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Guidance Appreciated - 3 stall Garage Lighting Plan

kroc0005

Active member
Joined
Apr 27, 2020
Messages
27
Location
Plymouth, mn
Hey Everyone,

In advance, I really appreciate feedback on my 3 stall garage stall lighting plan. I've been trying to do as much studying and educating myself from all the past posts in here to calculate the lighting needs, map out my garage and hopefully provide enough info for the smart people on here.

Existing
Currently there are 3 bulbs approximately in front of each of the 3 garage doors' openers and the openers' lights themselves illuminating the space.

Typical Space Use
It's a garage space that rarely acts as a wide open work space. Typically i'm tinkering in the boat getting tackle ready for a tourney, rarely working on cars. I added some workbench in the back which I now would like less shadow on but that area too rarely has me there for more than 10 minutes. So I guess i simply want to have it more evenly lit.

Garage Total Sq Feet: 800 Total Square Feet (3 stalls)
Lumen estimated per sq ft - 50 Lumens per sq foot.

Honestly i saw estimates all across the board, from 30 lumens per sq ft to 100 lumens per sq foot. I figured that 50 was in the middle and would keep cost contained. Appreciate knowing if this is an adequate lumen sq ft amount.

Below is the rendering of my space, included vehicles, garage door rails (3 single 9'ft wide doors) and what i thought were estimates of the lighting coverage (circle around the tube light).

LED Lighting Product
The light I found at Home Depot was the 4 ft. 2-Light Linear White Integrated LED Ceiling Strip Light with 4200 Lumens, 4000K
There's also this interesting one at Costco LINK HERE Koda 46” LED Linkable Shop Light with Motion Sensor and Remote, 2-pack
Hey - if you have better options for the lights, let me know I figured would be easy returns if need be.

Other Items
Total open access to attic above, therefore i plan to have each one hard wired and hidden (meaning i dont desire lights that plug into a ceiling outlet and then you daisy chain along the ceiling surface - i would like a more hidden look). So most likely putting an octagon box up for each light and stringing 14/2 between them.

Again - hopefully enough detail to render some advice for me. Thank you in advance!!!

Pic 1 - Layout as is
May-Garage_Layout_jpg-1024x781.jpg


Pic 2 - What I'm thinking is a sensible layout - is this a good plan?
May-Garage_Lighting_Option1jpg-1024x729.jpg


Hopefully this is enough info for folks to go on - i've seen some of the best feedback and thoughts by people on this forum above most other DIY ones. TIA.
 
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cybrdyke

Well-known member
Joined
Sep 9, 2014
Messages
3,449
Location
USA
Not sure where you got the "lumens per square foot" idea, but that's not a thing in the lighting world. It doesn't make any sense.
You have all the information except you dont say how high the ceiling is (unless I missed it).
A quick glance tells me that you're close if you just want general lighting. But a couple of questions. Why are the lights turned sideways over the truck? Also, you should think about different placement, maybe a different light over the workbench. As it is now, you'll be working in your own shadow.
CD
 
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kroc0005

Active member
Joined
Apr 27, 2020
Messages
27
Location
Plymouth, mn
Not sure where you got the "lumens per square foot" idea, but that's not a thing in the lighting world. It doesn't make any sense.
You have all the information except you dont say how high the ceiling is (unless I missed it).
A quick glance tells me that you're close if you just want general lighting. But a couple of questions. Why are the lights turned sideways over the truck? Also, you should think about different placement, maybe a different light over the workbench. As it is now, you'll be working in your own shadow.
CD
Thank you CD, I appreciate the questions and perspective. Ceiling is 9 feet tall sorry I missed that.

Re: lumens per square foot I found that with the google when searching "how bright should a garage be." Tons of results on it. Some go about speaking about them per square foot and other noise. Glad to hear your feedback and educating me- slowly I'm learning here. So it sounds like that's not really a thing but still directionally - the # of fixtures is close.

re: Over Truck lights Not marked is there are 2 foot shelves coming out from the right side in the truck stall so attempt at spreading the light. But upon looking at it, if truck is removed and thats where I typically do any work, I'm going to realign those to be perpendicular too. Good feedback!

re: Workbench Task Lighting Good idea. If all the lighta are hardwired, its easy to add two cans above that area.

Thank you!

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kroc0005

Active member
Joined
Apr 27, 2020
Messages
27
Location
Plymouth, mn
I made a tweak to the draft plan as such -

1) Bay 1 and 2 - moved the mid bay and garage door bay lights away from the garage doors, towards house.

2) Bay 3 (Truck) changed the alignment to perpendicular.

3) Workbench, forgot to change to cans but may have a desk like strip mounted to shelving area too. (Not as concerned about that area just yet.

Thanks for feedback folks!

May-Garage_Lighting_Option2jpg.jpg
 
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