New Pole Barn lighting

[rreece40]

Just finished a new 40X60 pole barn with three bay doors. I am going to do the wiring myself and wanted to know the latest and greatest lighting options. Do I need to put up rows upon rows of 8' or are their newer light banks that would only require two or three?

 

[olytdi]

Do you mean "are there brighter options that will require fewer fixtures?"

I think that there are some really bright new LED fixtures available now but they are really spendy. I don't think you could make it pay in this lifetime.

I recommend 8 foot 4-light T-8s and making the inside of the building as white as possible. You're going to need quite a few!

 

[cj7365]

I have a 30x50x10 total of 8 4' 3 bulb T8 flourensts, 4 each fixtures on one switch ample lighting

 

[kenners]

I went this route.
http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=38658&highlight=light+shades
I have 3 rows of 6 lights that cover half of a 30' X 30' section of my shed where I will work on vehicles. I bought 6500K bulbs that are 75 watt equivalent. I could purchase higher cost bulbs that would be higher wattage if ever needed.

 

[Speedy Petey]

For a new building that big I'd go with T5 high-bays.

 

[little cowboy]

In my hay shed..40x80 I put 2 metal halides. For a hay shed that was a LOT of light. Its 20 feet high in the centre.

I am thinking for a shop...4 would be lots. The down side is the warmup time. So put in a few 500 watt halogens in for those times you walk in to get something and leave.

 

[mrobins297aaa]

for my 36 x 64 with 14' bottom of truss, i used 7 4' t8 6 bulb fixtures with the chrome reflectors mounted about 4" down from the bottom of trusses..........and its plenty of light.........those things are bright............5000k bulbs

 

[Highbeam]

Do I need to put up rows upon rows of 8'?

Yes, but the modern 8' fixture will actually be 4- 4' bulbs. It will be a t8 bulb which is one inch in diameter and very common, available, cheap, dependable, electronic ballast so no buzz or flicker, great in cold weather, instant on, and the cheapest to buy and run on a lumens per watt basis.

From a cost perspective, T8 fixtures are currently the best.

To determine how many lights you need and where to put them is a whole different topic.

I recently installed 8 of the 8', 4 bulb fixtures in my new 30x60 at a 14' height. Plenty of light for general hobby work. Cheap and easy.

 

[Random Guy]

Note that there is such a thing as an 8' long T8 lamp. You don't want those. They are a pain to deal with, and two 4' lamps actually cost less than 1 8' lamp. They are also more readily available in a wider range of color choices.

 

[ericburns4]

The color options are just fantastic in these lights.

 

[Random Guy]

They really are. You can get warm, incandescent like tubes; you can get cool daylight tubes; you can get the traditional cool white, and even colors in between! My preference is for 5000K tubes, which is in between cool white and daylight. GE labeled 'em "Sunlight". And on top of the selection of colors, T8s have pretty good color rendering, as well. They all are better than most T12 tubes, and they are more efficient too!

 

[Scott I]

Hi, I have a 32x56x13 pole barn. I put 8, t-8 fixtures up. Nice and bright, really am impressed with how turned out. problem is RF interference. I cant listen to AM or FM. that's not good, i need my radio. what are my options here,CFL maybe or try LED'S?

 

[Dr_Goodwrench66]

I went with high bay T-5 in my 40x64. It is incredibly bright. But I put more in than I needed cause I hate dark and dungeony barns.