New Garage Lighting

[Featherstoneryan]

Hello my name is Ryan and I am posting on here to look for problems that people have with lighting in their garage. Not enough electrical outlets, lights are not accesible enough in the garage environment, they're to bright, not bright enough, not direct enough... ETC. any issues with lighting in a garage setting would be greatly appreciated. I am in an Art school for product design and am looking for input from individuals who have had any issues with garage lighting. I am working on a project to create a new and improved way of lighting in the garage. Thanks any input is greatly appreciated

 

[Contract_Pilot]

I went with T12's took them back then went with T5-HO wow like day light in the Garage. Space them Equally and wire them up. You can also space them where you need less light and more light. But T5-HO is my recommendation.

 

[kd3pc]

If you plan on having an AM/Fm stereo in the garage, make sure you test the "residential" ballast once or twice before you do the whole garage. WHile Cooper/Metalux was good about replacing the ballast for my dozen lights, they did not cover the labor and it is a pain to replace brand new stuff when it is over head.

A Residential ballast should be dead quiet on your AM/FM.

 

[Cyberbear]

The only suggestions I can add is:
1. Make sure your lighting system provides 100 candle power where you do your most critical work. This becomes very important past the age of 55.
2. Make sure you can turn off fixtures not being used, rather than having a whole bay of light when a couple fixtures will get the job done. I put simple pull chain switches in my fixture so I may easier regulate the amount of light and power used.

 

[eastbaysubaru]

LEDs have come way down in price and are certainly worth looking into when considering an entire garage re-lighting scheme. I just replaced a few BR30s in the kitchen with LED equivalents and couldn't be happier. Light output is almost identical to the standard bulbs and electrical usage went down considerably. One consideration if you do end up with LEDs is that you may want to consider running a standard incandescent fixture and utilize an LED that is an "incandescent bulb replacement" (for a BR30 flood lamp). That way, if/when the LED dies, you will easily be able to find a replacement LED lamp.

I definitely like the idea of multiple lighting zones too. Something I am definitely going to do when upgrading my third bay.

If going with fluorescent lighting I will second the suggestion of testing of the AM/FM compatibility with one fixture before going in whole-hog. I made the mistake of purchasing four fluorescent fixtures, installing them, and then realizing that I could no longer receive AM radio well. I will not make this mistake next time.

-Brian

 

[Featherstoneryan]

thanks very much I will put all of this information into context when i get into the production process of my design..

 

[kbs2244]

As suggested, think about when you will not need full power light over the whole area.
Maybe a switch for each 1/3 of the floor area.
Or, conversly, a switch for every other or every third fixture.
I like skylights for just walk in, get something, and walk out trips.

 

[ford33]

I'll add that lighting is often only installed overhead in the ceiling. Garage work on automobiles involves working under the hood, under the car, and the vertical surfaces of doors and panels. I would think proper lighting is needed along the sides and under the car.

When i install my lights I will have some installed at the edge of the wall and ceiling pointing down at a 45 degree angle. They offer underhood lights already and i have seen some garages with in-ground lights pointing up for use under lifts.