Help for a Newbie

[mscampbe]

Greetings!

I am under the gun to order lighting for a garage under construction

Garage is 32 ft long
28 ft wide
Walls 14 ft high
Scissor Trusses mean peak ceiling height is 17ft 4 inches
Ceiling will be finished with white metal ceiling material

I have been reading for days to learn as much as I can, but I admit I am confused by many of the terms. I have been doing my best, but this is a lot to digest quickly.

On the Visual Interior Tool using the Lithonia Lighting CLX L48 5000LM
I have a design of 4 rows with 7 fixtures per row. I wanted the fixtures to run lengthwise in between the grooves in the metal ceiling panels.

The calculated Results give me 109fc for illuminance. Power Density of 0.99W/sq ft.

I have tried to google what number I should be seeking as far as illuminance.

I will probably purchase fixtures and bulbs from the best lighting fixture ever thread.

Please provide some feedback regarding my layout. Guidance along with kindness would be greatly appreciated. Electric rough-in is supposed to start next week, so I need some answers rather quickly.

Thanks for helping out a newbie! Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Mark
Leola, PA

 

[Don1357]

Don't overthink it. Space the lines of 4' lights so the distance between rows against the wall is half. As if you are going to do 3 rows, 28 / 3 = 9 1/3, or 9 1/3 between rows and half of that to the wall.

How many Lights per row it depends on how much light output they do and how much light you want. You can start with 5 per row and if you don't have enough light, re-space them to squeeze 6, or 7 or 8.

 

[dcg9381]

My advice is design for flexibility. That means outlets on the ceiling wired to light switches.

I absolutely love our high bay "UFO" style LEDs. I call it the "daylight" switch. It's likely your ceiling is high enough.

 

[beelsr]

go read the two stickied threads in this forum for all the lighting info you should need. First few pages and then the last few pages should be good enough.

+1 on just putting in switched receptacles in the ceiling. I did that 15 years ago and just upgraded from 21 4' double flo units to 32 4' double LED units (~45x35). Made moving lights around for changing needs much easier.

I also made the switched receptacles white and the regular receptacles brown to differentiate them - making them brown on a white wall makes it easier to find them when going to plug something in. Throw in a few regular receptacles on the ceiling for e.g., opener, drop cords, remote speakers, high-mounted TV/monitors, etc...

 

[mscampbe]

I appreciate the feedback so far, there has been some great advice that I have embraced.

In reading several more hours of the sticky threads I have more questions. It seems from the height of my garage (14 foot walls plus scissor trusses) that I should be using 3 or possibly 4 light 48 inch fixtures. I have also read I should consider using high bays or even UFO type high bays. This has complicated my decision making a bit further, so I am open for more feedback on how to proceed regarding ideal fixture. Fortunately, I will have lots of time to read this weekend, as I hope to order lights next week. I have 4 weeks before the schedule says I will need my lights. I would love to receive more suggestions on lighting fixtures, especially first hand experience.

Mark
Leola, PA

 

[Norcal]

My advice is design for flexibility. That means outlets on the ceiling wired to light switches.

I absolutely love our high bay "UFO" style LEDs. I call it the "daylight" switch. It's likely your ceiling is high enough.

Cord and plug connected lights means that the receptacles for the lights have to be GFCI protected.

 

[theoldwizard1]

K.I.S.S. !!

Buy corded 4' dual "bulb" LED open fixtures that hang from chains (I had to buy longer chains). Cheap ($20-$30) at most places. Install standard "round"/hexagon ceiling boxes with duplex outlet adapters. Plug them in and daisy chain them.

Put each row on its own switch. (Leave the pull chain, even if you tie them up. You might find them useful in the future.) Feed the switches from a GFCI outlet.

DONE !

 

[Bert_]

K.I.S.S. !!

Buy corded 4' dual "bulb" LED open fixtures that hang from chains (I had to buy longer chains). Cheap ($20-$30) at most places. Install standard "round"/hexagon ceiling boxes with duplex outlet adapters. Plug them in and daisy chain them.

Put each row on its own switch. (Leave the pull chain, even if you tie them up. You might find them useful in the future.) Feed the switches from a GFCI outlet.

DONE !

