My lighting plan?

[nolanc2]

The lights will be 8' 4-4' bulbs 32 watt T8's. Thinking 6500k. Walls are 16' high.
Any ideas are appreciated. I'm also thinking a few work bench specific lights mounted right over my two main workstations.
Thanks.

 

[JoelR]

This looks pretty good. Youre looking at a little less than 50 lumens per sq ft which is pretty reasonable which 16' ceilings. What color are the walls/ceiling? Light colors (especially on the ceiling) will help scatter the light around.

All T8 bulbs are not equal in lumen output or lifespan (sylvania 800 series for example is better in both categories than 700 series) so study the box carefully when you pick out your bulbs. 5000K-6500K are a great color and put less strain on your eyes for a given light output

 

[nolanc2]

Thanks JoelR. I didn't know that about the series of bulbs. I'll look into that before I buy them. Longevity is key since I'll have to rent a man lift to change em when needed. Or **** it up and buy a 16' ladder.

 

[JoelR]

Yeah tall ceilings can be a mixed bag. Oh I forgot to mention there are different CRI ratings on bulbs. These are a 0-100 number on how well the produced light renders color. Sodium street lights for a good example, render light horribly and have a CRI around 30. Typically fluorescent bulbs run around 70 with good ones hitting mid to high 80's. This is especially important for painters but you can make the decision what makes the most sense for you

 

[Platonic Solid]

Depending on what you're doing in there, you might want to consider more fixtures or F54T5HO lamps or both.
Qty.24 8ft 4-Lamp F32T8 (thus 96 lamps) = 86fc @ workplane
Qty.25 4ft 2-lamp F54T5HO (thus 50 lamps) = 82fc @ workplane

 

[regguy1]

The lights directly above the cars will cause shadows around the cars. I'd mount them just a foot or so out where side of cars will be. I have the 6500K tubes and am very happy with the 'daylight look' and color rendering they have. I have 20 48" 2 tube T8s with diffuser in a 26' x 30'

see them here: http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=140674

 

[nolanc2]

Yea i see what you guys are saying. With the high ceilings I was going for a broad spectrum lighting up top and portable lighting around and under cars with low mounted wall lights at work benches. Will mostly be used for auto mechanic and welding. Although I won't be able to afford any projects once the shop is done due to building the place to work on said projects. lol
Slab is done. Building should be up in the next couple of weeks. I'll have a better idea of where things (trucks, benches, ect) will go and proly adjust a few fixture locations.

 

[Platonic Solid]

... Slab is done. Building should be up in the next couple of weeks. I'll have a better idea of where things (trucks, benches, ect) will go and proly adjust a few fixture locations.

Budget $2,000 for lighting. Too many people treat lighting as an afterthought. Without it, you've just built a large storage shed.

 

[KaiserJeep]

Nolanc2, my new pole barn is very similar in size to your new building. We haven't done the floors or electrical yet, and are planning the lighting layout now. I'm thinking 3 rows of lights: one row per side - ~3' in from walls and mounted at about 14' high; and one row down the middle at the peak of about 20' high.

Using Platonic Solid's suggestions above:

Qty.24 8ft 4-Lamp F32T8 (thus 96 lamps) = 86fc @ workplane

Not sure I want to deal with 96 bulbs....but am impressed with 86fc.

Qty.25 4ft 2-lamp F54T5HO (thus 50 lamps) = 82fc @ workplane

Thinking this one might be for me. Especially in the middle row at 20' high.

In addition to these planned 3 rows, here's another direction I've taken as a temporary solution to my real time darkness, and which may become a permanent segment of the overall plan....

I understand and have read where the "reflectiveness" of painted or unfinished OSB walls has an effect on the lighting recommendations. But I haven't seen where the topic of indirect lighting in a garage or larger building has been discussed. Something like that used in an indoor tennis facility. I've spent quite a bit of time in various indoor tennis facilities, and have been intrigued by their lighting arrangements.

So in a small way to mimic their indirect lighting arrangement, I installed 4 flood light fixtures, pointed towards the ceiling and end walls (the building has white insulation). With just 8 flood lights, I have a very nice "glow" throughout the building, and virtually no shadows. Sure, the footcandles at workplane are minimal, but these are great for the time being.

 

[T_R]

Budget $2,000 for lighting. Too many people treat lighting as an afterthought. Without it, you've just built a large storage shed.

