Let there be LIGHT!

[mxhonda]

This weekend I installed the lighting for my new 30x40x12 metal building. I used my lighting design calculator to determine the type, quantity, and light output in foot candles. After plugging in several different types of fixtures from metal halide high bay, low bay, flourescent industrials, high output, slimline, etc., I finally decided on 8 four lamp 8' flourescent fixtures with 4-32watt t8 lamps per fixture. This gave me the 30+ foot candles of light I was looking for with a very even light (no hot spots) and a very energy efficient package (less than 900watts, 7.5amps total). The lights and lamps cost $400 from the local Home Depot, who had a better price than my local electrical supply house's. I split my circuits to 2 switches so I can only turn on one side or the other if I don't want them all on.

I have attached the 2 lighting sheets that describe the results on paper so you know what to expect before you start, along with layout and dimensions.

If you post on this thread the following info along with what types of lighting your considering, I will print out a report for you to help with your next lighting project. It may take a couple of days turn around depending on my availability.

Required info:

Length, Width, and Height
Roof Slope IE: 3:12 pitch, 12ft sidewall, 16ft peak
Dropped ceiling (tile size) or open ceiling
Relflectance Wall, Ceiling, Floor IE: white walls, silver ceiling, tan floor
Power limitations, desires IE: only 10amps available, 120v/240v, most efficient
Let me know what you expect from the finished product.

"Remember, When designing a new or upgraded lighting system, it is important to avoid under-lighting or over-lighting your space. Although 30 to 50 foot candles of light may be sufficient for most spaces and activities within
a garage, having too much light can be just as fatiguing as having too little. Adding more light than you may need does not necessarily translate into higher quality. Not only does over-lighting waste energy, but it can also reduce lighting quality. Furthermore, there is no sense purchasing more luminaries’ than you may actually need."

 

[JDMopar]

I will soon be installing my lights in my new garage,so I will be curious to see if the calculator agrees with what I have in mind. My garage is 40 X 40 with an 11' flat ceiling that will be white. The upper 7' of my walls are semi gloss white,and the bottom 4' are light gray. Floor is sealed concrete. I plan on using 3 rows of 8' 2 lamp fixtures, 5 lights per row. Each row controlled by a seperate switch. I have an additional work area off the back of the garage that is 16 X 24.Same height and colors. I plan on two 8' 2 bulb and one 4' 2 bulb fixtures per 24' side,and one 8' 2 bulb fixture at each end. Also another 8' 2 bulb towards the middle on each end....but not close enough to raise a car on the lift into. All lights in the 16 X 24 will be on one switch.

 

[mxhonda]

My garage is 40 X 40 with an 11' flat ceiling that will be white. The upper 7' of my walls are semi gloss white,and the bottom 4' are light gray. Floor is sealed concrete. I plan on using 3 rows of 8' 2 lamp fixtures, 5 lights per row. Each row controlled by a seperate switch. I

I used the same fixture I used, 8' w/4 32w 4' lamps. These use an electronic ballast rather than magnetic so there is no flicker and give better light output compared to a regular 8' lamp. It looks like this layout will give ALOT of light! I will work on the other section in another post. Hope this helps. Let me know if you want me to tweak your settings for more or less light.

 

[terry1769]

Thanks for the offer of assistance!

I'm in the dirt stage right now but will be thinking lighting before I know it.
Entire building will be 50x60, half of which will be the garage. so...

30' deep, 50' wide.
1/12 pitch roof.
12' at the eave, 14' at the peak.
open ceiling.
Painting walls and ceiling a light color, possibly white.
Floor will be light grey VCT.
Plenty of single phase power. Would like to go for efficiency, but not break the bank with T5s.
Will be a general workshop.
I'd also like to split the circuits to bring up half of the lights at a time when full brightness isn't needed.

