If PCs canned lights

[Ran58]

I have two different ideas from electricians for lighting for my shop. The “shop” part of the building is 47 by 60 by 12 ft ceiling height. One guy says to use 8 UFO lights at a total cost of about $850. Other guy says UFO’s are meant for higher ceilings and are too bright. He says can 12 can lights will be better and will Cost much less.

What do you guys think.

 

[Max]

There is a good chance that you won’t like either. Before the experts chime in, you can help by saying what your use going to be. For example, woodworking, general auto stuff, machining, spray painting, storage, etc.

 

[kbeefy]

I have 150w UFO's in my 12' high shop, they work fine.
They do mess with pictures because of the glare, canned lights would reduce that.




Oops, forgot to put my noose away.

 

[b-boy]

I have 6 150W UFOs in a 30'x40' pole barn with 12' a ceiling.

They are on dimmers. I personally have no problems with the glare. I keep the dimmers at about 40%. If I turn them up to 100%, I can use it as an operating room. There's no shortage of available light when needed. I like them.

 

[Ran58]

There is a good chance that you won’t like either. Before the experts chime in, you can help by saying what your use going to be. For example, woodworking, general auto stuff, machining, spray painting, storage, etc.

Shop will be used mostly for some woodworking but also storage of mowers, etc and just general tinkering around.

 

[walta]

I don’t like the idea of a few bright points of light. If you need to look up you are staring in to the sun and are blind. Also, if you get between the closest light and your work you’re working in a shadow.

I have 4 foot LEDs with diffusers I like them a lot.



Walta

 

[cybrdyke]

I have two different ideas from electricians for lighting for my shop.

What do you guys think.

I've said it before....
I have mad respect for electricians and all the wizardry that they can do. I'm not an electrician, which makes me all the more appreciative of their talent. But, electricians are not the right people to offer advice about lighting design. That's not to say that there aren't some electricians that know a thing or two about lighting design. There most definitely are. But both of the guys you got advice from are wrong.
First step is to determine how much light, in foot-candles, you want.
Next step is to decide what kind of fixtures you like. It's your space.
Then you use the photometrics of those fixtures to see how many you would need to achieve the foot-candles that you want.
You'll probably need someone to do this for you. This might change your mind about the 2nd step! For instance, if you have to put up 50 cans to achieve a certain light level, you might not like them so much any more.
You take all that information, add in your budget, and it will help you determine what to use.
Good luck,
CD

 

[Stuart in MN]

If you haven't already, go through the sticky notes at the top of the electrical forum about lighting arrangements and lighting fixtures. In general I think the best bang for the buck will be 4 foot LED strip light fixtures. There are a ton of different brands, so you'll need to do some research to find the best ones for your space (and budget.)

 

[larry_g]

Be careful where you put the lights. No need for great lighting over the storage area for the mowers and stuff. You might end up with a mixed set of lights for the different areas of the shop. Me, I put in switched receptacles in the ceiling of my machine shop area so that I could move light fixtures about to best illuminate the different machines as they move about. Some here have said that is not to code but it works for me.

lg
no neat sig line

 

[exranger06]

Be careful where you put the lights. No need for great lighting over the storage area for the mowers and stuff. You might end up with a mixed set of lights for the different areas of the shop. Me, I put in switched receptacles in the ceiling of my machine shop area so that I could move light fixtures about to best illuminate the different machines as they move about. Some here have said that is not to code but it works for me.

lg
no neat sig line

Having switched receptacles in the ceiling is not against code. Current code requires all receptacles to be GFCI protected, even the ceiling ones though. As long as they're fed from a GFCI breaker, or a GFCI receptacle mounted low on the wall, it's perfectly up to code.

 

[u2slow]

As an installer and homeowner, I hate can/pot lights.

I would sooner have the ceiling wired with evenly spaced octogons or junction boxes. Then you have the choice to use a simple lamp base initially, and/or upgrade to a different fixture as you see fit. You may also find lighting on walls, or on edges of shelving useful to avoid shadows.

Not everywhere needs GFCI... none in my shop. I don't invite anyone in to check.

 

[Juiced06GTO]

12 can lights, even if you go with 8" LED recessed at probably 12-1500 lumens is not going to give you enough light in the space if you want to work on things in there.

I have 21 - 6" Recessed LED's 1040 lumens each on dimmers for general lighting. I then have 6 - UFO Low Bays that I can run as well, also on dimmers, 0-10v dimmers, that turn the place into an operating room. The added light is huge when working under the hood of a vehicle or even under it as there are no shadows when all the lights are on.

 

[Chukster]

I have 150w UFO's in my 12' high shop, they work fine.
They do mess with pictures because of the glare, canned lights would reduce that.




Oops, forgot to put my noose away.

It's merely a loop, not a proper hangman's noose, with 13 turns around it.

Now there's an oxymoron; proper hangman's noose.