Lighting a shop with no climate control

[mcmuria]

My garage is a 25 by 30 steel building with 10ft sidewall and open ceiling
(12ft ridge) . No heat no insulation for now. Temp. range from -20 to +100. I want to put in lighting that will work under these conditions. I have a 100 amp service and running EMC thru out. The work shop area (10 by 25) at the rear will need task lighting. Any input would help. Thanks in advance.
mcmuria

 

[sberry]

I would get a couple 25 ft cords add 3 ways on the end and string to several shop fixtures and then to a switched outlet in a 4x4 box. I would then come back after a little trial and wire the place up. I got several task or utility type things modded with power strips and cords. My tech guy doesn't hard wire every8 piece either, a switch on a lamp in a power strip at the bench is simple ankd saves a lot of work.
People are in my building a lot and late. I have a couple or 3 9 watt CFL that run 24/7, one in my office and do not need to switch a light for a coffee or even to peck at the keys a minute and a couple shop lights on switched outlets for work, hanging at 7 ft and bright. I have plenty of outlets and a circuit not even in use but still find work for 2 power strips to group it so to speak and can shut it off without unplugging.
These are old pics, probably not long after some setup. Much of it is gone now and obsolete or relocated during remodel.

 

[lakeroadster]

FWIW....

I'm using regular Edison based screw in 100 watt daylight LED's in my barn..

The maintenance bay is 15' x 30' and I am using 8 bulbs.

I also have some portable task lighting for use when working under a vehicle or when doing intricate tasks that need more lighting.

Note: The above doesn't meet the approval of the lighting guru's here on GJ.. and I'm ok with that.

 

[Bretny]

LEDs
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01MUAX40D/?tag=atomicindus08-20
Each light can plug in on its own switched power cord or chain together. Having light all around the ceiling and not just in a few spots has helped my garage. Il never even buy a T12 or T5/6 bulb again.

 

[AP514]

Very First Sticky thread in this section..1st post

https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=278420

Enough said........

 

[Bretny]

Very First Sticky thread in this section..1st post

https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=278420

Enough said........

$6.99 per bulb plus a $16 housing you have to rewire to take the direct wite led lamps. Sounds like a pain in the @ss. Much less the $30 per light. That amazon link is $49 for 6 lights alreaty in housings. Screw them to the ceiling and plug them in.

 

[Polymath]

LEDs
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01MUAX40D/?tag=atomicindus08-20
Each light can plug in on its own switched power cord or chain together. Having light all around the ceiling and not just in a few spots has helped my garage. Il never even buy a T12 or T5/6 bulb again.

How big is your garage and how many lights did you use? I've been looking at the lights in the best lights thread and it looks like that provides about 176 lumens per $ and the Amazon lights you linked provide about 270 lumens per $. Do they throw light at good angles?

Were your lights labeled as UL listed? From the questions on Amazon, it sounds like these may not UL be certified.

I guess the one drawback on the Amazon lights is that when one goes out (I have had LED lights fail much earlier than expected), you can't just replace a light with one from the local store....

 

[Platonic Solid]

$6.99 per bulb plus a $16 housing you have to rewire to take the direct wite led lamps. Sounds like a pain in the @ss. Much less the $30 per light. That amazon link is $49 for 6 lights alreaty in housings. Screw them to the ceiling and plug them in.

You don't have to rewire anything. If you can change a light bulb, you can install these. Yes they're intended for hardwired install, though you could attach a plug if that floats your boat. Not exactly rocket science or hard labor.

As for the amazon linked bulbs, they have no NRTL certification. I wouldn't touch them. Odds of these going up in smoke at the OPs 100°F ambient is good. At best, they'll be short lived and just fail. Anyone who does choose to go this route, please be careful not to zap yourself as those pins at both ends are always live.

Keep this in mind as you shop: All NRTL certified indoor light fixtures are designed for 25°C +/-5°C (77°F +/-9°F) ambient. LEDs don't like hot temperatures, Fluorescents don't like cold.

 

[cory58]

$6.99 per bulb plus a $16 housing you have to rewire to take the direct wite led lamps. Sounds like a pain in the @ss. Much less the $30 per light. That amazon link is $49 for 6 lights alreaty in housings. Screw them to the ceiling and plug them in.

No-name Chinese lights from Amazon have half the lumens, so you will have to mount twice as many. As noted, some will fail early, so you would have to replace the entire fixture, instead of just a tube. What happens when you go to replace failed fixture and they are NLA. I would not want "mix-n-match" fixtures in my garage. The cost savings on the initial fixture purchase may be worth it for you. Just thought I'd point out these things.

Cory


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[mcmuria]

Thanks to all for the input. I am a retired carpenter and found this forum while looking for advise on running the service into my garage. After combining the input from several members I went to work. The inspection that was made when I upgraded my incoming power to the property went off without a hitch.
I have been using temp. lighting (500W quartz) up until now and I like the brightness and hate the heat they generate. Has any one used them for permanent lighting. I hung up a couple of PAR38 floods to test. Any input on bulbs?
Thanks again
mcmuria

 

[AP514]

Sure hope the house/garage is still standing after they burn up one night after you forget to turn the lights off.

No one knows how long they will last or how Safe these CHINA lites are.....

But they might turn out to be a Great Product..you just never know because they are not made to meet a set standard.

 

[Bretny]

I have a 2car garage. Im only part way through the led change over. 6 lights will do one car bay not including task lighting like over a work bench. They do throw the light prety wide and i would suspect that having drywall on the ceiling would help this some. I just have studs.

Unsure if there not UL listed il check later. If your worried about it then mabe there not for you.

 

[Bretny]

No-name Chinese lights from Amazon have half the lumens, so you will have to mount twice as many. As noted, some will fail early, so you would have to replace the entire fixture, instead of just a tube. What happens when you go to replace failed fixture and they are NLA. I would not want "mix-n-match" fixtures in my garage. The cost savings on the initial fixture purchase may be worth it for you. Just thought I'd point out these things.

Cory


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Lol wouldnt want to mix and match fixtures in your garage....now thats funny

 

[cory58]

Lol wouldnt want to mix and match fixtures in your garage....now thats funny

Glad I could provide some humor. Just because it's a garage doesn't mean it should look like Sanford and Son!