New Garage Lighting?

[grabeb]

I'm getting ready to break ground on a 25'w x 32'd garage in next week or so, hopefully. Trying to figure out what I need for lighting this space.

Sidewalls will be 12' with scissor truss 8/12 pitch external, I think they are 6/12 internal. I will likely finish the walls with new corrugated tin up to 32-36" height, then either a pine shiplap or plywood above. Haven't decided that. Not sure if I'll finish natural or white. Ceiling might get something at some point, but for now likely just foam board to insulate between the truss's. The front 10' will be a loft about 9-10' off the ground, so I will get LED strips for under that. So to the peak will be about 20' in the center of room. I also plan a 4 post lift in the rear corner, which will lift to about 78" clearance under the rail at full extension.

I looked at a few other posts regarding lighting and followed the visual tool, which shows 21 strip lights to illuminate the room with a 12' ceiling. That seems like a lot of strips, so looking at other options. UFO's are what I'm really leaning to as they seem to be the preferred for large areas like warehouses, but are they the right fit for this application? In the calculator it shows each ~4' strip light is 5347 lumens, so if I multiply by 21 I get 112,287 lumens. One UFO, I'm looking at, is 100watts and 13,500 lumen. If I'm correct, that means just over 8 of these will give me the same amount of light?? I'm thinking 3 on each side, 5' off the wall then spaced 6'. Then finish up under the loft with strips. That'd be 6 of the UFO and make the rest up with side lighting (thinking task lighting over certain bench areas) or the strips under the loft. Any thoughts/suggestions on this plan?

Would the lift block too much light if I did this? Thinking of when car on lift. Which begs is there a good solution to light up 'under' the lift? .....maybe a task light of sorts that could be projected from a sidewall vs having to rely on drop lights and such.

I would place the UFO's on a switch, under the loft on a switch, lights in the loft on switch (it'll be open from one side and for storage only) then task lights on their own respective switch.

 

[Innovate1]

Just for reference, I put 12 dual tube 4' fixtures with LED tubes in my 14' high 30 x 40 and think it's plenty of light.

 

[Masheen365]

My dad’s 30x50 shop has 8 - 8’ Housings with two dual LED tubes per housing. That, in my opinion, is plenty of light for everyday use. I like the idea of more strips versus a few UFOs because it gives a more uniform light.

 

[Shiftless]

More fixtures of smaller output will result in more uniform light and a lot less glare and fewer shadows.

 

[Jakemedic]

My shop is 24x32x10 and I used The BOLT – 3 Lamp LED Shop Light – 8,550 Lumens (Frosted Diffuser) from prime lights. I may use some smaller “task” lights around certain machines, but the space is bright using 6 of these lights. Minimal, if any shadows. They ain’t cheap, but you do get what you pay for. They will do a free layout for you too. Very good company to work with. I ordered at 4 pm on a Friday and had them by noon on Monday. Here is a picture of a few of them. Have fun!

 

[u2slow]

Why the rush? Maybe wait until you have your building up and see what you have left in your budget.

 

[grabeb]

Why the rush? Maybe wait until you have your building up and see what you have left in your budget.

I wouldn't say it's a rush, but I'd like to start getting ideas. I'll be ready in about a month or less is the hope. Time will be changing soon and I don't want a dark garage!

 

[cybrdyke]

I looked at a few other posts regarding lighting and followed the visual tool, which shows 21 strip lights to illuminate the room with a 12' ceiling. That seems like a lot of strips, so looking at other options. UFO's are what I'm really leaning to as they seem to be the preferred for large areas like warehouses, but are they the right fit for this application? In the calculator it shows each ~4' strip light is 5347 lumens, so if I multiply by 21 I get 112,287 lumens. One UFO, I'm looking at, is 100watts and 13,500 lumen. If I'm correct, that means just over 8 of these will give me the same amount of light?? I'm thinking 3 on each side, 5' off the wall then spaced 6'. Then finish up under the loft with strips. That'd be 6 of the UFO and make the rest up with side lighting (thinking task lighting over certain bench areas) or the strips under the loft. Any thoughts/suggestions on this plan?

Sorry, but that train of thought doesn't work. Total lumens isn't how it works. So, forgetting that, you should take a step back and figure out just how much light you need in there. A pro auto shop will be lit somewhere between 70 and 100 foot-candles, normally. For reference, an office building or classroom is normally lit to about 40-50 foot candles. Now determine which style of fixture that you like. Do you like linear strips? Flat panels? Once you determine this, then get someone to do a layout for you. You can do it in the Visual program if you want.
For a 25x32 space, I'm just guessing, but 6 100w UFO's sounds like a lot. You have a 20' peak, which means that you'll mount these around 12 to 14' above the floor. Does that sound right?
If so, remember that UFO's have a fairly tight beam of about 120 degrees. They like to be high enough so that beam spreads out. Your layout should show you the difference between the light directly under the light versus the light between the UFO's.
Good luck,
CD

 

[nadogail]

Why the rush? Maybe wait until you have your building up and see what you have left in your budget.

Light Fixtures can be found on Craigs List for free at various times. The free fixtures may not be the prettiest , most modern, or the most energy efficient; but they generally may be easily replaced when your budget allows.
I have, in times past, seen many fixtures thrown away during tenant improvements, and energy conservation retrofits. Good things sometimes fall into the hands of those who say "Please and Thank You"

 

[u2slow]

@nadogail preaching to the choir man

That's what I do for lighting too

 

[grabeb]

Just for a follow up on the main lighting. I went with 2) 150w ~25,000 lumen LED UFO lights. They were from a local supp They are mounted about 15' up and are on one switch. I then bought 4) 100w 14,000 lumen LED UFO lights and they are about 14' up and on a 2nd switch. So far I am VERY happy with the results. I ran each section on a separate circuit, because I have 3 duplex receptacles on each side of the roof line about 6' in and another 3 duplex receptacles about 6' in along the diagonal again. Basically the slope of the roofline is divided into 1/3's. I have a lower and a higher section for the lights, then hung two 60" fans from the peak and hung them down about 3' or just above the highest lights, so no shadows. I'll see about pictures later.

I can add lights if needed and I'm debating, but will wait until I get the rest of the shop lighting in. I still want lights under the loft area, which is above the overhead door. I also want task lights where ever the work benches end up.

As it stands if I am just in the garage doing 'garage' things or hanging out, either set of lights is fine and gives nice light. If I am doing more of a project, right now cutting siding and trim, then both light the garage up very well. The only issue is I have my 4 post lift with my 1960 suburban mainly stowed away up 7' in the air and it does tend to block 2 of the lower lights a bit. Hence why I might add some lighting up high later to make up for that blockage. Than also might change some once I get the wall finished out as I'll be using some old barn/fence wood and old barn tin. Not sure how much reflection or absorption I'll end up with.

 

[texasfiremedic]

Ii went with frosted led strip lights 8 foot long. You can look up with out getting that glare that normal led give off. Got them off amazon. you can link three together in a chain. I have had them up for a year without any problems. My shop is the same size you are putting up.

I you want look in my threads and see my build. Look in the table build. It might give you some ideas. It might not.
To the best with your build.

 

[grabeb]

Here is the pic of my ceiling! The plan for finish is barn tin on ceiling and 4' up the sidewalls then old cedar boards the rest of way.

 

[texasfiremedic]

Here is the ones that I used.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07Q87SB97/?tag=atomicindus08-20

If you decide to use something like these use a zip ties to hold them up. The clips are a little hinky.