New garage lighting help needed

[puffin63]

I'm building a new garage (see attached) and would love to have recommendations on lighting layout and fixture selection. I intend to put a wood working workshop in one section and a car/snowmobile/motorcycle/boat shop in the other.

I live in Canada and it gets cold in the winter. I don't know much about lighting so any suggestions would be helpful and greatly appreciated. I have read several post and there are certainly some great ideas. I just wanted to ensure I get the most up to date recommendations.

 

[vision8]

Okay, put your location in your signature profile; then you can get a better answer depending on your location ( NWT ?) . Got the layout but need a cross section for the building height and ceiling height. If you want a lift for maintenance , auto restore , or ?? What are you doing in the garage , restoration , woodworking or ?? Each required different lighting depending on application.
I have just laid mine out then wired in T8's at 16'-0' height for ease of installation and staggered down each bay ( the Hoist Bay which is 15' x 30' ) has ten 4' T8's on two circuits. See pictures in my 'Workshop Album'.

 

[nadogail]

IMHO, The location and type of lighting is best determined and installed in a manner to conform to the layout of the equipment to be installed in the garage.

One size does not fit all purposes.

 

[puffin63]

Thanks for the response. I'm in Newfoundland, Canada. See attached elevations. The garage is 10 feet high. I'm more of a hobbiest than a professional. I will be doing general woodworking and mostly minor vehicle maintenance and some vintage snowmobile restorations.

 

[vision8]

Okay, How is the weather out on the Rock ?

With a 10 foot ceiling height you would be limited to a Maxjac type of lift to elevate the vehicle about three feet off the floor. A motorcycle lift table would work for sled maintenance but take up floor space when not being used ; I sunk mine flush with the floor in a 12" pit to eliminate this, but it is now not portable.
A ten foot ceiling will be perfect for T8 electrical fixtures; placement will depend upon the location of the task that you are working on.
So, the vehicle being 6 foot wide the lights would be parallel to the length and 8 to 10 feet across to light down the sides of the vehicle then ?? The front light at 90 degrees to these , to light the engine area is always a problem to place to eliminate the hood shadow.
I used the one 4 foot flouresent light per 40 square feet to lay out my hoist area and at 16 foot ceilings it is bright.These are staggered so two switches control 4 or 6 lights each.

 

[vision8]

The wood working area requires the layout for each machine so each set of lights eliminate the shadows and wood working creates a lot of dust which makes the lighting diffused if the bulbs are not clean.
I spent a lot of time searching the list and gallery pictures to lay out my space to maximize the potential as best I could. Still there were comprimizes , used ACAD to put together the shop drawings and layouts , a lot of layouts !