 

[bluesman2a]

MX, I'm curious, if you wouldn't mind, here's my current setup:

Length, Width, and Height: interior dimensions are 17 wide, 24 deep, 14'6" tall
Roof Slope IE: roof is flat
Dropped ceiling (tile size) or open ceiling: sheathed with OSB
Relflectance Wall, Ceiling, Floor IE: white walls/ceiling down to 4' then galvanized and bare concrete.
Power limitations, desires IE: plenty of power.
Have 4' T-8 2-bulb fixtures with electronic ballasts, running 5000K bulbs.

ouple of notes on fixtures/placement:
1) The ceiling will get two rows of 4 fixtures, one in the front, one in the middle, and the rear (covered by garage door) will get two on either side of the tracks. These will all be on the main switch for the bay. This is also a 3-way so it can be controlled from either bay.
2) The first set of supplimental lights are 4' T-8 weather-proof fixtures on the walls about 7' off the floors. There will be 1-2 fixtures on the front/rear of each wall on both the left/right sides. These are on their own switch. You can see we have 2 of these mounted now.
3) The second set of supplimental lights are on the front wall to either side of the door. The thought here is to provide AMPLE light for under-hood activities. I HATE not being able to see stuff under the hood. These are both done as well.

Here's a pic of the layout (we're talking about the LEFT bay):

 

[kcombs]

Hi mxhonda,

I can't refuse your offer to design a lighting system and you are extremely timely. I am currently trying to decide how to light my new shop/garage. The building is stick built, 10' walls with open scissors trusses running the depth of the building (32' direction). The building is 32 feet deep and 28' wide. On one narrow end are two roll-up doors that are 10 x 8' and off-white. The wall will be painted off-white as will be plywood. The peak of the trusses is approximately 16' as the roof has a 5/12 pitch. The underside of the trusses peak at 13'. I will be installing a two post lift in one bay and will either use a portable floor fixture or some type of low wall mounted fixture to see the underside of cars on the lift. I am considering running flourescent t8's down the middle of the garage, plus a row of t8's between 8-10' off the floor on each side perpendicular to the roll-up doors so I can see the sides of cars and under the hood. The floor will be natural, sealed concrete, the ceiling will be open and might be painted, I should have plenty of power available for two 15 amp circuits (or more if necessary) All most forgot, the work bench will be at the end of the garage opposite of the roll-up doors. Any help appreciated.

Thanks in advance, Kurt

 

[Lloydthumper]

I guess I figuare ok then on mine same size building 30x40x12 I have trusses though i figuared three rows of 8' 4 tube lights you have 8 for the same space I guess 9 will do it in mine.

 

[mxhonda]

Thanks for the offer of assistance!

I'm in the dirt stage right now but will be thinking lighting before I know it.
Entire building will be 50x60, half of which will be the garage. so...

30' deep, 50' wide.
1/12 pitch roof.
12' at the eave, 14' at the peak.
open ceiling.
Painting walls and ceiling a light color, possibly white.
Floor will be light grey VCT.
Plenty of single phase power. Would like to go for efficiency, but not break the bank with T5s.
Will be a general workshop.
I'd also like to split the circuits to bring up half of the lights at a time when full brightness isn't needed.

Using the same 8' fixture with 4-f32t8 lamps per fixture. Feel free to request more or less light and specify a fixture you may have in mind.

 

[mxhonda]

Hi mxhonda,

I can't refuse your offer to design a lighting system and you are extremely timely. I am currently trying to decide how to light my new shop/garage. The building is stick built, 10' walls with open scissors trusses running the depth of the building (32' direction). The building is 32 feet deep and 28' wide. On one narrow end are two roll-up doors that are 10 x 8' and off-white. The wall will be painted off-white as will be plywood. The peak of the trusses is approximately 16' as the roof has a 5/12 pitch. The underside of the trusses peak at 13'. I will be installing a two post lift in one bay and will either use a portable floor fixture or some type of low wall mounted fixture to see the underside of cars on the lift. I am considering running flourescent t8's down the middle of the garage, plus a row of t8's between 8-10' off the floor on each side perpendicular to the roll-up doors so I can see the sides of cars and under the hood. The floor will be natural, sealed concrete, the ceiling will be open and might be painted, I should have plenty of power available for two 15 amp circuits (or more if necessary) All most forgot, the work bench will be at the end of the garage opposite of the roll-up doors. Any help appreciated.

