Help with lighting design

[RaskyR1]

Hello,

I'm looking for some help on designing the lighting for a new garage/shop addition, 24' x 32' and at least 10' ceilings, 12' if the wife gives in. I've been reading a lot but it's all pretty overwhelming and figured I'd try and get help from those who know best. Walls and ceiling will be finished off and painted white. Floor will have grey epoxy with color chips.

I work on cars on weekends (detailing) and I made the mistake of not researching proper lighting in my current set up, and instead I just went with what I felt was "sufficient" for my needs and the space (See pic). I went with 8 dual bulb 8 foot futures from Lowes back in 2006. I do take a lot of pictures of the vehicles I work on so color accuracy is somewhat important (higher CRI fixtures/bulbs). I'm totally open to suggestions, but it seems like 4' T8 florescent fixtures are the way to go? I just want to make sure it's done right this time.

Thanks,
Rasky

 

[slice]

Look at getting higher kelvin rated bulbs. 5200k. It really brightens things up.

 

[Platonic Solid]

What lamp - exactly - is in there now? (brand - model - color)

 

[RaskyR1]

What lamp - exactly - is in there now? (brand - model - color)

Nothing yet. We are still getting bids from contractors and I'm just trying to figure out the best design for my application and get an idea of what it will cost.

 

[Redwolf947]

So this Pic is of what you have but your building new I gather?

 

[Platonic Solid]

Nothing yet. We are still getting bids from contractors and I'm just trying to figure out the best design for my application and get an idea of what it will cost.

I'm asking as that picture looks excessively yellow, like in the 3000K CCT range or maybe it's the wall color, or poor CRI.

 

[RaskyR1]

So this Pic is of what you have but your building new I gather?

Yes. Well, that pic is what I "had" really. I sold my home to my best friend after I got married but I still or out of it. We are adding on to my wife's home now and I just want to be sure it done correctly.

 

[RaskyR1]

I'm asking as that picture looks excessively yellow, like in the 3000K CCT range or maybe it's the wall color, or poor CRI.

Sorry. It's been about 9 years since I finished that garage so I don't recall the brand of fixtures or bulbs. They were your standard Lowes 8' T12 fixtures, not the HO ones. I'm pretty sure they have 5K bulbs in them. I know the box said "daylight" but I can double check when I'm there later this week. I was debating T5 fixtures but recall a post (I think by you) where it sounded like they weren't ideal in applications with lower ceilings???

 

[chruler]

This might help.

http://www.3drender.com/glossary/colortemp.htm

I like long bulbs in a shop because they help to negate the shadows and create a smoother quality to the light with softer shadows.

The larger the light source, and the more spread out the fixtures are, the softer the shadows will be. You'll get a more ambient light quality.

 

[RaskyR1]

Platonic, you seem to be one of the most knowledgeable on this topic.

I'm located in Minnesota so it does get cold here, but the shop will always be above 40 degrees and I want to be sure what I get is good for my climate. The fixtures in my current location take a while to heat up when it's cooler and I don't want that this time around. Looking at your spreadsheet, if I went with the below lamp/ballast/fixture, how many should I need to install in order to achieve 100+fc and how should they be laid out given my garage size. I'll have a scissor lift that will be installed in the center and cars will always be placed on it while working on them (if that matters).

Ballast: QHE2X32T8/UNV PSH-HT
Lamps: FO32/841/XP/ECO3



Your spreadsheet is awesome btw!


BTW, the yellowish color in the first pic was off a little I think, possibly the cheap camera I was using at the time. A more recent pic shows a more natural white light.

Thanks,
Rasky

 

[RaskyR1]

So I played around with a free lighting tool online (note sure I used it correctly). I'm also not sure what the reflectance would be of my ceiling, walls, and floor, but assuming I went with the fixture above it looks like this would get me close to 100fc. Thoughts?

 

[padstack]

See my post at the bottom of this page - http://www.nist.gov/pml/div685/grp03/vision_color.cfm

and platonic's on this page (post #13) - http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=286257

Both reference CQS. If you're taking a lot of pics of your work, it's worth looking into. I don't want to derail your thread so I'm going to shut up here, but I think it would be a good 5-10 minutes well spent if you're going to redo the lighting anyway. Color accuracy isn't all about CRI anymore.

 

[cybrdyke]

Rasky,

In your lighting tool, change your wattage to 72 for that lamp/ballast combination

Ballast: QHE2X32T8/UNV PSH-HT
Lamps: FO32/841/XP/ECO3

Without delving into it too far, it seems to me like way over-kill. 16 overdrive fixtures in that space seems like too much, but that's just me.....
CD

Also, I dont see fixture losses accounted for anywhere. Maybe the software does it automatically.

 

[RaskyR1]

See my post at the bottom of this page - http://www.nist.gov/pml/div685/grp03/vision_color.cfm

and platonic's on this page (post #13) - http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=286257

Both reference CQS. If you're taking a lot of pics of your work, it's worth looking into. I don't want to derail your thread so I'm going to shut up here, but I think it would be a good 5-10 minutes well spent if you're going to redo the lighting anyway. Color accuracy isn't all about CRI anymore.

Thank you! I'll give it a read.

 

[Platonic Solid]

Rasky, I'm currently on vacation with limited PC access and no access to any higher end software. What you did in visual-3d looks good to me. Your ballast/lamp selection looks good too.