Light Fixture Layout Collections

[aalleexx]

I think that's about right.

 

[aalleexx]

I guess the term ignorant would be an understatement when describing my knowledge of lighting setup. That light is probably not a good choice.
In another thread Light Guy linked to these high bays.:
bros.com/collections/light-fixtures-high-bay/products/4-lamp-high-bay-lighting-led-ready-hb
Would that be a good option with LED bulbs?

 

[aalleexx]

I've been up since 11pm last night. Starting to ramble and asking too much. Going to. Dog it down for the night. Thanks for everybodys patience.

 

[Platonic Solid]

Rather than posting multiple posts, you can keep editing the same post rather than a long chain of individual posts. If you're going to post a link, open the link in a new tab - copy it - then use the "insert link" and past it in there.

If you're not willing to spend at least $2,000 for that sized space then you'll have to sacrifice lumen output or deal with shadows from to much light concentrated in too few fixtures or go with fluorescents. There's no free lunch.

If you don't mind having a dark ceiling area and sacrificing some ceiling height you can use Qty. 40 of the 4400 lumen LED strip light in the other thread(linked) in a 5 x 8 pattern hung at 10ft. $32 x 40 fixtures = $1,280. This gives you 100fc at 30" workplane and very even shadow free lighting. You could add a few fixtures to the peak area to reduce the dark ceiling cave effect. I don't know how much ceiling height you will actually be using. Your "various activities and projects" description is too vague.

 

[barnee]

Need feedback on my layout. Ceiling has a flat section at almost 14' where the car lift will go then tapers down to 9' over my workbench.





The layout shows 12 4' double tube strip lights (LED). The blue and green designations are just different switching. Floor area is 27' by 24' or around 650 SF.

Most concerned with the area over my bench since the lights are on a sloped ceiling. Might be better to turn these lights perpendicular to the bench.

Id like a good amount of light and will probably use a lens since I don't like the bare bulb look.

Any comments?

 

[Platonic Solid]

barnee
- add 2 hanging strip lights at 8ft directly above the work bench.
- Qty.30 4400 lumen LED strip lights (5x6 pattern) in a 27' x 24' x 14' room yields 94fc at 30" workplane.

 

[aalleexx]

Thanks Platonic Solid. Guess I need to up my budget a little. I don't need too much ceiling height, no lift or anything like it is going to be used. You're a valued source of information.

 

[barnee]

barnee
- add 2 hanging strip lights at 8ft directly above the work bench.
- Qty.30 4400 lumen LED strip lights (5x6 pattern) in a 27' x 24' x 14' room yields 94fc at 30" workplane.

Thanks Platonic!

 

[Low50s]

Hey looking for some help on picking out lighting options for my 30x40x14 building inside is not finished yet. But will be done in brite white tin.

I do have one 16wX8t garage door and one 12x12 door on the same 40ft wall with each door 3.5ft from the endwalls and each door has high lift door track.

I have done some searching on here for similar designs but I have not found something that I feel is close enough to my layout.

Garage will be used for vehicles parking on one half and the half with a 12x12 door is going to have a 2 post hoist mounted in place
Thanks for any help

 

[Platonic Solid]

Low50s - Qty.12 of these (linked) or similar output fixtures mounted at 14 ft yields 95 fc at 30" workplane.

Image linked to larger image.

​

.

 

[Low50s]

Low50s - Qty.12 of these (linked) or similar output fixtures mounted at 14 ft yields 95 fc at 30" workplane.

Image linked to larger image.

​

.

I cant thank you enough!

 

[rotortuner]

Re: gt1guy 50' x 80' x 18' (16' Walls)

After reading almost all Platonic solids posts, I think the below is closest to my building but still somewhat different. I have a 40x60, 20ft ceiling flat, then it steps down on each side 2ft to lean tos. 14ft wide, ceiling slopes 18 to 16 ft. All open on the inside and total foot print is 60x68. Attached a pic below but not so clear.

I am having eave lights put in (clear plexi) but haven't seen those talked about how they affect reflectivity in any posts?


Thinking of using 24-30 of these in the 40x60 bay in similar fashion of the below post and the another strip of 6 running down each side bay.
http://www.homedepot.com/p/Lithonia...ture-TZR-2-54T5HO-MVOLT-1-4-GEB10PS/202516724

With the bulbs recommended in the post.

