Hello everyone, im new to this site, I absolutely enjoy reading the posts to find new info and seeing everyones shops, and at the end of this year I will be getting MY new shop and home. I was wondering, I am going to go with the L.E.D. T8 tubes in my shop and was wondering how many fixtures should I go with?? obviously 2 bulbs to one fixture.. Each bulb is 1600 lumens, im going with L.E.D. because I obviously want it "holy **** this is bright" but not "this is too much", the shop will be 30x50. Any help would be greatly appreciated
How Many Lights?
- Thread starter Darcy86
- Start date
pattenp
Well-known member
I think you should have at least 100 lumens per sqft. So if my math is correct that's 47 fixtures.
pattenp
Well-known member
Using regular T8 2 lamp 4' fixtures it will be around 28 fixtures. That is a lot easier on the pocket book. Plus a lot less fixtures to mount.
pattenp
Well-known member
No, I'm saying 28 fixtures using regular T8 florescent tubes, not LED. A single F32T8 tube is about 2700 lumens vs. the 1600 lumens you say for the LED T8. The F32T8 tubes by the case are around $2-$3 each.
gatchel
Well-known member
Yes, typically LED's are not cost effective for a garage application unless you plan on using them many hours a day.
DirtRoad
Well-known member
tjcanno
Member
I think 100 lumens per square foot everywhere might be over-doing it. It depends on what you plan to do in the space.
For example, a woodworking shop needs that, plus task lighting on some machines.
General garage use (store some cars, have a bench to keep tools, etc.) does not need that much everywhere.
In my 30'x35' garage, where I restore antique cars, my average is 45 lumens per sq. ft. I also use portable task lighting. That 100 lumens per sq foot will not shine much under the hood, under the car, inside the car under the dash, etc. So I need task lighting anyway. I have never felt my garage was dark.
I just calculated this out tonight because I am building a new, larger garage and wanted to figure out how many fixtures to put in. When I saw the 100 lumen per sq. ft. number here, I had to go see what it is I have now.
For example, a woodworking shop needs that, plus task lighting on some machines.
General garage use (store some cars, have a bench to keep tools, etc.) does not need that much everywhere.
In my 30'x35' garage, where I restore antique cars, my average is 45 lumens per sq. ft. I also use portable task lighting. That 100 lumens per sq foot will not shine much under the hood, under the car, inside the car under the dash, etc. So I need task lighting anyway. I have never felt my garage was dark.
I just calculated this out tonight because I am building a new, larger garage and wanted to figure out how many fixtures to put in. When I saw the 100 lumen per sq. ft. number here, I had to go see what it is I have now.
I would only do T8s or T5s... Every store I go to is now getting rid of T12s. LED isn't cheap enough to be worth it.
If you are **** like me and want your bulbs all the same color, when you buy the bulbs, pick up a 50 pack and that way, they will match for quite a while.
If you are **** like me and want your bulbs all the same color, when you buy the bulbs, pick up a 50 pack and that way, they will match for quite a while.
I just finished this project in my 30x30 shop. I mounted 9 four foot T8 fixtures and it is very well lit. I wasn't sure it would be enough until I hit the switch for the first time. No dark spots anywhere. My insulation is white so I am sure that helps too.
tjcanno
Member
That's good to hear. That works out to 54 lumens/sq.ft, which kind of supports my number (my current garage is a bit bigger and has 45 Lumens/sq.ft.) My new building will be 54 lumens/sq.ft., same as yours.
You don't need 100 lumens/sq.ft. unless you want to do detailed work anywhere in the building at any time without any task lighting. Sure, you can do it, but often times you don't need to (depending on what you are doing in the building).
Jim
cj7365
Well-known member
I am not an expert on the lumens thing, but I have a 30x50 shop only 10ft ceiling, I have T8 8ea 4bulb fixtures. I think the mentioned 28 or 47 fixtures is absurd
My 8 fixtures with 4 bulbs provide good lighting for the whole gargage
EOC_Jason
Well-known member
If you can fit the 8' fixtures that use the tandem 4' T8's that is the way to go. Then use regular 4' T8 fixtures in places where an 8' won't work...
If you call around to supply stores (not HD), you can probably get the fixtures cheaper and find better quality ones. Likewise they typically have a better assortment of light bulbs if you want a particular temp (some people light the white while others like the warmer color of a traditional incandescent)....
If you call around to supply stores (not HD), you can probably get the fixtures cheaper and find better quality ones. Likewise they typically have a better assortment of light bulbs if you want a particular temp (some people light the white while others like the warmer color of a traditional incandescent)....
pattenp
Well-known member
The recommended lumen level for work shops ranges from 70 lumens to over 125 lumens per sqft depending on the detail level of work being done. I have about 115 lumens per sqft in my shop/garage and find it to be a good level of light. So to have 28 fixtures to get 100 Lu per sqft is in noway absurd. The 100 Lu per sqft is my recommendation. If your recommendation is for far less Lu per sqft then that's fine. I won't call your suggestion absurd.
DirtRoad
Well-known member
The 8ft fixtures i linked take 4 four foot T8's.
NHBandit
Well-known member
With my 30x40x12 I used 12 T8 fixtures with regular bulbs. Got the kind that have 4 4' bulbs per fixture. No lights above the "office" since that is used just for storage and I can see good enough. If I didn't have the office I would have used 14 fixtures spaced as the others are. It's plenty bright in the shop and I have no regrets about how I did mine. I don't seem to have any blind spots anywhere even with the doors open at night.
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My 28'x40' with 10.5' ceiling has 18 8' 4 bulb T8 fixtures. My bulbs are 2750 Lumens I believe I am around 177 Lumen per Sq Ft. It lights it up great and I also have it wired so a switch controls each row of 4 8' fixtures for when I do not need all the light.
Totallymetal
Member
NHBandit! Is that an SS on the rack with RS tail lights? That looks exactly like the car I sold back in 97-98, Ford 9" with discs in the rear? I used to live in Va Beach... I miss that thing
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jomobco
Well-known member
IIRC I'm at 85 lumens/sq' which works out well for me.
NHBandit
Well-known member
It's not an original SS, was Red when I got it, dosn't have R/S lights in the rear and is from NH. Has a 12 bolt Camaro rear that I did the disc brake conversion on myself using rotors from a 79 Trans Am and aluminum Wilwood calipers and has never been to Virginia... Other than that it is a Camaro, just not your old car.. LoLNHBandit! Is that an SS on the rack with RS tail lights? That looks exactly like the car I sold back in 97-98, Ford 9" with discs in the rear? I used to live in Va Beach... I miss that thing
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