Help: advice on which route to go.

[Bleu Omdurman]

Hi,

I have two questions related to an electrical/lighting solution for my garage project. For background, the vision is to have a very bright garage in which the most common color will be white, with a black floor and black highlights.

14.5 ft ceiling, garage door goes straight up and is white frosted glass. (already installed). On Oct 1 and 2nd the electrical contractor is coming by to do my install on the lighting etc. his supplier is missing something and the contractor has proposed a new, "improved" solution. My question is: Do you agree?

originally we were going with four 4-lamp T5 fixtures in a 400 square foot garage with dimming ballasts. its the dimming ballasts that are not in stock. The contractor is now proposing six 6-lamp T8 fixtures without dimming ballasts but "bi-level" switching so that 3 of the lamps per fixture (half) turn on with one switch, and the remaining half turn on with another switch.

We are using an occupancy switch in each scenario so in this new scenario that sensor will drive the first three lamps in each fixture.

he has told me this will provide more light at full capacity.

So, does this seem reasonable to you? Would this be an improvement in your opinion, given my goal for a very clean, crisp environment to look at (I don't really work on) my cars?

Thank you,

B

 

[Corsair4360]

I have a 14' by 24' sq foot shop (not a garage) with 6 t8 fixtures, each with 4 48" lamps. With all of them on, the room is very bright, even with bare concrete floor and walls (three of them) and a white ceiling. Mine are on two switches, in two groups half on one side rest on the other switch.

 

[statictree83]

Just wondering how to start a forum I have a lot of questions and need some advice. A noob here

 

[Bleu Omdurman]

John, thanks! That sounds very similar to my situation and I'm glad its bright. I'm going that route, thank you!

Static, maybe you meant to ask how to start a thread? A forum is a big project. A forum is something like Garage Journal which I'm sure is a full time job for some moderators. To start a thread, go back to the garage journal board main page, find an area you think your question or idea fits, then click into that. IN there, near the top left of the page (about an inch or so from the top) you'll see a button labeled Start a New Thread. From there it's obvious.

good luck and welcome.

 

[ddawg16]

Bleu....I would avoid the dimming feature. It adds more complexity which typically translates into more failures and expense.

I would agree to their 'suggestion' assuming they give you a slight price break. Point out to him the T8's are not as efficient as the T5's. I'm thinking he already knows this by trying to sweeten the deal with more fixtures.

 

[statictree83]

Thanks I figured it out I've been learning a lot I started a thread