Thanks in advance, Kurt

My lighting software is symetrical and 2 dimensional. I cannot adjust different heights of fixtures or special placement of certain fixtures. When I put in your parameters this is what I got. Feel free to request more or less light and specify a fixture you may have in mind.

 

[mxhonda]

I guess I figuare ok then on mine same size building 30x40x12 I have trusses though i figuared three rows of 8' 4 tube lights you have 8 for the same space I guess 9 will do it in mine.

Here is what 9 fixtures will give you.

 

[kcombs]

mxhonda,

Thanks for the quick response. I can now head off to Home Depot and look for lights with confidence I know what I am doing. I think I will follow your software recommendations and light the underside of cars with a utility lamp. This really helps me with my project.

Thanks again, Kurt

 

[mxhonda]

MX, I'm curious, if you wouldn't mind, here's my current setup:

Length, Width, and Height: interior dimensions are 17 wide, 24 deep, 14'6" tall
Roof Slope IE: roof is flat
Dropped ceiling (tile size) or open ceiling: sheathed with OSB
Relflectance Wall, Ceiling, Floor IE: white walls/ceiling down to 4' then galvanized and bare concrete.
Power limitations, desires IE: plenty of power.
Have 4' T-8 2-bulb fixtures with electronic ballasts, running 5000K bulbs.

ouple of notes on fixtures/placement:
1) The ceiling will get two rows of 4 fixtures, one in the front, one in the middle, and the rear (covered by garage door) will get two on either side of the tracks. These will all be on the main switch for the bay. This is also a 3-way so it can be controlled from either bay.
2) The first set of supplimental lights are 4' T-8 weather-proof fixtures on the walls about 7' off the floors. There will be 1-2 fixtures on the front/rear of each wall on both the left/right sides. These are on their own switch. You can see we have 2 of these mounted now.
3) The second set of supplimental lights are on the front wall to either side of the door. The thought here is to provide AMPLE light for under-hood activities. I HATE not being able to see stuff under the hood. These are both done as well.

OK. I downloaded the pro version of Visual software to try on your design. I could not take into consideration the Weatherproof fixture lense reduction, but it should be minimal. Hope this gives you an idea of what you can expect.

 

[terry1769]

Thank you very much! Definitely gives me a guideline to work with.

 

[Lloydthumper]

Thanks alot I was curious on how well it should be lit.

 

[Farmallgray]

This is really nice of you to help us all out like this.

My shop is 24x50x12 with 4/12 pitch ceiling. The ceiling and walls will be painted white. The web trusses will be exposed but the walls and ceiling will be sheeted. The lights will probably hang below the trusses. I was looking at the same fixtures you used (4x32w T-8) The trusses run lengthwise (the 50' direction)
So I was planning on running the lights perpendicular to the 50' walls. I was thinking of going with 6 rows of 2. I don't know how many FC I would need though. Is there a rule of thumb? I will be doing general work on tractors and some cars along with some painting. It has its own 200A service so power isn't a problem.

 

[JDMopar]

Thanks MXHonda

 

[mxhonda]

This is really nice of you to help us all out like this.

My shop is 24x50x12 with 4/12 pitch ceiling. The ceiling and walls will be painted white. The web trusses will be exposed but the walls and ceiling will be sheeted. The lights will probably hang below the trusses. I was looking at the same fixtures you used (4x32w T-8) The trusses run lengthwise (the 50' direction)
So I was planning on running the lights perpendicular to the 50' walls. I was thinking of going with 6 rows of 2. I don't know how many FC I would need though. Is there a rule of thumb? I will be doing general work on tractors and some cars along with some painting. It has its own 200A service so power isn't a problem.