Just trying to avoid any massive shadows and not sure on eave light affects.

Any pointers to keep me out of trouble?

Mostly auto work, welding, machine work.

Getting excited building going up in next 8 weeks!

Well, I finally got power turned on today. All I can say is wow. I couldn't be happier with the results of your recommendation for lighting. It is exactly what I hoped for. Now shadows. Even light everywhere. No glare. Words can't describe how happy I am right now.

The only change I made was where the office will go. Not sure when I'll get that done, so I put two fixtures where you said to put the singles. Which is what I figured you'd say to do if the office wasn't there.

Each bay is on it's own switch, so I don't have to run everything all the time.

I ended up getting the bulbs from Global Industrial for $2.75 a pop.

http://www.globalindustrial.com/p/e...3fK1vcYCFVYTHwodvF8HFA&PID=6147012&CMP=AFC-cj

So, Platonic Solid, thank you so much. You da man!

Pic.

[/URL][/IMG]

Suggested Fixtures and Lamps:

Qty. 37 Lithonia TZR 2 54T5HO MVOLT 1/4 GEB10PS
or Cooper Metalux 8TSSF-254-UNV-EBT1 or 8TSNF-254-UNV-EBT1.
HD's $70 price tag for the Lithonia is hard to beat. Might want to open one and see what brand ballast is in there before buying 37 of them. I see HD sells what appears to be the exact same fixture without the "R" designation (I assume that means residential), thus TZ 2 54T5HO MVOLT 1/4 GEB10PS for $100.

Qty. 148 Sylvania 20949 F54T5HO 5000K $4.68 ea.
The 30,000 hr. life on the site is wrong. The most current Sylvania spec sheet (linked) says 40-45,000 hrs.
I linked to this bulb on a prior layout at $3.80 ea. from 1000bulbs dot com, but that may have been an error on their part as they now don't carry it at all.

(Click all images for larger views)

fc plots at 30" workplane height. Average illuminance = 94fc





​

 

[Platonic Solid]

rotortuner - I assume by eave lights, you're talking about recessed cans used indoors. Need a link to eave light fixture and location/spacing. If you're talking about outdoor accent and landscape lighting that really isn't my thing. I'll take a closer look at your situation later, but a quick scan of what's available out there does indicate that F54T5HO you selected is your lowest cost option for good lighting.

Please add location to your sig.

 

[rotortuner]

rotortuner - I assume by eave lights, you're talking about recessed cans used indoors. Need a link to eave light fixture and location/spacing. If you're talking about outdoor accent and landscape lighting that really isn't my thing. I'll take a closer look at your situation later, but a quick scan of whhat's available out there does indicate that F54T5HO you selected is your lowest cost option for good lighting.

Please add location to your sig.

Thanks for the reply!

Eave lights,


Link to picture of "eave light". You can google, pole barn eave light also:

http://www.hansenpolebuildings.com/2011/09/polycarbonate-eavelights-light-up-my-life/

They aren't really lights, just clear paneling 2ft below each eave. Of course won't give anything when it's dark. Just not sure how the clear paneling would affect the strips of lights running a few feet off the wall. Maybe not much? And I'm thinking the t5's will push the light down and not depend and reflectivity of the wall as much.

In the post I quoted above he ran 5 strips down the ceiling, I'm thinking of doing 4 strips 6 fixtures pair in each in my 20ft tall 40x60 portion and a single strip in each of the side bays. This would be 36 fixtures 144 bulbs. If I ran two strips in each outer bay that would be 48. Outside bays may only be storage of vehicles etc, the real work will be in the 40x60 center bay.



Here is some scale work I'm doing on light layout and dimensions.

 

[rotortuner]

Not having photo bucket *****.

 

[rotortuner]

Light layout

 

[rotortuner]

Dimensions

 

[nsula_country]

Thanks for the reply!

Eave lights,


Link to picture of "eave light". You can google, pole barn eave light also:

http://www.hansenpolebuildings.com/2011/09/polycarbonate-eavelights-light-up-my-life/

They aren't really lights, just clear paneling 2ft below each eave. Of course won't give anything when it's dark. Just not sure how the clear paneling would affect the strips of lights running a few feet off the wall. Maybe not much? And I'm thinking the t5's will push the light down and not depend and reflectivity of the wall as much.

