Overhead Lighting and Garage Door

[BigKev]

I currently have two 4" overhead lights towards the rear of my garage. I need to put two more towards the front on my garage so I am have enought light when I am working on the front of my Packard. The Packard is pretty long, and to be able to have enough space to walk behind it at the rear wall, I have to have the car almost right up against the garage door when it is closed. I have the car backed into the garage and up on jackstands with all the front end disassembled.

I did it this way so I could use the natural light during the day to work on car. This has worked well during the summer. But since the time change, it's pitch black by the time I get home at night.

Ok, so to the problem I have. I need to have the big garage door rolled open to work on the front of the car. Because of this any overhead lights towards the front of the garage would be blocked by the door. Does anyone make any type of lighting that would attach to the inside of the garage door so when it is in the up position it would shine down?

Maybe this is just a pipe dream. I would like to use something better than just portable lights.

 

[nova65ss]

I asked the same thing a couple of years ago.

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=1812

 

[kbs2244]

The quickest and easiest way to solve this is to get two of the construction style halogen lights that come on a floor stand
With 2, one on either side, you will avoid any kind of shadowing.
And you will have the ability to move them around for best effect.
With some shopping you should be out less than $50.00

 

[PhantomEB]

you also could consider one of my ideas, and thats to put the lights to the outside of the door track.

 

[nova65ss]

The quickest and easiest way to solve this is to get two of the construction style halogen lights that come on a floor stand
With 2, one on either side, you will avoid any kind of shadowing.
And you will have the ability to move them around for best effect.
With some shopping you should be out less than $50.00

I don't like the idea of having to drag out lights every time I want to work in the garage.

Putting them on the outside of the track really doesn't help much either being that my door is 16' wide. The light would still be dim at best in the center of the door.

 

[Junkman]

On December 21st, the days will start getting longer and the nights shorter, so just wait it out.

 

[Matti]

You could install the fluorescent units on the wall like the old paint booths.

 

[DoyleDee]

I put two 4ft lights on jack chain with "S" hooks and hang it from inside my door when the door is up at night. Each light has about 15ft of cord with a plug on the end. I might mount them above the windows---might.. I'm a big light fan so I have plenty of light for my needs.

 

[BigKev]

All interesting ideas. I do have one set of portable halogen floodlights on a stand.

One thing I did do was take the difuser cover off the front of the garage door opener and install the big CFL style light bulbs. They do throw off a good amount of light. I just need to download a user manual for that garage door opener so I can figure out how to keep the light on. It turns off after 5 mins.

 

[wilbilt]

You could permanently mount a couple of the halogen light heads on either side of the door and aim them where needed.

Those things make pretty effective heaters, too.

 

[nova65ss]

All interesting ideas. I do have one set of portable halogen floodlights on a stand.

One thing I did do was take the difuser cover off the front of the garage door opener and install the big CFL style light bulbs. They do throw off a good amount of light. I just need to download a user manual for that garage door opener so I can figure out how to keep the light on. It turns off after 5 mins.

What kind of opener is it? They make wall controls that allow you to turn the light on and off for certain brands.

I need to work on my idea some more it fell to the wayside. I do think mounting lights to the door with a retractable cord that will retract in and out as the door goes up and down would be perfect.

 

[nova65ss]

You could permanently mount a couple of the halogen light heads on either side of the door and aim them where needed.

Those things make pretty effective heaters, too.

Your right that might be the best bet. Thing is if my door is open it will need to be warm out, if I need a heater the door is not open. If the door is closed i do not have a light problem.

 

[kbs2244]

You know, the idea of screwing the light to the inside of the door idea is growing on me.
As long as you could place them so you wouldn’t bang your head or shins on them when the door is down.
Maybe some kind of quick attach brackets so you could put them in place before you opened the door? Have some kind of dedicated storage spot for them when not working.
Two double bulb 4 footers would throw a lot of light. A lot of the plug in type have a cord and outlet on them so you can daisy chain them.
Slip them into place, plug the second into the first, open the door and plug in the first.
I am in the thought stages of another shop and have been hung up on this problem too. I like to work with the doors open on summer evenings, but the door always shades the lights. This gives me something to think about.