A good rule of thumb is 30-50fc for a garage. It looks like your plan is a good one! The corners drop off a little, but still good light spread.

 

[mxhonda]

Your welcome all. Glad I can contribute!

 

[PurdueSD]

Rocco recently did a lighting plan for me (thanks again rocco)

Just a question... my lighting plan averages high 80s low 90s. Yours seems about half. maybe there is something i am misunderstanding. Its hard to visualize how much light is enough but not to much in my head. Anybody care to clarify the lighting index? Thanks guys!

 

[bluesman2a]

OK. I downloaded the pro version of Visual software to try on your design. I could not take into consideration the Weatherproof fixture lense reduction, but it should be minimal. Hope this gives you an idea of what you can expect.

THANK YOU SO MUCH, SIR!!! This is GREAT info... And thank you for the assistance!!!

 

[mxhonda]

Rocco recently did a lighting plan for me (thanks again rocco)

Anybody care to clarify the lighting index? Thanks guys!

It all depends on what you want to do in your space. The chart I attached is a guidline for foot candles.

"Remember, When designing a new or upgraded lighting system, it is important to avoid under-lighting or over-lighting your space. Although 30 to 50 foot candles of light may be sufficient for most spaces and activities within
a garage, having too much light can be just as fatiguing as having too little. Adding more light than you may need does not necessarily translate into higher quality. Not only does over-lighting waste energy, but it can also reduce lighting quality. Furthermore, there is no sense purchasing more luminaries’ than you may actually need."

 

[Dragster Racer]

What about types of lights. Which are more efficient? Is flourescent the light of choice? What about the ones you see in factories? I have 15' to the celing (flat). What is a good choice?

 

[Red'n'WhiteRebel]

If possible, I would like your lighting opinion on my upcoming shop,(breaking ground in April).
It will be 33' x 27' with a coreslab concrete deck ceiling at 9', no slope. Standard house voltage supply. No current plans on paint colours,(bringing up garage paint colours at this step in the new house building process could cause marital complications).The space will be used for car projects mostly, with some space set aside for my woodworking tools. Your thread comes just as I'm discussing lighting options for the entire home so Thanks for the offer and the timing. By the way, I'm new here, this is an AWESOME site. Cheers.

 

[mxhonda]

What about types of lights. Which are more efficient? Is flourescent the light of choice? What about the ones you see in factories? I have 15' to the celing (flat). What is a good choice?

This site will give you alot of info regarding the info you are looking for.

http://www.northamericanlighting.biz/index.htm

In summary, HID lighting is being replaced with flourescent for energy savings and light quality.

 

[mxhonda]

If possible, I would like your lighting opinion on my upcoming shop,(breaking ground in April).
It will be 33' x 27' with a coreslab concrete deck ceiling at 9', no slope. Standard house voltage supply. No current plans on paint colours,(bringing up garage paint colours at this step in the new house building process could cause marital complications).The space will be used for car projects mostly, with some space set aside for my woodworking tools. Your thread comes just as I'm discussing lighting options for the entire home so Thanks for the offer and the timing. By the way, I'm new here, this is an AWESOME site. Cheers.

I used standard reflectances for the walls and ceiling. This is what the software recommended. Have fun with the new build!

 

[Red'n'WhiteRebel]

Thanks Honda, very helpful.

 

[22T]

Hey MXHonda, how about one more,My shop is 30 x 22,with 12ft flat interior cielings, walls and ceiling painted white,concrete floor just sealed.Cant wait to see what your program says compared to what I was thinking.

 

[number9]

Hey, I'd like to get in on this too - thanks VERY much for the offer to help us.

Length, Width, and Height: 20Lx20Wx9'6"H standard 2 car garage
Roof Slope: flat roof / normal ceiling
Dropped ceiling (tile size) or open ceiling flat roof / normal ceiling
Relflectance Wall, Ceiling, Floor: white walls, white ceiling, sealed concrete floor
Power limitations, desires IE: 120v
Let me know what you expect from the finished product. just looking for the best lighting setup for my space.