Depends on what your willing to live with I guess.

Never ceases to amaze me how many members are willing to spend on name brand tools (snap on), a nice building, ect, but then search out the cheapest crappiest light fixtures you can buy.

Seriously, there are a ton of very reasonably priced decent quality fixtures all put together in one thread by platonic solid. Read the best light fixture sticky, and the lighting layout sticky.

 

[Norcal]

Depends on what your willing to live with I guess.

Never ceases to amaze me how many members are willing to spend on name brand tools (snap on), a nice building, ect, but then search out the cheapest crappiest light fixtures you can buy.

Seriously, there are a ton of very reasonably priced decent quality fixtures all put together in one thread by platonic solid. Read the best light fixture sticky, and the lighting layout sticky.

The old saying “ you can lead a horse to water but you can’t make it drink” applies.

 

[Bert_]

At 14' I would be looking at a small highbay

 

[mscampbe]

Thanks Bert! Do you have a specific UFO type brand and size that you can suggest? With zero experience is purchasing this types of lights I am attempting to make the most informed and best purchase. I am not afraid to ask experts for advice with my limited knowledge.

 

[84GT350Annv]

I highly recommend contacting Prime Lights. Even if you don't buy from them they gave me a free layout based on the dimensions I provided. I used the stingrays in my pole barn 16' eave height and used the enclosed lights on the side shed.

Several years now I am still extremely pleased with them. I did have one bulb fail prematurely and they replaced it free including shipping.

https://www.primelights.com/collections/stingray

Not affiliated with them other than a customer.

 

[beelsr]

Cord and plug connected lights means that the receptacles for the lights have to be GFCI protected.

yep. I would recommend putting the GFCI higher up the wall - determined by the reach of the shortest household member - so it's "different" than a regular outlet but not on the ceiling.

 

[nadogail]

I illuminated my first Garage with used fluorescent fixtures taken from surplus buildings in the later '50s, my next garage was in a new house that the builder had put in only a single light bulb.
I was able to get a luminaire from a building being remodeled and wired it to the single lamp holder in the garage.
My next garage illuminated by a repurposed 2X4 troffer from an office building that was being remodeled.
My present two car garage started out with the ubiquitous single 60 Watt incandescent lamp; it now has 6 two tube fluorescent fixtures in the main hall, three more in the loft above it and another in the small closet where the toilet is installed.

None of these light fixtures cost more that $10, many were less.

 

[cybrdyke]

https://www.greenlightingwholesale.com/collections/high-bay-fixtures/products/bay-e-series-g2-100w-80cri-5000k-120-277v-0-10v-dimming-120d-blackIf you like that style, this is a good affordable UFO.
Small rectangular highbays of similar output are typically a little cheaper.
CD

 

[theoldwizard1]

Never ceases to amaze me how many members are willing to spend on name brand tools (snap on), a nice building, ect, but then search out the cheapest crappiest light fixtures you can buy.

It is a GARAGE, not the Taj Mahal !

As long as the fixture has passed safety standards, is properly installed (not going to fall or short out) and provides adequately light, does it really matter ?

At first I thought 4 rows was over kill, but not with 14' ceiling !

Seriously, there are a ton of very reasonably priced decent quality fixtures all put together in one thread by platonic solid. Read the best light fixture sticky, and the lighting layout sticky.

28 "cheap" garage fixtures would cost $560. 28 nice $50 fixtures would cost $1,400. There is a lot of burgers and beer in the difference !

 

[Bert_]

It is a GARAGE, not the Taj Mahal !

As long as the fixture has passed safety standards, is properly installed (not going to fall or short out) and provides adequately light, does it really matter ?

At first I thought 4 rows was over kill, but not with 14' ceiling !


28 "cheap" garage fixtures would cost $560. 28 nice $50 fixtures would cost $1,400. There is a lot of burgers and beer in the difference !

With that attitude why build the garage at all? You could do the work out in the yard and get your light from the sun. Then you don't have to buy any fixtures! Gee what a deal.

On the same note, why spend the money on burgers? You could buy a lot more cheap hot dogs...

Nobody is suggesting high end fixtures. Just decent stuff that's still affordable. Literally trying to get people the most bang for their buck.