Lighting placement suggestions

[bcristea]

Hi,

1st time posting here and had a few questions about garage lighting and layouts.

I have a 22x22' 2 car garage with an 18' single door. At the far end wall (as you drive in) there is a door leading to the yard. On either side of this door I plan on having work benches. Ceiling will be 8' and finished.

My plan is to have:

1 4' T8 over each bench (parallel)
3 rows of 2 4' T8's running parallel to the car.

General idea:



Question: How far from the garage walls should the outer lights be spaced?
How far between lights?

Should I be concerned that when the garage door is open it may cover some lights?

Thanks for your help.

 

[IlliniJeeper]

I'm hoping to do something similar to you with a garage that size. Because of the issue of the garage door covering lights when it's raised and because it gets hotter than Hell in my garage in the summer if I don't open the garage door to circulate fresh air, I plan on shoving the lights into the corner and angling them at 45 degrees. Should get most of the light around the garage door that way and anywhere else I need light I'll use my drop light.

 

[pablo94sc]

Hi,

1st time posting here and had a few questions about garage lighting and layouts.

I have a 22x22' 2 car garage with an 18' single door. At the far end wall (as you drive in) there is a door leading to the yard. On either side of this door I plan on having work benches. Ceiling will be 8' and finished.

My plan is to have:

1 4' T8 over each bench (parallel)
3 rows of 2 4' T8's running parallel to the car.

General idea:



Question: How far from the garage walls should the outer lights be spaced?
How far between lights?

Should I be concerned that when the garage door is open it may cover some lights?

Thanks for your help.

I have a similar garage layout (plus an attached shop area). How high are your ceilings? Mine are 8.5ft and make that layout tricky and impractical. I attached the original plan I did for my garage (hash lines on hooded fixtures). The garage door rails and chain guide are right where you want the rear lights. I also have shelving on the side wall and having a light there interferes with the top shelf.

Just some stuff to consider. I haven't finalized my layout yet for the garage, but likely going to install my lights parallel directly over the cars. It's not ideal for working on the cars, but it's better than the garage door opener's lights.

PS: I'm considering going all hooded lights. With my low ceiling, it's too easy to glance up and be blinded by the strip lights.

 

[Jagmandave]

I don't know why so many guys have trouble with where to put the lights, you put them where it allows you to see what you're working on.

So, over the workbenches, not over the top of the car, and certainly not over the top of the hood, so that when it's open it completely blocks the light.

Decide what you're going to actually do in your shop, then place the lights accordingly.....if you hang them from chains you can move them around till they're where you need them, then do a more permanent installation later if you like.

No one layout will be perfect for everyone as everyone's needs are different, but one thing's for sure - more light is never a bad thing!

 

[pablo94sc]

I don't know why so many guys have trouble with where to put the lights, you put them where it allows you to see what you're working on.

I think the problem a lot of newbies have, myself included, is that there are things in the way to properly hang lights where they perceive/have read the lights will produce the greatest benefit. It also doesn't help that the oft-repeated general consensus here is MOAR LITEZ = BETTAR!!!!!!!!!! That doesn't help anyone with placement issues, or proper placement for their actual needs, and can lead to analysis paralysis.

So, over the workbenches, not over the top of the car, and certainly not over the top of the hood, so that when it's open it completely blocks the light.

My engine lights are placed where they are just over the front of the car (the one marked by X's on my plan). I get some shadows from me, but none from the hood.

I originally thought side lighting would be an issue but let's be honest, no amount of overhead light is going to not produce shadows when you're working in a wheel well or under a car, so I don't see an issue with putting the main shop lights directly over the cars. YMMV, though.

...but one thing's for sure - more light is never a bad thing!

I disagree (see above), but my eyes are also sensitive to light. Too much light and improper bulb temperature for the given lux can give me headaches and migraines. I'm actually surprised I don't see the Kruithof Curve mentioned here more often.

Anyway, that's my $.02.

 

[Jagmandave]

So if you have special issues, maybe you should mention those right up front?

My only point is and was put them where they'll do the most good, since we're not standing in your space it's hard for us to know what obstacles you might have to work around.

I put lights to the outside of my garage door rails at the same height plus one between the center rails and it really helps when changing tires and doing brake work. I also mounted one at an angle in front of the car so when the hood is up you can get some light under the hood, but like you my shadow does play a part. If I were doing a lot of work under hood I might mount three lights, all at a 45 pointing under the hood - one to the front and two on the sides!

View media item 35594
I have a four bulb fixture mounted right over the hood on one side, but that's where I park my old Jag, and the hood tips forward on that car, which lets the light shine down where I need it.

In that pic the Jag is on the other side, on the lift.

I don't have the problem you do, but I'm older so lots of light really helps me.

 

[bcristea]

Actually I am a newbie to the garage world so l have no comparison to base it off of.

That is the primay reason I asked for suggestions on proper placement from others who may have some lessons learned.

Again, I'm not sure how close the lights should be placed to the 3 outside walls as well as how close to the garage door.

 

[jvitez]

http://www.visual-3d.com/

Download the software. You have a 30 day trial period before it deactivates. Run all the parameters you can think off, print them off, and you're set. You want even illumination and light closer to each side wall so the wall isn't dark giving you a cave effect.

 

[Platonic Solid]

I prefer a wrap style fixture for 8ft ceilings. Something like this: (image linked to $32.97 Lithonia fixture at HomeDepot)

​

Then go here: http://www.visual-3d.com/tools/photometricViewer/default.aspx?id=40829 select "Tools" - "Interior" - input garage L,W,H - enter 70 for illuminance (or more if you so desire).

If it doesn't open with the fixture posted, go to: Open - Lithionia - Wrap - SG232

 

[Pat Mickelson]

I had a garage built a couple years ago with very similar dimensions. The only difference is that my ceiling is about 16' high. I did something similar to what you are proposing. However, instead of two 4' lights per row, I used two 8' lights per row. I didn't put any lights along the front wall perpendicular to the cars. I am VERY happy with it.
I was very concerned about how close the lights are to the walls. But what I've learned is that it isn't really all that important if you have the walls and ceiling painted white. There is so much light in the garage shadows just don't exists.
The image in your post is not even close to being to scale. It actually looks to scale with my garage including 16' (linear) per row.
I would encourage you to copy my layout above the cars. Then, if you really want more lighting above the workbench (understandable) you could always add that later.
Keep in mind, my higher ceilings means I need more light than you.
And if your garage door is open, yes, it will block a fair amount of your light. But if it's daytime it won't matter as you'll have light coming in from the open door.

 

[bcristea]

Pat,

Thanks for the advice. I will look into the 8' fixtures and see how they layout.

 

[Pat Mickelson]

Well, technically they are fixtures that use 4' bulbs, but they're end-to-end, which makes them 8' long. That way bulbs aren't such a PITA to deal with.

 

[sandmann]

Well, technically they are fixtures that use 4' bulbs, but they're end-to-end, which makes them 8' long. That way bulbs aren't such a PITA to deal with.

8' bulbs, for me, are a PITA. I have 2 8' fixtures in the middle of the garage and several 4' around the sides. Storing extra 8' bulbs for some reason seems to be a hassle. With the mixture of fixtures I need to keep extra bulbs for each and extra ballasts for each.

BTW, my new shop is having all LED's so NOTHING extra to store No Fluorescent's anywhere!