How many T-8 fixures would you put in?

[riggsjr]

Taking a quick survey.I have a 24x32 garage with 9' ceilings.How many T-8 double 4' florescent would you put in? I am think about about 9? Open for suggestions.

 

[frankush]

I only have 8' ceilings in a 24x22 and 6 fixtures does a very nice job.

 

[riggsjr]

Yes I was thinking about only 6 fixtures myself instead of 9 thinking 9 might be an overkill.

 

[Steevo]

In my 24x40 x 12high shop, I used 17 of the 4-bulb 8-foot T8 fixtures.
14 are the general lighting, on three switches, two are above the workbench and one over the lathe.

It is just the right amount of light.

 

[ADSR]

I'm in the same boat with a 24x30. it's 9 foot to 13 foot tho. I NEED LIGHT! All the way down to a 18" working area off floor. I'm going with 9 of the double 8 foot long T8's

 

[Robert Hall]

I used the high output. Are they the same?

I used 6, 4 foot in a 10' ceiling, 20x40 and they are almost too bright.

 

[Olyar15]

I have a 26x24 with 10' ceilings, and have eight double-T8 fixtures. It is reasonably bright, but I wouldn't mind it to be a bit brighter. I think nine would be the minimum for your garage.

 

[UrsusMaritimus]

I have a 22x22 attached garage with 16 foot ceilings, currently have 4 double 4 foot T12's but planning to swap out for 8 of the 4 foot double T8's.

 

[ADSR]

I have a 26x24 with 10' ceilings, and have eight double-T8 fixtures. It is reasonably bright, but I wouldn't mind it to be a bit brighter. I think nine would be the minimum for your garage.

4 or 8 foot?

 

[Kevin C]

I have a 26x24 with 10' ceilings, and have eight double-T8 fixtures. It is reasonably bright, but I wouldn't mind it to be a bit brighter. I think nine would be the minimum for your garage.

In my 24 x 26 with 10' ceilings I have 11 double bulb, 4 ' T8's and one 4 bulb, 4' T8.

Most have high ballast factor ballasts... 624 sq feet and I still want more (What I have works fine, but once you get a bit spoiled..). These are reasonably efficient lamps with built in reflectors.

On average, a T8 bulb for every 25 or so sq feet should get you in the ball park with at least 70 lumens per sq ft.

For my shop projects, I like a lot of light. Older eyes. If it were my shop I would be shooting for 16 or so double bulb T8's. The one quad I put in is between the two garage door and right above the table saw. It fills in lighting from the doors being up and puts a bit more light right where I need it.

I have three zones, but to be honest that was overkill. Its all or nothing.

That said, the final results are fixture dependent. But that's a start.

 

[BHR4CE1]

Put in MORE than you think you need. You don't have to always turn them all on!

 

[Olyar15]

4 or 8 foot?

4foot

 

[regguy1]

9 is not enough, I have 20 48" 2 tube T8's w / 6500K tubes in a 26' x 30'

see photos and videos here: http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=140674&highlight=26'+30'+Garage+photos+videos

 

[pattenp]

I usually suggest at least a 100 LU per sqft. That will take at least 12 to 14 4' 2 lamp F32T8 fixtures. That's if you are going to be doing work in the garage that takes good light. If it's just light needed to see to get in the car or just change the oil then the 9 fixtures should be fine. That's just my opinion.

 

[Falcon67]

Here's 8 in a 24x28x8 space. Spacing on the 24 deep is 4' off the wall then 8' in between. If I had to guess I'd say 10 fixtures in this space if I had gone to 9'. The light is decent but I need drop lights, etc for most detail work on the cars. I could probably use 2 more fixtures now LOL.

 

[Hop2it]

I have a 24x32x10 pole barn and have 10 4 tube 48" t5 fixtures and it lights the place better than all the collision shops I have worked in for 30 years I also have 11 75 watt equivalent led lights on the second floor. Here's a couple of pictures.Doug

 

[Hop2it]

I guess I can only get 1 picture to load at a time.Doug

 

[Hop2it]

Sorry I screwed up I have t8 lights not t5. Doug

 

[allwezcats]

I have a 26x36 with 10' ceilings. I have 11 - 8' T5 HO fixtures. Its bright and I love it!

 

[Pate]

I have 22' x 32', 12' ceiling and have 4 rows of double tube 8 footers. (16' per row)

I'm very happy with the amount of light. I actually have 4 more that I never installed that I originally planned to install.

Random picture of the amount of light.

 

[shooting4life]

I have 12 double bulb 4 foot T8 in my 18x23 garage. Three of the 12 are over the work bench. You need to remember that if you work at night with the garage door up, will that block some of the lights. I added the lights over the bench because when the garage door is up it blocks a 1/3 of the lights at the time.

I now what to add more task lighting on my drill press and reloading area.

 

[NUTTSGT]

I'd take into consideration how you are laying the shop out and what you are doing in it. If you're working on cars, you want some light down the side of the car and some up front. Make sure the ones down the side still yield light when the doors are up.

If you have equipment, you'll want light over them and over your workbench.

 

[Notch1988]

24'x30' with 12' ceilings, running 12 8' x 4 bulb fixtures plus 2 4' x 2 bulb fixtures over the workbench. Total of 52 bulbs.