In the post I quoted above he ran 5 strips down the ceiling, I'm thinking of doing 4 strips 6 fixtures pair in each in my 20ft tall 40x60 portion and a single strip in each of the side bays. This would be 36 fixtures 144 bulbs. If I ran two strips in each outer bay that would be 48. Outside bays may only be storage of vehicles etc, the real work will be in the 40x60 center bay.



Here is some scale work I'm doing on light layout and dimensions.

I have those panels on one side of the 40x60x17. Lets in more light than expected in the daytime. No effect on lighting quality, that I can tell... Though I am using T8 reflective 4 lamp high bay fixtures. In a 4x6 layout.

It does throw A LOT of light outside though at night!

CT

 

[Platonic Solid]

rotortuner - Now I understand what eave lights are. Here I thought they were some kind of light fixture. So your peak is about 26' 8" tall and height at eave lights is 20ft. How much of that height do you need/want?

Here's a layout with center 4 rows mounted at 17ft., left and right lean-to fixtures mounted at 16ft. Yields 88 mean lumens @ 30" workplane and very even illumination.

​

 

[rotortuner]

rotortuner - Now I understand what eave lights are. Here I thought they were some kind of light fixture. So your peak is about 26' 8" tall and height at eave lights is 20ft. How much of that height do you need/want?

Here's a layout with center 4 rows mounted at 17ft., left and right lean-to fixtures mounted at 16ft. Yields 88 mean lumens @ 30" workplane and very even illumination.

​

That's a huge help, I could hang the lights down but it would be a lot easier mounting and wiring right up to the rafters at 20 ft, that's where the eave lights go up to. I'm sure then it really affects the side bays but what about adding an additional strip down each side bay and main bay at 20ft? Also I plan to have a lathe, mill and benches along the back wall where it goes down towards 70fc, is there a way to push light back there or does it make it all uneven?

Side bays have a very flat pitch at 2/12 so 16ft is probably good for height on those.

In one of your posts you talk about color intensity at 4000 is the most preferred but when you have recommended T5HO you told guys to get 5k bulbs. Is that because they were cheaper, better light, last longer?

 

[Supervox81]

http://s58.photobucket.com/user/Supervox413/media/arial garage 40x30_zps8h8hmpvn.jpg.html?sort=3&o=0





Hello! I'm not sure if I missed a previous suggestion but I've got a 40'w x 30'd x 12'h attached garage with three bays. I'm struggling over the most cost effective yet thorough approach to lighting this thing! I'm thinking of having outlets installed in the ceilings where each flush mount light will be located so that I can upgrade lighting at a later time. LED or CFL are both options I'm considering but I'd like to minimize any noise. I'd be very grateful if you could help!

Couple more details: drywalled and painted white and off white or light gray epoxy flooring. Right bay has a 2 post lift and center bay may have 4 post one day. Ideally, I'd like to keep lighting costs below $1500. Of course, function is a priority.
Thank You!

Shaun

 

[Platonic Solid]

That's a huge help, I could hang the lights down but it would be a lot easier mounting and wiring right up to the rafters at 20 ft, that's where the eave lights go up to. I'm sure then it really affects the side bays but what about adding an additional strip down each side bay and main bay at 20ft? Also I plan to have a lathe, mill and benches along the back wall where it goes down towards 70fc, is there a way to push light back there or does it make it all uneven?

Side bays have a very flat pitch at 2/12 so 16ft is probably good for height on those.

In one of your posts you talk about color intensity at 4000 is the most preferred but when you have recommended T5HO you told guys to get 5k bulbs. Is that because they were cheaper, better light, last longer?

Color temp is really personal preference. Do you want it to feel like 10:00 AM or 12:00 Noon? Some lamps and LEDs have slightly higher outputs at different CCT. LED's (since, underneath it all, they're really all blue) usually have a slightly higher output at higher CCTs. This quickly turns into a very long discussion that is too involved for garage lighting to worry about.

