Basically make a rectangle around your car(s) and make the lights follow that same line.

 

[rwhite692]

.....The total area is about 450sq ft. I'm planning to use 6 double 4' T8 strip lights. Would this be sufficient? I would like the shop to be fairly bright.....

Nope, at least, not for me. I'd double that # of fixtures, and I'd put half on one switch and half on another.

 

[911mick]

Thanks for all of the feedback guys.

I have made a few (dramatic) changto my plan. I will be working on cars and doing detailing so I need a lot of light.

I have decided to use 5ft fixtures (they use dual 58w tubes) and will arange them as per the diagram. Does this look better?

I will also have lighting mounted on the shelf directly above the bench.
I should also mention (not that it makes much differnence) but the garage already has 2 x 36w 4ft fixtures (as indicated in red). These are always on and can't be shut off.

 

[Steevo]

Won't 5' tubes be hard to find compared to 4' tubes?
I don't think I have ever even seen a 5' fixture.

 

[911mick]

5ft tubes are pretty common here

 

[kb2tha]

Nope, at least, not for me. I'd double that # of fixtures, and I'd put half on one switch and half on another.

Someone smarter than me on this board suggested two switches with 1/3 on one switch and 2/3 on the other switch. This gives you 3 possible lighting levels. I did this in my garage with 8 lights. 3 on one, 5 on the other.
Ken