Need suggestions for a low ceiling garage

[brainofjjj]

I'm new on here but don't hold that against me. We just moved into a huge ranch home here in Dallas and I have a 30'w X 22'd 3 car garage. It's got the typical 3 across florescent lights but i obviously need more. It also has 2 GDOs with 2 receptacles in the ceiling. The main issue is i only have 7 foot ceilings and i work on a race car often and need additional lighting plus some task lighting mounted somewhere.
Lastly, i'd light to plug in whatever lights i buy into the receptacles in the ceiling with the GDOs. I'm scared of getting and have enough money flowing out of my pockets to pay someone at this point.

I know to route the new lights along the sides of the cars and not mounted about the roof.
Can someone recommend some lights i can plugin and route in a series that won't break the bank? Given i don't plan to run a switch i think motion triggered with a nice long timer would be key.

Wall space is hard to come by since i have shelves and cabinets around but I can make a few spaces if needed.

A bad *** ceiling mounted task light that is retractable would also be nice.

Thanks all

 

[Shiftless]

Welcome!
Have you read the stickies about light fixtures and layouts?
I strongly recommend having actual switches to control lighting. Maybe one switch controlling just a few lights so you can see to walk around. And another switch to turn on all your other work lights. You don't want to have all your lights coming on if you just need to park a car or pick up something to carry off.
Thats how I have my 20x20 set up...2 switches.
If you really want to use a motion detector control. make that control your relatively lower level "walking around" lights and keep your main area lights on a separate circuit.
I also have 7 foot ceilings so to maximize headroom, I recessed my five 2 tube LED lights into the joist cavities. They each plug into receptacles I ran in surface mounted EMT conduit.

 

[brainofjjj]

Thanks Shiftless. I'm reading all sorts of threads and getting ideas. I have several Zwave switches and a smart hub and i might connect lights into that and setup motion or turn them on as needed. The switched lights are good for everyday use and i can use the others when i'm working on projects. Still shopping around for the lights though.

 

[brainofjjj]

I'm thinking now that i should replace my 4ft by 2 lamp lights with 4 or 8 foot lights x 4 lamps. Any thoughts? Again, it's a low ceiling.

 

[AntonLargiader]

What do you know about the joist spacing and direction? Basically you should find out how large a bay you have in which to recess a fixture. I would sure want recessed fixtures with a 7' ceiling.

 

[brainofjjj]

What do you know about the joist spacing and direction? Basically you should find out how large a bay you have in which to recess a fixture. I would sure want recessed fixtures with a 7' ceiling.

I have full access to the ceiling and could figure that out easily. I hate wiring but given it's there already i don't see why i couldn't pull the lights down and install new ones. Cutting into the ceiling sounds terrible given how hamfisted i am but i'm willing to try.

Is there a website you'd recommend i look at for options?

Thanks

 

[PoorOwner]

just buy the LED shop light from costco and plug into the receptacle. They can link, one plugging into the previous one, so you can get a few (there's a limit).

then if you don't feel it's enough then you can remove the existing fluorescent and direct wire in other options. Even the existing fluorescent one, if you swap the tube to LED tube from costco and amazon you will also see a big improvement in brightness.

 

[bczygan]

Time to raise that roof!

 

[Mancino]

We've used these at a few locations. They are truly meant for drop ceiling, but they work great for low height areas. Just fab a little bracket to hold them up...we also moved the control box mounted to the back and installed our own switches to control them. makes them literally 1" tall. They come in different lighting outputs and sizes too.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01GEYUP96/?tag=atomicindus08-20