Anyway, I added another row and change the spacing from 12ft to 10ft.
Yields 101 mean lumens @ 30" workplane and still very even illumination.
Fixture mounting height going from left to right:
Row #1 = 16ft, 2 = 17ft, 3 = 20ft, 4 = 20ft, 5 = 20ft, 6 = 17ft, 7 = 16ft.

​

.

 

[rotortuner]

That is exactly what I was looking for. I can't thank you enough. It's pretty cool you have posted so many examples, I'm sure you have contributed to the pleasurable environment of so many shops and garages. I'll post pics when I eventually get them all up and wired. Thanks the insight on color temp as well.

 

[rotortuner]

http://s58.photobucket.com/user/Supervox413/media/arial garage 40x30_zps8h8hmpvn.jpg.html?sort=3&o=0





Hello! I'm not sure if I missed a previous suggestion but I've got a 40'w x 30'd x 12'h attached garage with three bays. I'm struggling over the most cost effective yet thorough approach to lighting this thing! I'm thinking of having outlets installed in the ceilings where each flush mount light will be located so that I can upgrade lighting at a later time. LED or CFL are both options I'm considering but I'd like to minimize any noise. I'd be very grateful if you could help!

Couple more details: drywalled and painted white and off white or light gray epoxy flooring. Right bay has a 2 post lift and center bay may have 4 post one day. Ideally, I'd like to keep lighting costs below $1500. Of course, function is a priority.
Thank You!

Shaun

If you look back one page at post 369 it's really close to what your space and the follow on posts have a light recommendation as well.

 

[nsula_country]

That's a huge help, I could hang the lights down but it would be a lot easier mounting and wiring right up to the rafters at 20 ft, that's where the eave lights go up to. I'm sure then it really affects the side bays but what about adding an additional strip down each side bay and main bay at 20ft? Also I plan to have a lathe, mill and benches along the back wall where it goes down towards 70fc, is there a way to push light back there or does it make it all uneven?

Side bays have a very flat pitch at 2/12 so 16ft is probably good for height on those.

In one of your posts you talk about color intensity at 4000 is the most preferred but when you have recommended T5HO you told guys to get 5k bulbs. Is that because they were cheaper, better light, last longer?

4000k is more like an office or residential environment. I had no experience with 5000k personally until I jumped off the deep end and bought 150 lamps. WOW, 5000k is awesome and WHITE, not yellowish or bluish...

CT

 

[rotortuner]

4000k is more like an office or residential environment. I had no experience with 5000k personally until I jumped off the deep end and bought 150 lamps. WOW, 5000k is awesome and WHITE, not yellowish or bluish...

CT

Thanks for the feedback, will probably go with the 5000K. lighting is one the things I'm most excited about the shop, so sick of junky lighting over the years...

 

[rotortuner]

The T5HO fixtures from HD that have the philips ballasts, have they improved the balasts or are these still to be avoided?

 

[Platonic Solid]

The T5HO fixtures from HD that have the philips ballasts, have they improved the balasts or are these still to be avoided?

Please provide link.

 

[rotortuner]

Please provide link.

This fixture:
http://www.homedepot.com/p/Lithonia...ture-TZR-2-54T5HO-MVOLT-1-4-GEB10PS/202516724

I went and bought one to look at what's inside. It's a 120-220v ballast which I have read is a commercial quality ballast? But it's s Philips advance intellivolt. Here is a picture. In case the pic is too small it also says centium icn-4s54-90c-2ls-g.

 

[Platonic Solid]

Nothing wrong with that ballast.

 

[rotortuner]

Nothing wrong with that ballast.

Thanks, now I just need to pick 42 of those up and order a couple hundred bulbs..

 

[Platonic Solid]

Thanks, now I just need to pick 42 of those up and order a couple hundred bulbs..

I can get you similar output (slightly less even) with fewer fixtures if you use reflectors on the 20ft fixtures or change the center 18 fixtures to 12 of something like the Howard Lighting HFA2E454 (linked). That way you're not lighting up the neighborhood through the eave lights as much. I'll show you a plot when I have time later.

Here you go:

​

 

[Platonic Solid]

Here's another one using 8ft strip lights with reflectors (linked) on the center two 20ft mounted rows. There are probably cheaper versions of that fixture out there, but it's getting harder to find fluorescent fixtures these days. You'll have to do your own shopping.

