Need led lighting help in 32 x 36 pole barn * Please *

[KM1013]

Hey guys. I could really use some help. Winter is coming and I have to get some basics in this garage. Your basic 32 X 36 pole barn. 4/12 scissor truss with a 2/12 interior chord. See my plans. 10.6 high and about 12.5 high at highest interior peek. I haven't finalized my work areas so we just have to light it all -- end to end. Now I've tried the visualizer tool but got confused. Wasn't sure how much candle power I needed. Read someplace that I should have 100fc. Well the thing had me putting in about 50 fixtures! If anybody can help me lay this out I would sure appreciate it. According to pg. 1 of the sticky looks like:
Housing: Maxlite LSS2XT8USE4803
Tube: GLLUSA GL07103-3M(5000K) 48" 18W LED T8

Thanks,
Kurt

 

[rd65]

Have you checked the Lighting Layout posts? Many, many pages but some good info.

 

[Platonic Solid]

This requires more effort than I have time for. Try your layout with a 3-lamp fixture like this one (link).

Aim for 93fc @ 30" above the floor (aka: workplane)

Here is a Visual link preloaded with a 7900 Lumen Lithonia fixture.

Here is a link with instructions to use the visual tool.

Here are the numbers I used in the left column and came up with Qty.20 3-lamp fixtures:

Length [X] 32 ft
Width [Y] 36 ft
Height [Z] 11.5 ft
Workplane 2.5 ft
Ceiling Type Open
Room Reflectances
Ceiling 50%
Walls 50%
Floor 20%
Criteria
Illuminance 93fc

 

[KM1013]

rd65 Thanks. I've spent about an hour in a thread. That is where I learned of the visualizer and Platonic. I just don't have the time to go line by line through an 85 page thread. In the end I'm not going to be a lighting expert. Hence my post re: my specific situation.

Now, Platonic recommends 50 three lamp fixtures (costly). But... when I plug his numbers and bulb into the calculator I get 20 one lamp fixtures. To me that seems like one heck of a lot of light which is what I want. But... again I could easily have something wrong and not know it. Anybody who's been down this road and can give me a thumbs up or down on the below image would be my hero. I am 40K OVER on a house garage build and out of my mind to be honest.

 

[Stuart in MN]

If he originally said 50 fixtures, he must have corrected it - his post now says 20 fixtures.

 

[bdk1976]

rd65 Thanks. I've spent about an hour in a thread. That is where I learned of the visualizer and Platonic. I just don't have the time to go line by line through an 85 page thread. In the end I'm not going to be a lighting expert. Hence my post re: my specific situation.

Now, Platonic recommends 50 three lamp fixtures (costly). But... when I plug his numbers and bulb into the calculator I get 20 one lamp fixtures. To me that seems like one heck of a lot of light which is what I want. But... again I could easily have something wrong and not know it. Anybody who's been down this road and can give me a thumbs up or down on the below image would be my hero. I am 40K OVER on a house garage build and out of my mind to be honest.

Here's my advice - I would stop overanalyzing, go to Costco or similar (sams club, home depot), and grab ~20 of the 4' led shop lights for ~$400. Are they "the best"? Probably not? But easily adequate and have been used by many (including myself) with great success at a fair price. Do you really need "the best' lights in a shop? Do you plan on doing brain surgery in there or doing 'garage type' things?

 

[Platonic Solid]

My post always said Qty.20 3-lamp fixtures, not sure where 50 is coming from. To be more specific, Qty.20 roughly 8000 Lumen output fixtures for a mechanical work space. You never said what the purpose of the space is. If it's just storage, then 20 fixtures is serious overkill. For mechanical work, the layout you posted will serve you well. I usually rotate fixtures to be parallel with vehicles, but that may be less convenient for your install.

I'll be spending less time in the lighting section of GJ as I have too many of my own projects to do and I'm getting lighting advice burn-out.

 

[KM1013]

Thanks for all the help. Yes I could switch up the orientation. This is your basic garage workshop. I do work on cars, some wood and metal work. I am trying to stick to a recommended color temp of 5000K and the 20 fixture layout as shown before. In addition the ceiling will be white tin and the walls will be as well. Floor gray. So...

This is the option originally suggested. It's the only option that produces 8000 lumens but it does take 3 tubes to do it and costs more.
https://www.prolighting.com/commercial-lighting/led-shop-lights-and-commercial-lighting/t443ssubcxx00p0-18w5k.html

For cost savings how would it be if I jumped down to a two fixture alternative that produces 5328 lumens. Such as...

https://www.prolighting.com/commerc...ommercial-lighting/t442ssubcxx00p0-18w5k.html

or

https://www.prolighting.com/commercial-lighting/led-shop-lights-and-commercial-lighting/pl42t8led-5k.html

As one poster stated I'm not doing brain surgery.

Thank you all.

 

[Platonic Solid]

2-lamp 4x5 layout will give you 71fc. This is certainly better than most garages. If you really want to pinch pennies, buy the lamps and housing separately.

Housing (link) $15.00 - 7% = $13.95 (use coupon code GARAGEJOURNAL at checkout)

Lamps (link) $8.99 x 2 = $17.98 - 7% = $16.72 (use coupon code GARAGEJOURNAL at checkout)

Total = $30.67 per 2-lamp fixture

 

[KM1013]

YES! Thank you so much. I am going to order that up. What a load off my mind. Care to comment on how you would best divide up the layout into zones?

 

[flame broiled]

I'll be spending less time in the lighting section of GJ as I have too many of my own projects to do and I'm getting lighting advice burn-out.

We appreciate all that you have shared. I am more confused than I was yesterday..... lol But we Do thank You for what you have taught us!!!!

 

[Platonic Solid]

... Care to comment on how you would best divide up the layout into zones?

I wouldn't divide it into zones. All On/Off. It's not like you'd save much in electricity and you only need 1 circuit. The total wattage is 720W / 120V = 6A.

 

[nsula_country]

Our shop is only a little larger than yours at 40x60x17. I laid the lights out 4x6 pattern. thats 24, 4 lamp fixtures with premium T8 fluorescent lamps. Coming in at about 90 fc. Split it in to 3 circuits on 3 way switches at each man door.

In the event a relamp will be required, I'll go with T8 LED. Probably be over 100 fc then.

CT

 

[Platonic Solid]

nsula_country - Only a little larger? By square footage, your shop is more than twice the size of KM1013. By cubic feet its 3 times bigger. Assuming a top quality 95% efficient fixture, mean output of your 4-lamp fluorescent is likely in the 11,200 lumen area.

 

[KM1013]

and this is why the man is the expert. Thank you so much. It will be a bit but I will post up pictures when it is done.