Lighting question.. Outlets or no?

[BellyUpFish]

Ok, do I'm getting ready to put lights in my new 24x24.

I'm thinking 4 or 6 these:

http://homedepot.com/p/Lithonia-Lighting-4-Light-Heavy-Duty-Shoplight-1284GRD-RE/202968125/

I'm considering just putting an outlet for each light, rather than gang them all together.

Being my first shop design, I'm leaning on the "been there, done that" crowd to give me some tips.

 

[RECox286]

Nothing wrong with an extension cord to a receptacle. Easier to work on or replace

if there is some kind of problem down the road. I've done it myself on ocassion.

Uncle Bob

 

[larry_g]

Not knowing the final layout and wanting some flexability I put switched outlets in the ceiling of my machine shop area. This gives me the option to easily move the fixtures to areas that need the light, over benches and machines. I also have the option to put one or two fixtures at each outlet. The outlets are on two different switches allowing me to turn on what I need. Pictures in the build thread below.

lg
no neat sig line

 

[BD1]

Yep, I used a cord with male plug end. All the non working electrical appliances that die I remove the cord . I'm cheap that way. Got a few from sump pumps too. Decent size wire so they can be used for lights .

 

[BellyUpFish]

Nothing wrong with an extension cord to a receptacle. Easier to work on or replace

if there is some kind of problem down the road. I've done it myself on ocassion.

Uncle Bob

Gonna avoid extension cords for permanent wiring.

Just lost a house to a $15 extension cord..

 

[Kevin54]

I used to have contractors package deal of lights hanging in my garage. I took those out, added outlets into every box, then I hung up 4' fluorescents.

No way would I run lights off of extension cords though unless it was just using a temporary trouble light. I absolutely hate extension cords, and it's getting harder and harder to find any worth a **** anyways. If I do run one, it may only be a 100' heavy duty cord to run my table saw.

 

[Speedy Petey]

Gonna avoid extension cords for permanent wiring.

Just lost a house to a $15 extension cord..

VERY smart decision.

 

[BellyUpFish]

No way would I run lights off of extension cords though unless it was just using a temporary trouble light. I absolutely hate extension cords, and it's getting harder and harder to find any worth a **** anyways. If I do run one, it may only be a 100' heavy duty cord to run my table saw.

I won't run an extension cord if I won't be there to monitor whatever is being used unless it's plugged into a GFCI or I don't care if whatever it is burns down..

Fire inspector asked if I had any extension cords plugged in as his 2nd or 3rd question. "Where was it?" Followed.

There we went and boom. Here's your sign..

Extension cords and coffee makers are apparently two of the largest home destroyers..

 

[cide1]

I'm the safety guy at work. I try not to get in people's face too much, and try to get them to tell me how they want a safety problem fixed. The one item that comes up as a problem constantly is extension cords. The fire Marshall comes in, finds violations, and shares with us about how many places burn down due to them. I don't know about you, but it's hard for me to tell the guy that runs into the burning buildings that he is wrong. Nevertheless, employees always think they are special . I have our purchasing guy taught to not allow people to purchase them, yet they still find their way into the building.

 

[BellyUpFish]

Yeh, they're bad ju-ju apparently.

 

[elav]

Put a double gang outlet in each quadrant of the garage. Consider half of it switched for lights and the other half to potentially plug in other things like garage door openers.

 

[BellyUpFish]

I'm thinking that's what I'll do.

 

[James-W]

In my old garage I had 4 foot fluorescent lights, but when I built the new garage I went with CFL's instead. I like the CFL's MUCH better.

 

[Norcal]

If you use receptacles they will require GFCI protection. Hardwired will not.

 

[BellyUpFish]

If you use receptacles they will require GFCI protection. Hardwired will not.

I'd prefer GFCI in every outlet of my house since the fire..

 

[Speedy Petey]

I'd prefer GFCI in every outlet of my house since the fire..

GFI does not give much, if any, protection from shorts circuits, arcing and fire. But if it makes you feel better....

 

[TerryH]

I have outlets in my ceiling for my lights that are placed so the lights plug directly into them. I evenly spaced the outlets and mounted one light going each way from the outlet. No extesnion cords required. All the outlets are on GFI breakers.

 

[BellyUpFish]

That's how I'm going to do it.