​

Here's another similar style reflector fixture (linked).
.

 

[Platonic Solid]

To make sure you have all the options, here is my preference: LED layout using the Diva Light 2ft 13,700 Lumen and 19,300 Lumen fixtures (linked). Any similar output LED fixture with a medium (spherical) distribution will work. Initial cost is a little higher, but you’ll easily make that up over time as it cuts your lighting electric bill in half and you won’t be waiting 5-10 minutes for them to warm up to full brightness like the F54T5HO fixtures. Same mounting heights as Post #382. Fewer fixtures in lean-to areas.

​

.

 

[Platonic Solid]

Here's an overview of all posted rotortuner layouts:

(Post #382)
42 Tandem 8ft 4-lamp Fluorescent Strip Light Layout
Fixture Cost $70 ea. x 42 = $2940
Approximate Bulb Cost = $2.50 ea. x 168 = $420
Total = $3360

Mean Lumens @ 30" workplane = 101 lm

Total lamp luminous flux: 739200 lm
Total luminaire luminous flux: 719292 lm
Total Load: 10416.0 W
Light yield: 69.1 lm/W
----------------------------------------------------
(Post #392)
24 Tandem 8ft 4-lamp Fluorescent Strip Light Layout
12 4ft 4-lamp fluorescent medium distribution reflector High Bay

Tandem Fixture Cost $70 ea. x 24 = $1680
4ft Reflector Fixture Cost $70 x 12 = $840
Approximate Bulb Cost = $2.50 ea. x 144 = $360
Total = $2880

Mean Lumens @ 30" workplane = 96 lm

Total lamp luminous flux: 662400 lm
Total luminaire luminous flux: 634536 lm
Total Load: 8784.0 W
Light yield: 72.2 lm/W
----------------------------------------------------
(Post #393)
24 Tandem 8ft 4-lamp Fluorescent Strip Light Layout
12 Tandem 8ft 4-lamp Fluorescent medium distribution reflector Strip Light
Tandem Fixture Cost $70 ea. x 24 = $1680
Tandem Reflector Fixture Cost $115 x 12 = $1380
Approximate Bulb Cost = $2.50 ea. x 144 = $360
Total = $3420

Mean Lumens @ 30" workplane = 96 lm

Total lamp luminous flux: 662400 lm
Total luminaire luminous flux: 639972 lm
Total Load: 8892.0 W
Light yield: 72.0 lm/W
----------------------------------------------------
(Post #394)
20 13700 Lumen LED
12 19300 Lumen LED
13700 Lm Fixture Cost $110 x 20 = $2200
19300 Lm Fixture Cost $160 x 12 = $1920
Total = $4120

Mean Lumens @ 30" workplane = 96 lm

Total lamp luminous flux: 496584 lm
Total luminaire luminous flux: 496584 lm
Total Load: 3992.0 W
Light yield: 124.4 lm/W
.

 

[rotortuner]

Wow, thanks for all the options! After reviewing those it's pretty hard to deny the benefits of the LED option. My electricity is 12 cents a kW here. I run those numbers and I get a 1300hr break even point. After that's it's $ in the bank. Only downside is they seem to be a little harder to surface mount.

I need additional lighting in the back of the garage, I'm likely going to have a lathe/mill/bench along the rear wall and the front wall is where the big doors will be so no equipment there. Is there a lay out that will shift more light along the rear of is better to supplement later?

I have read a lot of good reviews on t5ho lit spaces and I don't have a lot of experience with LED, I'm not as concerned about the price difference as I am about having it really pretty bright in there so I can do good detailed work. If this was your shop you would you do the LED?
And do you think 96lm a foot is good enough for machine work or should I get some more?

My budget is in the 3-5k range for lighting but lighting is a priority and I want it to be quite bright but don't want headaches.

A lot of questions but here's another, if I added a 2 post lift or two toward the center of the shop, do either of the options lend themselves to less shadows or better ability to accomidate changes, like large vehicles etc?

 

[Platonic Solid]

Wow, thanks for all the options! After reviewing those it's pretty hard to deny the benefits of the LED option. My electricity is 12 cents a kW here. I run those numbers and I get a 1300hr breakeven point. After that's it's $ in the bank. Only downside is they seem to be a little harder to surface mount.

