High bay setup?

[VietGnome]

Planning my 30x40 build. Ceilings should be about 12'8" all said and done.

Trying to figure out the lighting. Linear high bays are EXTREMELY expensive, but I can get Hyperlite UFOs on Amazon for a decent price.

However I understand that UFOs are better suited for a higher ceiling. So I'm planning on counterracting that by doing 2x rows of 4 lights, evenly spaced.

With the lumen count that will put me WAY too bright, so I'd install them on a Hyperlite 1-10V dimmer.

The other significantly cheaper option would be to buy non dimmable hyperlights, but install them on 2-3 switches intermittently. Would be able half the price, but I feel like the balance wouldn't be great.

Thoughts? Also I plan on having task lighting all along the back wall where the benches, etc will be. So I'm considering if I can get away with 2x rows of 3 instead of 4.

 

[Stuart in MN]

High bay lights are generally used when their mounting height is 15' or more. I think you'd be better off with conventional 4' LED strip fixtures. Many of the manufacturers websites have a planning feature where you enter the dimensions of your building and the amount of lighting desired, and it will show you how many fixtures you need.

 

[aggie113]

I used 2 rows of 4 highbays in my 30x40 but I have them up around 18ft. Regardless, dimmers should be mandatory for lighting potentially that bright.

 

[jblnut]

I’d agree with 4’ strip lights. Any “high bay” light will likely not be even at 12’8”.

I have around 3,000w of led high bays in the 54x58x18 work space in my 54x72x18 farm shop and it’s about perfect. 3 rows of 5 175w fixtures on switches per row. Rarely do I turn more than one row on unless I’m working on something large. The lights are 2’ squares.

 

[VietGnome]

High bay lights are generally used when their mounting height is 15' or more. I think you'd be better off with conventional 4' LED strip fixtures. Many of the manufacturers websites have a planning feature where you enter the dimensions of your building and the amount of lighting desired, and it will show you how many fixtures you need.

That's kind of what I was thinking. My concern with conventional LED strips was they're either low lumen (2-3k ea), turned on off with a pull chain, or they're random no name amazon brand. Id ideally like something in the 8-10k lumen range.

Thats why I asked about UFOs, and I wasn't sure if a near 13' ceiling compared to a usually recommended 18' was that big of a difference, especially if I included extra for more coverage.

I assume the risk of a lower ceiling is more of a spotlight effect?

 

[VietGnome]

I’d agree with 4’ strip lights. Any “high bay” light will likely not be even at 12’8”.

I have around 3,000w of led high bays in the 54x58x18 work space in my 54x72x18 farm shop and it’s about perfect. 3 rows of 5 175w fixtures on switches per row. Rarely do I turn more than one row on unless I’m working on something large. The lights are 2’ squares.

Thanks. Like I said right after you posted my concern with 4' strips is finding something high enough lumen, and a good price. I'll keep searching.

Thanks!

 

[Stuart in MN]

That's kind of what I was thinking. My concern wpith conventional LED strips was they're either low lumen (2-3k ea), turned on off with a pull chain, or they're random no name amazon brand. Id ideally like something in the 8-10k lumen range.

Thats why I asked about UFOs, and I wasn't sure if a near 13' ceiling compared to a usually recommended 18' was that big of a difference, especially if I included extra for more coverage.

I assume the risk of a lower ceiling is more of a spotlight effect?

Yes, you get hot spots under each fixture and the light distribution is uneven.
I'm not up on what is the latest and greatest for strip lighting, I've been retired for a few years and the LED market is still evolving pretty rapidly. I'd dig around in the other current discussions, in particular the best lighting one that's a sticky at the top of this section, to see what's recommended for good quality fixtures that aren't just the cheapest you can get off Amazon. They may cost more but I still recommend going with name brands like Lithonia, but having said that there are fixtures from lesser known sources that are good too.

 

[dscheidt]

That's kind of what I was thinking. My concern with conventional LED strips was they're either low lumen (2-3k ea), turned on off with a pull chain, or they're random no name amazon brand. Id ideally like something in the 8-10k lumen range.

Thats why I asked about UFOs, and I wasn't sure if a near 13' ceiling compared to a usually recommended 18' was that big of a difference, especially if I included extra for more coverage.

I assume the risk of a lower ceiling is more of a spotlight effect?

Ignore the cord connected strips, they're all garbage, designed for the lowest price. There are plenty of hardwired options available, designed around the historical 4' tube. a 4' fluorescent is about 3k lumens, which is why the led options are roughly that. it makes retrofit easier, either by putting led tubes in a fixture, or by installing integrated led fixtures in their place. (There are even new fixtures to take the retrofit tubes.) It also means that installers and designers can continue what they'd been doing. You do not want high bay ufos in a low ceiling. Not only do you have hot spots, they're low enough they are in your field of view and cause glare.

 

[kngelv]

I have these RAB medium bay lights: https://www.prolighting.com/h17.html
They are adjustable for both lumen output and color temperature. I hate the look of strip lights but did not want overly bright high bay ones. Give them a call and talk with one of their lighting people. The ones I have are great and I have a 12' ceiling.

James

 

[cybrdyke]

Best LED 4' strip right now--> LBI Max
Power selectable, CCT selectable, drop lens for great beam spread, 6000+ lumens in high setting, buttsplice or linkable, dimmable, and reasonably priced. This is pro stuff, not amazon garbage.
Good luck,
CD

 

[b-boy]

I have 6 UFOs in my 30x40 barn with a 12 ft ceiling. They are evenly distributed across the ceiling. I have them on a dimmer because they put out a huge amount of light. I generally run them at about 30%. If I turn them all the way up, I could perform surgery.

I have no complaints.

I do have a loft and use regular LED pot lights under the loft. I have an office setup there, and they work well.

 

[VietGnome]

I have 6 UFOs in my 30x40 barn with a 12 ft ceiling. They are evenly distributed across the ceiling. I have them on a dimmer because they put out a huge amount of light. I generally run them at about 30%. If I turn them all the way up, I could perform surgery.

I have no complaints.

I do have a loft and use regular LED pot lights under the loft. I have an office setup there, and they work well.

Do you find that you get any glare off of them? Or catch them out of your peripherals while working?

Edit: and no issue with the spotlight effect people above you are mentioning?

 

[b-boy]

Do you find that you get any glare off of them? Or catch them out of your peripherals while working?

Edit: and no issue with the spotlight effect people above you are mentioning?

Not that I've noticed. Again, I do have supplemental lighting under my loft where needed, but the main work area is brighter than I will ever need it.

 

[Improved700]

I finished off my shop building this past fall, 26 x 40 with 11'6" ceiling height.
White metal ceiling, with gloss white painted plywood walls.
I like it as bright as I can get it. Like operating room bright.

So I purchased these from Amazon. Used epoxy to glue some magnets to the housing, and stuck them to the ceiling.
4 rows. Each row has (4) 8' units, and a 4' unit.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DFQ3HCPP?tag=atomicindus08-20

Its bright as can be in there, and I absolutely love it, and didn't break the bank on price.
Excuse the mess. Still getting things in order.
Glad I went this route.

Good luck!!!!!
kev