light layout help

[mr_future]

Can anyone recommend some free/cheap software to generate those lighting layout diagrams that I keep seeing? My goal is 125 fc, and I think I'll be using 8' fixtures with 4 x 4' flourescent T8. Thanks.

 

[TOOGMC]

You could try this online calculator: http://www.visual-3d.com/tools/interior/

I don't think it can do a room shaped like yours, but you should be able get a feel for the light level. You could try the Lithonia SL 2 32 or the ZL2N.

 

[American Locomotive]

DiaLUX could probably do that, but is kind of hard to use. What is your floor, ceiling and wall material and color? I also need ceiling height

 

[astroracer]

Rule of thumb? Put the lights lengthwise (with the vehicle) with a strip on either side of the vehicle. Put a strip over any spot you will want a work bench. Separate the lights, lengthwise, by about their own length. You will have plenty of light for most projects.
Mark

 

[mr_future]

American Locomotive: Thanks! Floor - concrete with satin finish. Ceiling and wall color: white. Ceiling height is 8' in workshop area and 8'4" in larger area where cars are.

 

[LonestarLando]

Acuity brands has a web-based free software that helps you. Pretty decent to start. I did a quick walkthrough here:
http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=320726&highlight=photometrics

 

[American Locomotive]

I'll run a quick simulation in DiaLUX when I get home.

 

[American Locomotive]

DiaLUX came up with two possible configurations depending on how you want to orient your lights. the 7-fixture layout manages around ~110 FC, the 8 fixture layout around ~140-150.

The fixtures used were Lithonia "TL" series 4-bulb 8' fixtures, with 2900 lumen 32 Watt bulbs. I told DialLUX you had bleach white walls and ceilings. The red rectangles in the below picture indicate the position of the fixtures.

I take no responsibility if you don't actually achieve your desired light output

 

[mr_future]

locomotive: Thank you! I can't see the picture. Any chance you could post it?

 

[American Locomotive]

I did embed both pictures, and they show up for me. Here are the direct links:
http://i.imgur.com/d2o5wzH.png
http://i.imgur.com/ExnEKdW.png

 

[mr_future]

Thanks for posting again. Turns out my firefox wasn't showing me the pictures, so I used chrome. Fantastic! This is similar to what I came up with messing around with dialux. I will this layout or something very similar. Don't worry, I won't blame you if it is terrible.

The lighting install will happen after the drywall, so this might be months out, but at least I know where I can put outlets on the ceiling.