Help with Light Layout 24x34x12

[Speedy!]

I've been doing a lot of reading and it seems most folks use the strip lights in their shops with T8 32W bulbs. I was planning to do 4' T8 fixtures with a wrap diffuser and was trying to decide between the 2 bulb fixture or the 4 bulb fixture. The total cost difference is $300 more (based on HD pricing) for the 4 bulb including the extra bulbs. The lights will be on two separate switches with switch (1) running 1,3,5,7,9,11 and switch (2) running 2,4,6,8,10,12.

Shop will be 24' wide 34' deep and have 12' ceilings except for a tray to allow room for the lift that will be 13' 6". Walls will be light gray on the lower half and white on the upper half with white ceiling.

http://www.homedepot.com/p/Lithonia...PIPHorizontal1_rr-_-100427375-_-100427376-_-N

Anyone have advice for me on this? Shop will be used for mainly automotive type work and maybe some paint and body down the road.

Here's the layout. There will be a 6' steel table with sink on the wall by the bathroom and a work bench in the back by the window. I will likely have some ceiling plug receptacles installed by those areas in the event I want to add a suspended task like (led ?) down the road if necessary.

Thanks in advance for the advice. I wanna get this right the first time.

 

[Speedy!]

 

[Speedy!]

Well, did quite a bit of reading and found an online light calculator. The above layout with 4 bulb fixtures is the ticket. Gives 123 min fc (ish) throughout the shop. The ies file I used to run the numbers didn't have a diffuser on it, but I want to cut down the glare so a diffuser it is.

Gonna use the Lowe's Utilitech 4 bulb T8 fixture as they are residential ballast and do not cause RFI and Phillips 800 series 4100K bulbs that come in the 30pk box for $55.

http://www.lowes.com/pd_184346-1353...p_product_price|1&pl=1&Ntt=utilitech+lighting

I went to HD this weekend and the ballast in the fixture I linked above has the ballast in them that causes loads of RFI so stay away from those.

I'm gonna check with a local light distributor before pulling the trigger on the Lowes units first to see if I can get something better for cheaper, but the Lowes light seems pretty good.

 

[cybrdyke]

I'm gonna check with a local light distributor before pulling the trigger on the Lowes units first to see if I can get something better for cheaper, but the Lowes light seems pretty good.

What you'll find is that the local electrical supply doesn't usually market their products to Mr. Homeowner. Thus, most wont carry a low end product line like Utilitech. On their shelf, they will definitely have economy fixtures, but they will be from better known brands. You can get those at a fair price, not a Utilitech price.
Normally, they aren't interested in worrying about competing against Utilitech at the big box stores for 12 fixtures. They are interested in selling them by the hundreds along with all the other stuff that is required to get them installed.
They also probably wont have the residential ballasts in any of their fixtures as this is not usually a concern of their targeted customer.
I think those fixtures you've chosen will be fine for your garage.
Good luck
CD

 

[Speedy!]

Thanks CD.

 

[SALIV8]

Try http://www.visual-3d.com/tools/interior/default.aspx?id=14782

I used that and am quite happy with how my lighting turned out.

 

[Speedy!]

Try http://www.visual-3d.com/tools/interior/default.aspx?id=14782

I used that and am quite happy with how my lighting turned out.

That's a good one and has a fixture VERY close to what I'm planning to use.

How many fc did you shoot for when designing yours? I picked 100 at 4 feet work surface.

 

[Platonic Solid]

Shoot for 90fc at 2.5ft workplane in an empty room. It will drop significantly as you put stuff in there.

 

[Speedy!]

^^ Thanks for the tip! Looks like I was just about spot on with my initial layout and this info confirms I need the 4 bulb fixtures.