I currently have four 4' florecent fixtures with 2 40W bulbs each

...

 

[mxhonda]

Hey MXHonda, how about one more,My shop is 30 x 22,with 12ft flat interior cielings, walls and ceiling painted white,concrete floor just sealed.Cant wait to see what your program says compared to what I was thinking.

Here it is. Let us know how it compares to what you were thinking.

 

[mxhonda]

Hey, I'd like to get in on this too - thanks VERY much for the offer to help us.

Length, Width, and Height: 20Lx20Wx9'6"H standard 2 car garage
Roof Slope: flat roof / normal ceiling
Dropped ceiling (tile size) or open ceiling flat roof / normal ceiling
Relflectance Wall, Ceiling, Floor: white walls, white ceiling, sealed concrete floor
Power limitations, desires IE: 120v
Let me know what you expect from the finished product. just looking for the best lighting setup for my space.


I currently have four 4' florecent fixtures with 2 40W bulbs each

...

I included a foot candle output of your existing setup for comparison.

 

[22T]

I'm in the process of doubling my garage from 15'x22, to 30'x22. right now I have three 8ft,2 bulb ,75w watt flourescent fixtures positioned at a 90 degree from your drawing. your drawing has the lights running the the 22ft length, mine are running the 15ft length but soon to be the 30 ft length. I was thinking of having 3 rows of three 8ft 2 bulb 75 watt fixtures. I was intrigued with your offer to run this through your program and thank you very much.
In your lighting chart it shows 60-80 fc for an auto shop, but the drawings showed a max of 48 fc, any ideas if that would be enough comforatble light?
Thanks for your opinion and your time to do this for us, we all appreciate it.

 

[jamm5266]

If I can toss in my new garage info, I'll jump on the wagon too!

Required info:

Length, Width, and Height: 42x24x10, 3 bays, 14' wide each with the middle bay 26' deep (the extra 2' sticks out front)
Roof Slope IE: 8:12 pitch, 10ft sidewall, 18ft peak
Dropped ceiling (tile size) or open ceiling: Open ceiling, normal trusses on outer two bays, scissor trusses on the middle bay. Middle bay door follows the scissor trusses
Relflectance Wall, Ceiling, Floor IE: white lower 1/2 walls, upper walls, OSB, sealed concrete floor
Power limitations, desires IE: 120v, most efficient
Let me know what you expect from the finished product. There will be a full length workbench at each end (woodworking in one end bay and the other two for automotive work). I want to be able to light the auto bays seperately from the woodworking section.

Thanks for any help you can provide.

 

[mxhonda]

In your lighting chart it shows 60-80 fc for an auto shop, but the drawings showed a max of 48 fc, any ideas if that would be enough comforatble light?
Thanks for your opinion and your time to do this for us, we all appreciate it.

It depends on what you are doing. 30-50fc is a comfortable light without being blinding bright. In an "Auto Shop" they do not calculate any auxillary lighting (IE: trouble light, workbench light, etc.) so the FC is higher. My garage is 33fc average and I do not want it any brighter.

"Remember, When designing a new or upgraded lighting system, it is important to avoid under-lighting or over-lighting your space. Although 30 to 50 foot candles of light may be sufficient for most spaces and activities within
a garage, having too much light can be just as fatiguing as having too little. Adding more light than you may need does not necessarily translate into higher quality. Not only does over-lighting waste energy, but it can also reduce lighting quality. Furthermore, there is no sense purchasing more luminaries’ than you may actually need."

For you plan w/75w f96t12's, see the first layout.
For your garage to get 60-80fc, see the second layout.

Notice that 2-75w f96t12's take 35% more energy to get the same foot candles as the 4-32w f32t8's. (172watts vs. 112watts per fixture)

 

[mxhonda]

If I can toss in my new garage info, I'll jump on the wagon too!

