Lighting Heights?

[bucs012]

I am looking at 3 and 4 bank, 4 foot fluorescent lights at 1000 bulbs to light my 8' high, 50x30 garage. I will have a 20'x15' of that partitioned off with walls to the ceiling for my shop/mans cave in order to heat/cool the smaller area!

I notice that all the lights state they recommend you hang the lights 15' to 40' high? Am I reading that right?

My garage has only 8 foot finished ceilings.................I was planning on putting (2) 3 bank, 4 foot lights in the shop and then (5) 3 bank, 4 foot lights in the rest of the garage. Enough?

Also, I live in Iowa so have temps below freezing, up to 100 degrees. I want to go with an electronic ballast. Right? I also notice they only call them normal or high on 1000bulbs.com............ I assume high is to mean electronic ballast?

I would really appreciate any guidance from you lights guys! Number of lights I need and how many to buy!

 

[Charles (in GA)]

Provide some links to the fixtures you are looking at. There are HIGH BAY fluorescent lights that are designed to replace high bay metal halides and others. This may be what you are looking at. Its the reflector that makes much of the difference on any light including the flo lights.

Charles

 

[Mr_fixit]

To me it sounds like far from enough, unless you're only parking cars in it .