New 22 x 23 garage lighting ???

[The_Tango]

Well I just finished a new 22 x 23 garage - Need to start on running wire for lights but have NO idea the number I need. After all the wiring is run I plan on insulation with drywall (all painted white. Ceiling is around 10' high.

I plan on using three circuits - one to controll the light what would be covered when the 18' door is raised, one for the rest of the general ceiling lights, and one for additional lights & plugs over work benches.

I have never had a shop area that was lighted very well (less is NOT more) - I want it VERY well lit.

I hope this will be a one time install - so I'm looking T5. Cost is a factor but not number one on my list.

Suggestions, layout, Brand of lights, ect.

Thanks

 

[regguy1]

I have a 26' x 30' Installed 20 2 tube T8 48" with plastic diffusor and used the 6500K bulbs, all from HD, fixtures were 20.00 ea.. It's like daylight in there now. With your size I'd say about 15 should do.
(the back of the cars look dark because the door is up and covering some lights)

 

[Boyd Who]

I have 11 four-foot T-8 fixtures in my 20 x 22 shop. That is more than enough light for me. There's 3 rows of 3 permanently mounted to the ceiling, and 2 more that hang over my work bench.

 

[montecarlo31]

I have a 26' x 30' Installed 20 2 tube T8 48" with plastic diffusor and used the 6500K bulbs, all from HD, fixtures were 20.00 ea.. It's like daylight in there now. With your size I'd say about 15 should do.
(the back of the cars look dark because the door is up and covering some lights)

I like that set up, any details? How did you wire them in? Your garage is very similar in size to mine (21x32).

I currently have two builder special type lights with 23 watt CFLs.

 

[regguy1]

I like that set up, any details? How did you wire them in? Your garage is very similar in size to mine (21x32).

I currently have two builder special type lights with 23 watt CFLs.

The lights are called wrap lights (Lithonia) at Home Depot, they're $19.98 ea. in the store.
They're low priced and need to be wired. I cut hole in the ends with hole saw and used armoured cable (BX of Greenfield ?) to pull wires through. You're supposed to put a box above each one...but I didn't want to be putting up 20 boxes and ripping up ceiling insulation above. I wired them together in the fixture, taped the connections and carefully positioned the wires down the center of each light and used duct tape (white) to secure them to the top of housing. there's plenty of clearance for the tubes with this arrangement. The end fixture I used a 90 degree fitting to route the wires above the ceiling and wired them to appropriate switches. 6500K 85 CRI Phillips tubes also from HD. I have the lights on 2 seperate circuits and switches. I believe you could put 25 of these on one 20 amp breaker if they were the only thing on the circuit.

I think these are the ones:
http://www.homedepot.ca/webapp/wcs/...hall&recN=0&N=0&Ntk=P_PartNumber#BVRRWidgetID

 

[The_Tango]

Thanks for the suggestions

I went to my local Lowes yesterday to see what they had in-stock. The guy in the lighting department came over and was asking me what I was needing - so I went through the 24 x 24 garage story. He was insistent that I would be crazy if I used anything but the 8' T12 HO units.

I ask about the T12 being phased-out and he said I would be dead before T12 stuff wasn't available.

Are the T12 brighter that the T8 in the display - Oh yes

So many choices - So few working brain cells

 

[GTOGreg]

1. Go to Home Depot - they carry the units with the better ballasts (yes, I prefer Lowes usually too)
2.) You don't know what intensity, or "K" bulbs they were using in each, so might not be apples to apples
3.) T8's are 33% more energy efficient than T12 bulbs of the same size.
4.) 8' lights are scarce, much more expensive, and more cumbersome to transport and install

 

[The_Tango]

So the best bet is the 20 HomeDepo basic 4', 2 bulb, Plain, T8 ? No wrap, just plain unit?

 

[Steevo]

Or 10 of the 8' T8 fixtures that take 4 x 4-foot tubes.

 

[dougmac]

I posted some things that I learned when setting up my lights.

You can find the tips here:
http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=76550

Good Luck!!

 

[GTOGreg]

You want thte $27 4 ft unit or the $39 8 ft ut, rated GESB. Gives you electronic ballast with 0* starts if you need them. High quality units.

 

[The_Tango]

GTOGreg - Are these HomeDepo units? If so part number?

 

[PreferredMotorsLLC]

I have a 26' x 30' Installed 20 2 tube T8 48" with plastic diffusor and used the 6500K bulbs, all from HD, fixtures were 20.00 ea.. It's like daylight in there now. With your size I'd say about 15 should do.
(the back of the cars look dark because the door is up and covering some lights)

What is that work bench in the back left corner of your garage? Brand, price, where to buy? Looks nice. Thanks!

 

[chrispitude]

You want thte $27 4 ft unit or the $39 8 ft ut, rated GESB. Gives you electronic ballast with 0* starts if you need them. High quality units.

Agreed - part numbers would be great! I'll head there tomorrow and see if I can track them down.

 

[chrispitude]

I visited Home Depot and looked at their shop lighting options. They had a standardized Home Depot display built up showing "good," "better" and "best" shop lighting options.

The "better" and "best" fixtures were:

• SKU 138633 - $32.87 - "better" 2-tube fixture
• SKU 138636 - $56.74 - "better" 4-tube fixture
• SKU 453879 - $47.76 - "best" 2-tube fixture
• SKU 433180 - $66.96 - "best" 4-tube fixture

You can go to the Home Depot website and enter the SKUs in the search box, and the products will come up. The online prices were a bit higher than my local in-store prices. All four fixtures above are electronic ballast fixtures which will start down to 0F, and all four fixtures mount directly to the ceiling.

- Chris