Lighting Layout for 64x40 garage

[bikesandcars]

I'm finishing up my lighting layout. I tend to over-do it. Need some feedback.

With the cost-effectiveness of LED replacement bulbs I am planning to put in screw-in lamp holders and run LED "garage" bulbs in the 5K to 15K lumen range.


I will put in a "shop" partition (40x20) and have a "clean area" of 40x44.


Was planning for 18 total lights, 9 in each area. Brighter in the shop area.

Was going to stagger the circuits like this (in both rooms): 1 center bulb on 1 switch. 4 perimeter bulbs on another, 4 mid-room bulbs on a third. This gives me the ability tune the brightness to what I am doing.

Circuit layout:

2 3 2
3 1 3
2 3 2

Is this silly or overkill?

 

[loganb]

Any reason to not go with a dimmable fixture/bulb and just dim things as required? Potential challenge is here I think is that the light distribution is going to be uneven potentially causing shadows vs a more uniform, evenly lit space at a dimmed output level.

For quick in/out I definitely see the benefit of a couple bulbs on their own switch to illuminate for minute or two while removing a car or grabbing a tool when you don't want to light up the world. Otherwise I would(and am in my own space) leaning towards dimming for brightness control

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[bikesandcars]

Thanks!

Good point on shadows, especially with LED.

I have considered dimmable. Here's the rub though. Dimmable LED requires a separate 0-10V circuit, special dimmers, and dedicated LED lights.

The only LED bulb replacements I see that are dimmable (off of a normal 120V wall dimmer) are 20 watt, so they aren't powerful enough.

If I could find a 90 watt line-dimmable LED screw-in that would be awesome, but for whatever reason they don't make them (that I've found).

 

[loganb]

Thanks!

Good point on shadows, especially with LED.

I have considered dimmable. Here's the rub though. Dimmable LED requires a separate 0-10V circuit, special dimmers, and dedicated LED lights.

The only LED bulb replacements I see that are dimmable (off of a normal 120V wall dimmer) are 20 watt, so they aren't powerful enough.

If I could find a 90 watt line-dimmable LED screw-in that would be awesome, but for whatever reason they don't make them (that I've found).

Link to what you're considering?

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[Cairo94507]

I used all LED lights for my garage remodel. Granted this was only a 33'x25 3-car garage. But the lighting is exceptional and I love it. My lights are only 1" deep and 2'x2' and they are solid LED panel. I put 40 of them in my garage and split them in 2 sections- every other light. They ended up costing name about $70 per light but well worth it. I purchased 4 spares that are up in my attic just in case.

These are super easy to install and hug the ceiling. Of course you have to hardwire them.

 

[Samh]

Just recently finished my lights. Followed a lot of the guidance on here, and used that visual 3d tool for light fixture layout found here https://www.visual-3d.com/tools/interior/default.aspx

My shop is 32x60, which is basically 4 bays at 15x32. The two outer bays are where I needed the most light, so I went with (9) 8 ft 2 strip led lights. For the two inner bays, I went with (6) 8 ft 2 strip led lights. For a total of 30 lights. In retrospect, I could've probably gotten by with six lights in each bay for 24 lights total.

 

[Garagefffreak]

I also think that doing dimmable lighting would be beneficial. First, you could save some electricity by not using maximum power if you don't need it and second it could be better for the visibility to be able to set the light power as needed.

When it comes to the shadows I think that you should also research a bit about the distance between the lighting and the floor and the range of a single light point. Basically a single light point will have a spherical range of the lighting power and that circle's size will depend on the distance from the light to the floor. It is not the best if the different light points have intersecting spheres in a way that is too noteciable. The different lighting spheres should blend in naturally with one another..

Just my 2c ..

 

[bikesandcars]

Just recently finished my lights. Followed a lot of the guidance on here, and used that visual 3d tool for light fixture layout found here https://www.visual-3d.com/tools/interior/default.aspx

My shop is 32x60, which is basically 4 bays at 15x32. The two outer bays are where I needed the most light, so I went with (9) 8 ft 2 strip led lights. For the two inner bays, I went with (6) 8 ft 2 strip led lights. For a total of 30 lights. In retrospect, I could've probably gotten by with six lights in each bay for 24 lights total.

Thanks! Any pictures or other info on layout?

 

[bikesandcars]

Thanks!

I have no issues with 8' or 4' strip lights, in fact they make my installation easier because I can run them connected with conduit and fewer ceiling penetrations which is a PITA on my steel ceiling with blown-in insulation.

I have 13' ceilings, garage doors close to ceiling, so it's not really "high bay" and I don't want lights hanging down. Since it's finished I'm not a big fan of suspended UFO's on hooks.

Now looking at direct-mount strip lighting, will see what I can find there. Dimmable would be nice. Maybe 1 center light in each bay (20'x40 and 42'x40) rigged to motion, then the rest dimmable strip

 

[bikesandcars]

Looks like 15 8' LED strip lights would provide plenty of illumination (50fc) and on 2 dimmers (one for each room) would give me the light level I want.

Looking at about $1200 for the lights themselves.

 

[OneOfEm]

For me, good lighting was high on the "want" list.

My shop is 44x50. I have 12 high bay fixtures in the center section and 18 4' tube fixtures in each lean-to. This eliminates all shadows - at least until I move the machines in.

 

[bikesandcars]

For me, good lighting was high on the "want" list.

My shop is 44x50. I have 12 high bay fixtures in the center section and 18 4' tube fixtures in each lean-to. This eliminates all shadows - at least until I move the machines in.

Looks good, bright! any info on fixtures (type / lumens / etc?) for info

 

[OneOfEm]

These are the high bays I used: https://www.beeslighting.com/MLH-12L-UV-50K-D10

The standard fixtures and bulbs were from the first post in the sticky "fixture" thread.

I get 103-104 FC everywhere in the shop.

 

[Samh]

Thanks! Any pictures or other info on layout?

I can take a pic with the layout.

Thanks!

I have no issues with 8' or 4' strip lights, in fact they make my installation easier because I can run them connected with conduit and fewer ceiling penetrations which is a PITA on my steel ceiling with blown-in insulation.

I have 13' ceilings, garage doors close to ceiling, so it's not really "high bay" and I don't want lights hanging down. Since it's finished I'm not a big fan of suspended UFO's on hooks.

Now looking at direct-mount strip lighting, will see what I can find there. Dimmable would be nice. Maybe 1 center light in each bay (20'x40 and 42'x40) rigged to motion, then the rest dimmable strip

Was pretty much in the same boat. Something that tool tells you is the best place to put the lights as well. You can go to the manufacturer of the light you are looking for and download the .IES file and load it into the tool, and it uses the manufacturer info to give the total number and best placement. Honestly, at the time, I filed it under way more than I ever wanted to learn abnout lighting. But am happy with the result. As most on here will tell you, lights closer to the wall are better than lights running down the center.