Light Cans in the Garage Ceiling

[Mordi]

In trying to create a clean look in my garage, I was thinking of the possibility of installing canned lights, rather than flourescent fixtures, The garage is a two car, 400 sq ft, with a 4 post lift on one side. This will not be a working garage. I was thinking about 3 rows of light - 3 cans per row. I thought it might be a good idea to be able to light the center aisle independently of each end aisle. That way I could light up either bay in the garage independently of the other bay.

1) Anyone done anything like this ?
2) Are 9 cans enough?
3) What size/type fixtures - what types of bulbs?
4) Any other considerations?

Thanks,
Mordi

 

[IDASHO]

What is your ceiling height?

 

[Mordi]

Sorry - ceiling height is 11 ft

Mordi

 

[Junkman]

I have recessed light cans in one of my garages, since the wife wanted to be able to use the garage if we had a large party. It is bright, but it is also expensive to operate. Mine are placed every 4' in 2 rows. Each light takes a 100 watt bulb. I can watch the meter spin when I throw the switch to turn them on.

 

[Notch1988]

I have recessed lights in my garage as well. I'm 24X40 with 12' walls and have 30 lights (full size Halo's, 6" I think?). I have four circuits to control lighting and use CFL bulbs to reduce energy consumption. I have 12 pots in total with 60w equivalent CFL bulbs where the two cars park. I have 18 pots with 100w equivalent bulbs over the workbench and hoist area. Homedepot just started carrying 5000K CFL's and I love 'em.

 

[z28toz06]

You will also lose heat as you can't pack insulation around them. You can put compact flourescents in them however. I decided against doing it in my garage. They do make flush mountable 4 foot flourescent fixtures also, that can go between rafters, and you can insulate on top of them.

 

[Junkman]

The cans that I used are fully enclosed and allow for 0 clearance between the lights and the insulation. They cost more, but they are well worth the cost difference.

 

[IDASHO]

Yep, the good ones can be surrounded, and even buried under insulation.

 

[anojones]

I have some IC rated recessed cans in a portion of my garage, the IC rating means they can surrounded by insulation and covered with insulation, they will shut off for a period of time if they get too hot. Our building code required that recessed lights be IC rated. If you use non-IC rated lights you can build a foam insulation box to go around them to reduce any heat loss (probably be just as expensive as starting with IC rated lights). The two main issues with them is that they don't put out as much light as exposed lights and in general they are incandesents which use more electricity, you can use some newer compact florescent bulbs which work and look OK.

 

[nvrlift]

I had 12 6" cans in a 2 car garage in my last house. It looked real cool. But it was not enough light to be a true working garage. Since you state that, then you might be OK with it. I ran the lights downt the "aisles" between the cars, not over them. Worked great to light up a 24x24 room for general lighting.

 

[joecaver]

I've installed can lights in both my kitchen and library but not my garage. My garage is also 400 sq ft and from my experiance 9 lights is not even close to enough. I would go with no less than 4 rows of lights with 4 lights to a row, maybe 5 to a row. I would recommend using eyeball lights on the rows next to walls and the plain, straight down, lights in the middle. That way you have the option of aiming them onto artwork/posters or shelves that you may have or may add later.

 

[Junkman]

Is this a garage or an surgical suite???