lights on one or multiple switches - looking for opinions!

[cfk]

I have a 40x48x14 shop with a 7x28 loft along one side. I have 9 high-bay ufo-style lights hanging from the ceiling and will be adding lighting under the loft and over the workbench.. I'm having a hard time deciding if I should put them all on one switch so all the lights come on at once when I walk in, or if I should put the lights under the loft and over the bench on the 1st switch, so that I can turn just those on if Im just running in there to grab a tool or work at the workbench, and then the rest of the shop on a 2nd switch.

What would you prefer in your shop?

 

[u2slow]

I'd break it up some. Don't need full light for every time I set foot in there, and I don't like to make a habit of driving up the power bill. I've got one switch for 'ring' of wall lighting around the shop. Another for the bench area. Will need one more under the loft area.

 

[sparky 1971]

Below the loft on a separate switch for the reason's you already gave.

 

[rburke65]

I have 3 rows of T8s, in a 56’ shop and I put them on 3 switches

 

[nadogail]

If there are windows in the shop I would recommend zoned lighting for energy conservation.

 

[gtae07]

I have 3 rows of T8s, separate switch for each. One row is in a different circuit from the others just for redundancy (if I need to work on the lights I still have one row working). And I don't like running it all through a single failure point, but that's the aircraft systems engineer coming out.

There's no kill like overkill...

 

[APEowner]

Separate switches but also use two way (or even three if it makes sense) switches with one by the door and one by the area that the lights cover so you can turn them on if you decide to wander over to an unlit area and off when you leave no mater how many lights you left on.

 

[bilede]

Seperate switches with zoned lighting works best. I have a larger high ceiling area with 3 zones of lights and then a 2 story floor and loft area with seperate lighting on a wifi switch which allows me to turn on/off within the area and also from a remote I have on wall by my main door. Works great when you were upstairs with lights on and you go downstairs and about to walk out door and realize you left the lights upstairs on.. now, click the remote and turn them all off from one spot. Can also connect to wifi and turn on/off with smart phone but I haven't needed that functionality yet..

 

[Git]

I would use something like this (I have a couple of them here and there)

 

[sparky 1971]

I like simple. Turn all the shop lights on together from however many locations you like, the same with the under loft lights. If you're working in the shop, all of the lights will more than likely be on anyway. The money saved on the extra wire and material to zone the lights will pay for a lot of power to run the extra lighting on the few occasions where you wouldn't run all of them.

 

[RPH]

Put them on different circuit breakers. Last thing you need when working is to be plunged into darkness because the cb switched off. Safety first!

 

[mike93lx]

I'd want at least two switches. One with enough light to grab something quick and the other for the rest. No need for operating-room level lighting to grab a beer and a wrench

 

[vavet]

At least 2 switches. I wish I'd done that in my 24x32 garage. At nearly 3x the size, you'll be well served.

 

[PoorUB]

Switch the mez separately, right by the stairway.

You may want to switch the main shop lights on a couple circuits, but put the switch for the shop lights in the same place.

One thing I did was put a couple lights on a motion sensor inside the garage. I set the off delay for 1/2 hour. When I am working out there those lights generally stay on all the time. It is nice if you drive in and the lights come on.

The garage I have now was built when I bought the place. There is three separate locations for light switches and it makes me a bit crazy. I wish all the light switches were in the same box, right by the walk in door. Right now I step inside, flick one switch on my right for roughly 1/4th the lights, walk in a couple steps and flick on two switches for roughly half the lights, then walk to the over end of the shop for the switch for the remaining 1/4th the lights. No clue why, I think the guy was on crack!

 

[TobeyA]

I have 3 rows of T8s, separate switch for each. One row is in a different circuit from the others just for redundancy (if I need to work on the lights I still have one row working). And I don't like running it all through a single failure point, but that's the aircraft systems engineer coming out.

There's no kill like overkill...

^^^ That is why my overhead lights are on 2 switches, 3 lights each. Light over the weekend and under the loft use pull chains.

 

[acer66]

Windowless shop here and I also have two switches for lights each feed by its own breaker that has nothing else on them.

 

[cfk]

Switch the mez separately, right by the stairway.

The staircase is in the back of the shop (not there yet), and there will be a light switch there for the lights up top of the mezzanine.

The big lights use a total of 10.8a, so it really isn't a matter of energy consumption and cost savings.

Tell me if I'm missing anything - the advantage to having them all on one switch is not having to fumble around with needing these lights on or those lights on; or working at the bench with the shop lights off but then needing something from the shop and having to go back to the door to switch the rest of the lights on... and on the other hand, other than saving a few pennies, I'm don't see an advantage to having them split up on separate switches.

Here's a pic for reference (don't mind the mess)..

 

[mike93lx]

The staircase is in the back of the shop (not there yet), and there will be a light switch there for the lights up top of the mezzanine.

The big lights use a total of 10.8a, so it really isn't a matter of energy consumption and cost savings.

Tell me if I'm missing anything - the advantage to having them all on one switch is not having to fumble around with needing these lights on or those lights on; or working at the bench with the shop lights off but then needing something from the shop and having to go back to the door to switch the rest of the lights on... and on the other hand, other than saving a few pennies, I'm don't see an advantage to having them split up on separate switches.

Here's a pic for reference (don't mind the mess)..

If you will always have all the lights on anyway and never want to be able to have some on while you are working on others, throw them all on one switch.

There were lots of reasons given in this thread why you might want multiple switches. Your call though

 

[TractorJeff]

I used the switches with the little nite light in them. I walk in and can see the switches! NO FUMBLING in the Dark!

 

[marak]

I prefer two separate branch circuits and a couple of zoned areas of lighting at a minimum. Three-way switches when appropriate. In addition, I add simple toggle switches to each fixture so I have total control of what lights are on. Granted, I have tons of properly sized toggle switches, that cost me virtually nothing, that I can mount to the ends of the light fixtures by punching a 3/8" hole in the fixture. Lights that are beyond arms reach get flipped using a cheater stick. This method keeps the OCD and control freak in me pacified.

 

[u2slow]

My shop has 2 man doors also... its a bit dumb if I can't turn on some lights at each entrance.

 

[mike93lx]

My shop has 2 man doors also... its a bit dumb if I can't turn on some lights at each entrance.

So you have them split between the doors and aren't using 3-way switches?

 

[u2slow]

So you have them split between the doors and aren't using 3-way switches?

Correct.

My lighting is still work in progress though... much like insulating, boarding, and the mezzanine.

 

[PoorUB]

If my shop had two man doors the lights would be on a three way.

 

[mikedodge]

Only you can figure out what's best for your situation. If you will regularly need the lights under the loft leave it on one main switch. If you are mainly grabbing stuff from under there and won't always need light put it on its own switch. Put the work bench light on its own switch. For both those locations I'd put the switch right there where it's going to be used. Use 3 way switches with 2nd ones at the door if you don't want to run back if you forget to shut them off.