Garage lights...overhead or on walls

[jbabek]

There seems to be a bunch of threads on overhead lights. I am setting up my 20x20, and am curious whu no one puts lights on the walls. I only see them occasionally.

I am thinking that setting 4' LED strips at 7-8 feet high around the perimeter with a 9 foot ceiling would eliminate a lot of shadows. They would reflect off the white ceiling, and get a better angle. They would clear the doors and provide light when the doors are open. It leaves the ceiling open for hanging plastic for a DIY spray booth.

I also think it would provide better light when working inside the interior or under the hood.

The only downside I see is taking up wall space.

Is there something I am missing?

-J

 

[cybrdyke]

over a hundred years of scientists, researchers, designers and electricians have installed billions of lights on the ceilings.
You just figured out all by yourself that they are all wrong.
Good job.



I'm just kidding, of course.

There are a few instances where it's better to have lighting on the vertical plane. Paint booths, inspection viewing stations, etc. These kinds of places are typically lighting up a target, rather than a space.
For illumination of a space, you would get horrible lighting. You would actually get more shadows, worse reflection, and a lot of glare. Few lighting fixtures are designed to throw light when mounted on a wall. Nearly everything would be wrong.
But, hey.....
it's your garage!
Good luck,
CD

 

[jbabek]

over a hundred years of scientists, researchers, designers and electricians have installed billions of lights on the ceilings.
You just figured out all by yourself that they are all wrong.
Good job.



I'm just kidding, of course.

There are a few instances where it's better to have lighting on the vertical plane. Paint booths, inspection viewing stations, etc. These kinds of places are typically lighting up a target, rather than a space.
For illumination of a space, you would get horrible lighting. You would actually get more shadows, worse reflection, and a lot of glare. Few lighting fixtures are designed to throw light when mounted on a wall. Nearly everything would be wrong.
But, hey.....
it's your garage!
Good luck,
CD

CD,

You hit it right on. I am trying to illuminate my car...it is where i spend most of my time working. In the past, i nearly always need droplights to work in the interior or under the hood.

I laid it out for lights in the ceiling, then was looking through photos of three places I worked and in each case, they hung the lights to be close to the work area rather than have them on the ceiling. In each case, the lights were 7-8 feet, with 20 foot ceilings. Hanging the lights is not an option, as i have relatively low ceilings.

Have you done this, and changed back? Or, is this theoretical musings?

 

[Jazz1]

I have portable T12 light banks I hang on wall for painting. Actually it hung on wall for 10 years until I upgraded from T12 to T5

 

[cybrdyke]

CD,

You hit it right on. I am trying to illuminate my car...it is where i spend most of my time working. In the past, i nearly always need droplights to work in the interior or under the hood.

I laid it out for lights in the ceiling, then was looking through photos of three places I worked and in each case, they hung the lights to be close to the work area rather than have them on the ceiling. In each case, the lights were 7-8 feet, with 20 foot ceilings. Hanging the lights is not an option, as i have relatively low ceilings.

Have you done this, and changed back? Or, is this theoretical musings?

jbabek,
As I said, it's your garage. If you're spending time doing specific tasks that are better served with lights on the walls, then have at it. If it makes your cars easier to work on, then you're good to go.
Make sure that you have some sort of protection over the strips. LED's are surprisingly delicate to physical touching, moisture, etc. A diffuser of some sort will help soften the harshness of the LEDs and reduce shadows. You could further reduce shadows with SOME overhead light.
Under the hood is always a tough spot, same as under the chassis. You still might need some supplemental lights there.
Post a link to the lights you're looking at.
Good luck,
CD