$2000?

My 24x24 is now lit up as bright as daylight for $200. Including wire, outlets and fixtures.

 

[nolanc2]

KaiserJeep my insulation will also be white so that may be worth looking into to start with then using them to mount above workbenches once ceiling lights are up.
T_R I'm with you. I know I can get this place lit up for less than that. The proposed lighting in my drawing is only $500 (fixtures and bulbs only) plus another maybe another $150 for direct workbench lighting.

 

[LutzTD]

$2000?

My 24x24 is now lit up as bright as daylight for $200. Including wire, outlets and fixtures.

It would be great to see the details of the $200 lighting solution. Can you share your layout and fixture details?

 

[Platonic Solid]

It would be great to see the details of the $200 lighting solution. Can you share your layout and fixture details?

I'm pretty sure it looks something like this. With a low ceiling it is possible.

Let's compare the spaces:

24x24 = 576 sq. ft.
40x50 = 2,000 sq. ft.

3.5 times more space to light in sq. ft.

24x24x8 = 4,608 cu. ft.
40x50x16 = 32,000 cu. ft.

7 times more space to light in cubic ft.

 

[nolanc2]

Yes that's a lot of cu ft. When I ran it on an online light calculator it said I needed more than twice what I had in mind of putting to get 80 Lum/ft. With that said I don't see the need for "workbench lighting" to cover every sq ft of the floor. As long as I have sufficient light to walk around and find the part I'm looking for on a shelf I'm good. There will also be a two post lift in the left bay, any light fixture above that is useless when I have a car on it, which won't be very often as this is just a hobby shop. Portable light under the lift.

 

[Platonic Solid]

Have you looked at the layouts linked in my sig file below?

▼▼▼

 

[Platonic Solid]

Let's compare the cheapest fixture known to mankind to this Howard fixture that comes with lamps.

American Fluorescent Shop Light 2-F32T8:
Qty.45 Fixtures + Lamps = $700 approx. + outlets
(I would expect typical 20,000 hr. lamps to outlive the fixture ballast in this one + I have no idea if the ballast in this fixture is even replaceable.)
Yield @ 30" = 81 Fc

Howard Highbay Fluorescent - Four Lamp T5:
Qty.12 Fixtures (lamps included) = $912
Yield @ 30" = 85 Fc

$2,000 is a rough rule of thumb budgetary figure based on $1/sq.ft. and typical decent quality fixture prices. I believe the Howard fixture is an excellent price for a decent quality. If you're not lucky enough to stumble on a "deal", then $2,000 is a good figure to use. Worst case scenario, you have some cash left over which beats the heck out of not having enough.

 

[roscoe2000]

I would read up on high bay light vs. low bay as your intended fixtures are more suitable for as a low bay fixture. Not knowing your intended usage of the space and/or long term plans, what you have is doable and will get you by. But I can see a need for portable task lighting if working in the low coverage area.

 

[W_A_Watson_II]

In my 54x48 with 14' ceiling I have 96 4' T-8 Tubes and wish I had more. Shadows and blocked lighting around vehicles makes it hard to see well in some areas.

 

[nolanc2]

I couldn't find the Howard highbay fluorescent four Lamp T5 for $912 but i did find them for $85 each. Not much difference. I may order a couple to see how they do in my shop and go from there.
Any recommendations on where to get them from Platonic Solid?

 

[nolanc2]

My last shop was 30X30x10 and I only had 4 8' two bulb T12 lights in it and it was lit up fine as long as I had a work light on whatever I was working on at the time.

 

[Platonic Solid]

nolanc2 - see post #16. The underlined words are links.

 

[nolanc2]

Thanks Platonic Solid, guess I just missed the links. building is almost done now. Think I'll get a few of those T5's on order.

 

[nolanc2]

Just wanted to say thanks to Platonic Solid for the light fixture suggestion. I went with the Howard T5 highbay lights and they are great.

 

[Platonic Solid]

Just wanted to say thanks to Platonic Solid for the light fixture suggestion. I went with the Howard T5 highbay lights and they are great.

Glad I could help. The "Howard Lighting HFLPE454APSMV00000I - 4 Lamp T5 High Output Low Profile Fluorescent High Bay - Includes Fluorescent Bulbs" @ $81 = ~250 lumens / $1. That's a very impressive bang for the buck.

(Image linked to BADW website)


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Pics of your install are always appreciated.