High ceiling lighting suggestions please

[swharris]

So the framers are done and the monster is up. The height of the rafters is a bit shocking, but that's what I told them to do so...that's what I got. Haha.

I'm going to go with LED shop lights(4' or 8'?), but I'm looking for suggestions on type, brand, length, height of light off of floor, mounting (hard conduit or chain), any other things like that. Since I want to keep the useful height of the garage available for any tall items I bring in, will I need to spec out more units closer together to make up for the distance from the floor? Not sure if I'm explaining it correctly.

Any on line lighting calculators that are simple to use? Here are a few pics of the current state. A bit hard to tell, but the bottom of the main beam is about 18' off the floor. Thanks for any input!

Google hosted pics:
https://goo.gl/photos/juaCgbTSVvN96Ye86

This shop has a build thread you can find here: http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=355250

 

[cybrdyke]

Pics dont show up. Bummer.
Most LED shop lights are ****. From 18' you should be looking at some kind of highbay, around 10,000 to 12,000 lumens.
Something like this: http://techbrite.com/pdf/b2641f7f-2d90-4e4d-ab49-21abc38f9eb7.pdf
Good luck,
CD

 

[slimcake]

I have 15ft to my peak and put in 6 8ft led strip lights. Its plenty bright. Also put a couple on the wall where the hoist is going and one directly above the work bench. Hard to see with the mess but this is all I got now.

 

[swharris]

Pics dont show up. Bummer.
Most LED shop lights are ****. From 18' you should be looking at some kind of highbay, around 10,000 to 12,000 lumens.
Something like this: http://techbrite.com/pdf/b2641f7f-2d90-4e4d-ab49-21abc38f9eb7.pdf
Good luck,
CD

Oops. Sorry, I changed it to a link. Try this link https://goo.gl/photos/EWNyfdm5EgJxaoR4A

 

[cybrdyke]

Holy sheepshit, Batman!! That's a monster!! So jealous!!
Yeah.....get something decent for that. Dont cheap out on the lights.
CD

 

[stamanti]

I'm going with these from Home Depot that I got for $146 each after the online order bulk discount.

I haven't installed them yet, so I really can't tell you if they are any good, but the reviews are strong.

http://www.homedepot.com/p/Lithonia-Lighting-2-ft-White-LED-High-Bay-Light-IBH-11L-MV/203812710

Per my Dialux model I should have 90 foot candles on a work plane 2.65 feet off the floor with a 5 by 5 grid in my 48 by 68. Mounting height of the fixture is 12 foot pendant style. But again, this is the theoretical result.

 

[Czar]

Wait for PlatonicSolid to chime in. I followed his plan and couldn't be happier. He is definitely has a ridiculous amount of knowledge and experience.

Czar, that dependents on the lamp diameter: T8 matters, T5 not so much.
This 23 x 25 x 15 (interior dims) should answer most of your questions:



Average Illuminance:

Qty.25 SNF232 = 84fc | Qty.25 SSF232 = 99fc

Qty.15 SNF254 = 77fc | Qty.15 SSF254 = 80fc

Comparing SNF232 to SSF232 there's a 15% loss (or 18% gain depending which way you want to look at it) which is significant.

Comparing SNF254 to SSF254 there's a 4% loss (or 4% gain) which is not significant. If you study the two bottom 54T5 plots, you'll quickly realize that they're basically identical. The program just chose to plot different value isolines.

 

[swharris]

Wait for PlatonicSolid to chime in. I followed his plan and couldn't be happier. He is definitely has a ridiculous amount of knowledge and experience.

He has PM blocked. If you're reading PS, I'd appreciate your input