Required info:

Length, Width, and Height: 42x24x10, 3 bays, 14' wide each with the middle bay 26' deep (the extra 2' sticks out front)
Roof Slope IE: 8:12 pitch, 10ft sidewall, 18ft peak
Dropped ceiling (tile size) or open ceiling: Open ceiling, normal trusses on outer two bays, scissor trusses on the middle bay. Middle bay door follows the scissor trusses
Relflectance Wall, Ceiling, Floor IE: white lower 1/2 walls, upper walls, OSB, sealed concrete floor
Power limitations, desires IE: 120v, most efficient
Let me know what you expect from the finished product. There will be a full length workbench at each end (woodworking in one end bay and the other two for automotive work). I want to be able to light the auto bays seperately from the woodworking section.

Thanks for any help you can provide.

Here is what the software suggested. You may want to put the first and last row closer to the endwall for the workbenches and add a foot of spacing between the 2 rows in the middle for the extra 2' out the front. The only way to keep the lighting symetrical for 3 bays was to do 12 fixtures. The software suggested 10, but the layout would have been off. Let me know if you want less or more light and I can plug in your requirements.

 

[jamm5266]

Thanks for the help MXHONDA. I'll put it to good use. Would there be any gain in turning the middle bay lights 90* as they will need to follow the rafters.

Thanks again, much appreciated.

 

[ni[x]it]

FYI, You can download the software here, free of charge;

http://www.lithonia.com/Software/Lightware7/Visual/Default.asp

 

[Ezzie]

Could you please do one for me?? I'm just in the process of wiring and insulating my new shop space. I am thinking of using 4' twin-tube T8 fixtures on the ceiling with no reflectors or diffusers, perhaps 3 rows of 5-4' fixtures (20' row mounted along the 28' depth). The workbench lights would be one row of 4' twin-tube T8 fixtures with reflectors (4x= 16') suspended on chains about 8' above the benches.

Length, Width, and Height: 28'Lx32Wx16'6"
Roof Slope: flat ceiling
Reflectance Wall, Ceiling, Floor: white semi-gloss (painted OSB) walls and ceiling, sealed concrete floor
Power limitations, desires IE: 120v single phase
Let me know what you expect from the finished product. Automotive workshop with a two post lift on one side. 18' of workbenches along one wall with auxiliary lighting directly over work space.

 

[mxhonda]

Could you please do one for me?? I'm just in the process of wiring and insulating my new shop space. I am thinking of using 4' twin-tube T8 fixtures on the ceiling with no reflectors or diffusers, perhaps 3 rows of 5-4' fixtures (20' row mounted along the 28' depth). The workbench lights would be one row of 4' twin-tube T8 fixtures with reflectors (4x= 16') suspended on chains about 8' above the benches.

Length, Width, and Height: 28'Lx32Wx16'6"
Roof Slope: flat ceiling
Reflectance Wall, Ceiling, Floor: white semi-gloss (painted OSB) walls and ceiling, sealed concrete floor
Power limitations, desires IE: 120v single phase
Let me know what you expect from the finished product. Automotive workshop with a two post lift on one side. 18' of workbenches along one wall with auxiliary lighting directly over work space.

Looks like a good plan. The aux light over the workbench area will be good for detailed work. Post some pics when you get it lit up!

 

[mxhonda]

FYI, You can download the software here, free of charge;

http://www.lithonia.com/Software/Lightware7/Visual/Default.asp

Free is always good If you want to play with the software yourself.

If not, post here and I will be happy to keep the thread alive and hopefully the combined results of everyones layout will make it easier for the DIY.

 

[mxhonda]

Thanks for the help MXHONDA. I'll put it to good use. Would there be any gain in turning the middle bay lights 90* as they will need to follow the rafters.

Thanks again, much appreciated.

It looks like the light will be just as good. Here is the result.