If you look at the Bee's fixture page I linked to, you'll see a pull down for mounting kit options. The surface mounting kit option is a $20 adder, but I bet you can negotiate a lower price for everything if you're buying 32 fixtures. All the layouts thus far have assumed the fixtures are hanging straight down. I may have missed your request for Surface mounting. Mounting the lean-to area fixtures at 2/12 won't change the results much, if that's the mounting you're planning. The LED fixtures at 17ft height would need to move if surface mounting since half the fixture has nothing to mount to. Are you going to have finished ceilings?

I need additional lighting in the back of the garage, I'm likely going to have a lathe/mill/bench along the rear wall and the front wall is where the big doors will be so no equipment there. Is there a lay out that will shift more light along the rear of is better to supplement later?

I have read a lot of good reviews on t5ho lit spaces and I don't have a lot of experience with LED, I'm not as concerned about the price difference as I am about having it really pretty bright in there so I can do good detailed work. If this was your shop you would you do the LED? And do you think 96lm a foot is good enough for machine work or should I get some more?

The layout can be tweaked, however, I don't recommend going over 90 to 110 mean lumens for area lighting as it's unnecessary for anything but very fine detail work for which you should use supplemental task lighting. There's no point lighting 4000 sq. ft. to 200 mean fc when you might only want it in a 25 sq. ft. area. How much light you personally need depends on your eyesight. Also, as you fill the space with objects, they will have a significant effect on local and total fc at workplane.

There's nothing wrong with starting out with F54T5HO fluorescents and changing them to high output LED retrofit bulbs later if that makes you more comfortable. If this was my shop, yes I would take the LED plunge. I can't speak to the quality of the linked Diva Light fixtures, so ordering 1 first to check the construction quality is a safe approach. You can get similar style fixtures from Lithonia (IHB Series) for twice the price, but I doubt it's worth it.

My budget is in the 3-5k range for lighting but lighting is a priority and I want it to be quite bright but don't want headaches. A lot of questions but here's another, if I added a 2 post lift or two toward the center of the shop, do either of the options lend themselves to less shadows or better ability to accommodate changes, like large vehicles etc.?

You won't get headaches as long as you have even light distribution, thus you're pupils aren't constantly adjusting to different light levels.

The lower mounting height of the fixtures in the lean-to areas will help provide lighting under a lift. As you fill the space with objects that block light, fixture quantity and placement becomes more important. More fixtures = more even light distribution and less shadows. All of the fixtures I've used thus far have mostly spherical distribution. Reflector guided fixtures used have slightly narrower egg shaped distribution. Taller items in the space require narrower distribution fixtures and more precise placement. Think of isle lighting in a warehouse - there'd be no point putting a lot of light on the top shelf. There's really no single fixture that can accommodate all possible scenarios. Closest you could get, would be to mount Qty. 120 of the 2-lamp LED retrofit fixtures (thus 240 bulbs) on page 1 of the Best Light Fixture thread, which is getting unnecessarily carried away.

 

[rotortuner]

You answered pretty much all my questions. I think I will probably go with the LEDs since the break even is pretty short. Will probably break even in about two years. For the ceilings.. I need to insulate somehow so still researching those options. Biggest thing is I have a plan on lighting so as soon as the permit gets approved I'll order all the stuff. Season is changing up here in the NW, days already shortening quite a bit. I really appreciate the help. I'll post pictures once they are up.

 

[Platonic Solid]

rotortuner - Questions:
1. Will the 20ft ceiling area be finished flat or have fixtures mounted to supports at 20ft with ceiling open to the peak?
2. Will lean-to ceilings be finished flat at 2:12 pitch?
3. What material and color will the ceilings be finished with?

 

[webdrew]

Platonic Solid,
Thank you for some great info. What do you recommend for my layout? It's a 24'x48' space. A-frame going from 8' at the door to 12' in the center. The left side with the flush mount scissor lift will be where most of the "work" will be done (basic beginner/intermediate level DIY automotive stuff). The other side mainly for car parking.
It's all open frame construction 4:12 pitch roof beams on 24" centers.
As I am somewhat limited in height above the lift, I'd prefer to not take up too much space directly above it.
Thanks for taking a look.