Ideas on fluorescent lights and location

[ktm010]

planning on T8's 48" bulbs, ideas on placement would be Great. Thinking on down the center between the bays and on either side of each bay, and some in the shop area. Cieling height is 10' and 10' up to 14' at the peak of the truss. I can't do anything with drawings so here are some pictures. Ceiling will be finished in white metal. Thanks

 

[BigTJ]

From my experience, you can never have too much light. That being said, I have 9 48" lights in a 20x18 garage, thinkin of addin 2 more.

 

[regguy1]

20 48" T8's in my 26' x 30'

See placement in the video tour link below

(the shop is brighter than it looks in some parts of the video)

 

[Charles (in GA)]

This has been discussed recently. Someone posted some pretty good illustrations. In the middle of a bay causes shadows to be cast and really doesn't get in the nooks and crannys if you are working on a car under it. Lights on either side of a bay work better. But you don't always work on cars. Lawnmowers, tractors, woodworking projects, etc also happen in a bay, so the more light the better.

Charles

 

[eljefino]

+1 on the side lights. Makes stuff like brake work so much better on the wall side of a car.

Pay extra for high-CRI bulbs, they're reasonable in a big box of 10 or larger and colors look better/brighter under them.

Put an edison base in somewhere for a ~13 watt CFL "night light" on its own switch. This will save abuse on your main lights and ballasts if you just run out there for 30 seconds to put something away, and will save electricity if you leave the garage open while snowblowing or otherwise out and about.

I rigged a 4 foot flourescent light so if my garage door is open it shines down through the window glass in said door. It was otherwise a dark, perceivably unusable spot to put a light. I back cars in to work on them and the overhead door is often over the open hood. Great until light fades into the evening.

 

[dave67fd]

10 96" T8's in a 28 x 38.

 

[Steevo]

Please provide a floor plan of your space, and if possible what the various work areas will be, so we can recommend best lighting locations.

 

[ktm010]

the best I can do, fine lines by the overhead doors are the tracks.. thanks dave67fd for pictures

 

[BMEP]

Certainly not the only way to do it but I opted to evenly space the lights for even distribution. I started with the amount of light I wanted, then calculated the number of light fixtures needed to get there. More info here: http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showpost.php?p=2042007&postcount=34

A lot of work up front but it's enough work to hang and wire the lights so it was worth the effort to figure out what I wanted before putting anything up.

That's 22 eight foot fixtures and 2 four footers - 92 four foot tubes total (not all fixtures are in the photo)

 

[regguy1]

I agree don't put them in the center or you'll have shadows around the cars

I had to put 2 lights under the soffit storage area, after I built it there was a shadow on the wall (see photo 3)

 

[kwikrs]

regguy1 How many circuits did you have for all those lights? How did you wire them? THanks

 

[SGKent]

we went with 6 x 2 bulb fixtures x 48" with natural daylight bulbs in a 20 x 18 garage and 1 small light over the washing area in case we are just out there throwing clothes in the washer/dryer or getting dog food etc. 3 switches. Make sure you have light evenly all over and extra over your work bench area. Set at least one light so you won't shadow your work when you are standing at the bench. Also if you open the rollup door and work that way put any lights above it on a seperate circuit so you can turn them off when the door is up say on warm summer days - otherwise you will pay to light the top of your door.

 

[hubgarage]

Thanks for all the pics in this thread.

My lights will run parallel with the vehicles, on each side of them.

I have been looking into lighting, went to Home Depot a couple days ago, looks like T5 lights are the newest, they had 4 bulb, 8' HO (high output) T5 (5'8" diameter).

http://www.ehow.com/about_6656335_t5-vs_-t8-bulbs.html

 

[hubgarage]

It looks like T8's will be fine for my application, the bulbs are much cheaper, last plenty long, and the fixtures are about half the price. It's not like I'm lighting a warehouse which is lit 24/7 where peak lighting efficienty is required.

 

[Plane Crazy]

This has been discussed recently. Someone posted some pretty good illustrations. In the middle of a bay causes shadows to be cast and really doesn't get in the nooks and crannys if you are working on a car under it. Lights on either side of a bay work better. But you don't always work on cars. Lawnmowers, tractors, woodworking projects, etc also happen in a bay, so the more light the better.

Charles

they thought i was crazy
wanting many windows on the sides
(lots of sun light too)
Guess I am
Plane Crazy lol

lights on

lights off

lights off- afternoon

Night lights- lol

DC-10

 

[hubgarage]

Here is my current plan 23'X23' garage 8.5' ceiling

 

[regguy1]

regguy1 How many circuits did you have for all those lights? How did you wire them? THanks

I had 3 existing switches on seperate breaker, I used one switch for each side of shop (10 lights) the 15 amp circuit easily handles them. I still have 1 open switch for future needs. I wired the lights together in series and went up through the ceiling to boxes above (2X)

 

[esburger]

I just recently bought these 4 foot 4 bulb t-8 fixtures that came with the bulbs. I got them for 81 a piece. It looks like they are a touch more now. Comes with chains for mouting also. check them out. They are bright bright bright. You can't beat the price! I tried
http://www.electricalmarketplace.co...-High-Bay-5000K-Lamps-Included-P2109C317.aspx

 

[jake26]

From my experience, you can never have too much light. That being said, I have 9 48" lights in a 20x18 garage, thinkin of addin 2 more.

Right there with ya TJ. I just installed 11 48" (2 buld) fixtures for my 25' x 26' garage and it now looks angelic. My wife says it is too bright but I have them on three switches so no big deal, me thinks.