Line them up or side by side

[mym]

Hey guys,

I currently have 2 4ft florescent strip lights in the garage and want more lighting. Below is a picture of the set ups I'm considering.

Anyone have any recommendations?

Thanks for the help!!!

PS - its a standard 2 car 20x22 garage (and the x in the middle is the garage door opener)

and sorry for the lousy drawing

 

[thdewey]

Assuming that the garage door is at the top of each drawing, I like the middle drawing. If it is on one of the sides then I like the bottom. The thing to remember is that a car in the garage will block a lot of light. So, you need to push the light out to the outer edges while still having plenty of light when the cars are out of the garage to work on projects in the center. Also look at wether the lights will be blocked with the door open. I like to leave it open when I can. I put my lights for this area just outside the rails.
If no cars ever (woodworking shop) you need you need good light at the big tools (table saw, workbench etc).
I hope that this helped.
Tom

 

[Skyline]

On the side of my garage where I normally work on my cars, I did use something like the middle picture. But as thdewey said, I spread them a little further apart. I was not looking to light the roof of my car, but the sides, and under the hood. I also mounted them a bit closer to the front of the car. This works very well.

 

[RoadBeater]

I had initially done the same thing and lighted up the hood and roof of my cars. I have since put the lights in the spaces on either side of the cars, and this gives much better light. I have 3 2 bulb 4' lights lined up on the outside walls, then put two 4' 4 bulb fixtures in the center aisle (since the garage door opener didn't allow a light in the center. Seems to give adequate lighting for most work. Don't need the trouble light as much now.