LED Shop Lights for Basement Gym

[judgmentalist]

I’m planning on using 13 of the lights pictured in the attached photo in a 17’x20’x7.5’ basement gym. Four rows of three every other joist over 10 joists and one in a little L-shaped pocket (due to ceiling obstruction limitations). My goal is to have all the lights wired to work off of the same dimmer switch. Is this possible? Please help. Also if this is a dumb idea, I’m open to any and all alternative suggestions, acknowledging that I don’t know diddly squat about electrical work. Please and thank you in advance.

 

[Chuckster in NJ]

Are these dimmable fixtures?

 

[Shiftless]

In my opinion, those fixtures with the clear covers (no diffusers) installed in a room with low ceilings, will be painfully bright. Also, I think you are planning for about twice as many fixtures as you need for a home gym of that size. You don’t need to have surgery operating room levels of illumination do you?
Instead of a dimmer, (which might not work with those budget fixtures) why not wire them up with 2 switches so you can run half of them at a time?

With that low ceiling, you might need to have the 13 fixtures to get perfectly even illumination (if that is important to you). In that case, I think you will need to over light the area and have dimming capability.

As Chuckster said earlier, make sure those fixtures are compatible with whatever dimmer you decide to use. I wouldn’t have a lot of faith in fixtures that retail for only $15 each.

 

[RMERR]

I glanced at the AMZ ad. Says linkable up to 6 lights, so 13 on one circuit doesn't sound like it will work. Also no mention of being dimmable, so I would assume they're not.

 

[Shiftless]

I glanced at the AMZ ad. Says linkable up to 6 lights, so 13 on one circuit doesn't sound like it will work. Also no mention of being dimmable, so I would assume they're not.

That limit only applies of you link them up together. Daisy chain.
If each one plugs in to a receptacle, the only limit would be the current carrying capacity of that house circuit. Those fixtures are rated to draw 1/3 amp each. So 13 of them would only pull about 4 amps.
If a guy didn’t mind all of those cords running across his ceiling, he could daisy chain them in groups of 3-4 and only install 3 receptacles to power 13 fixtures.

I have plug in fixtures in my garage. A total of 9 that plug in to duplex receptacles in groups of two.
Five duplex receptacles on one 20 amp circuit. Yes, don’t forget that receptacles powering lights still need GFCI protection to comply with code.

 

[imagineer]

I agree with Shiftless, 6500K's are going to be very bright. Consider that in the course of working out, you'll be on your back from time to time, and staring directly at the lights.

In my basement workout space, I have 3 - 4' long 4800K lights and I think they're still too bright. The lights are bout 7'-3" from the floor.

 

[dave*99]

Consider 4000K or 5000K fixtures. Might be more comfortable on the eyes.
Also frosted bulbs or covered fixtures will be less harsh.
I agree with the comments that 13 fixtures might be needed to evenly illuminate the space, but 5000lm per fixture will be too bright. There is a 2200lm 20W version
There are lighting calculators online. You can do a layout and design to a target illumination value.

 

[judgmentalist]

Thanks everyone. I signed up for email and notifications when I got responses, but for some reason I didn’t get any, and I’m just getting around to checking back in.. I’m going to think about this some more.

 

[75gmck25]

Are those hardwired or are they plug-in lights?

If you use plug-in lights you can just install switched receptacles at regular intervals, and then start out with a few lights to see how they distribute light. If you need more lights, then just plug-in more lights.

 

[judgmentalist]

You can go either way. I might start with plug in while I’m figuring out the layout, that’s a good idea, thanks. I like hardwired long term though.