 

[Jaytree]

It may not be in your budget, but have you considered changing the door out for a rollup? That way you could mount lighting right at the door overhead that wouldn't be affected by the door being open. Maybe you could swap out your door setup with someone through craigslist or this board.

 

[nova65ss]

It may not be in your budget, but have you considered changing the door out for a rollup? That way you could mount lighting right at the door overhead that wouldn't be affected by the door being open. Maybe you could swap out your door setup with someone through craigslist or this board.

Good idea but a roll up door is not very appealing and my neighbors would have a fit! Not too mention the wife!

 

[russlaferrera]

Run EMT from wall to wall 2-3 inches from the door when it's up. Support the middle to the ceiling.( if there are 2 doors) hang your lights from the EMT.

 

[russlaferrera]

double post

 

[IDASHO]

Run EMT from wall to wall 2-3 inches from the door when it's up. Support the middle to the ceiling. (if there are 2 or more doors) hang your lights from the EMT.

This is very similar to what i have planned.

But also a big reason I went with a high-lift door. Plenty of room between the door when up, and the shop space to suspend lights.

 

[PatrickM]

What is EMT?
I know a guy that has a single, 16 foot door and he picked up an aluminum extruded C channel that he spans beneath the open door. It hangs from chains on either side of the door. The channel is stiff and strong enough to support lightweight 4 foot sections of fluoro lights attached to it. The lights can be used with the door up or down. Works great....on my list to do.

 

[Red Green]

What is EMT?

EMT stands for Electrical Metallic Tubing it is rigid conduit

 

[TEXACMAN]

I have been thinking of mounting a couple of those halogen work lights to the top section of the door myself . I guess while the door is up the cord would hang down so you could plug it in or ?

 

[sizzler90]

You could use a loading dock light. Some of them even have fans on them.

I don't know how to make a link, so look here >
http://loadingdocksupply.com/dock_lights

Some these arn't cheap.

 

[rburke65]

I have an 8 foot flourescent light mounted to my garage door for years, no problems. I used 16-3 S.O. cord (which is just a heavy extention cord), used romex plastic staples to attach the cord to the top edge of the door section. Run the cord up and over the horizontial track, left a loop of 18 inches or so, to allow the door to go up and down,(you will have to play with it and see what works). I ran the cord up through the ceiling and tied it into the existing recessed lighting. I'm a newbie here to posting so I'll try the 'picture thing' now. Well, my pictures are too big. 500 KB and 2304 x 1728, j-pgs. And to top it all off, I'm not too PC literate and I'm at work, on their PC, witht their security and fire walls so........... I could use some help. Thanks

 

[rburke65]

OK My apprentice, Brian, got me through this. Man...........nothing is easy!!! Got a few more pictures for you guys.

 

[SOA-Nova]

Below are some shots of the garage door lights I installed a few years back. The retractor is a standard drop light assembly that I removed the catch arm from inside to where the wire can be pulled in our out without having it catch anywhere in it's travel.
The upper strain releif channel is 1/2" electrical conduit bent and then sliced in half to give me a smooth U channel for the wire to lay in this area since it is subject to the most bending.

3’ lights in garage door panel:
http://home-and-garden.webshots.com/photo/2698930300060464735MDQXFC

Modified internally drop light retractor:
http://home-and-garden.webshots.com/photo/2456301910060464735CxSQMd

http://home-and-garden.webshots.com/photo/2328633270060464735CHQqNk


Wiring passing from one panel to the next with plastic snap-in grommets:
http://home-and-garden.webshots.com/photo/2540579440060464735hbSWJy

http://home-and-garden.webshots.com/photo/2599838880060464735bqNTug


Strain relief for cable on top garage door section:
http://home-and-garden.webshots.com/photo/2530936410060464735tOveGM

As far as the lights used, they are 3' lights that were takeouts from some old store displays.

With the garage door down it made it easier to do bodywork on my 1974 Nova as the position of the lights allowed me to sight down the side of the car to find any area's that needed work.

Jim

 

[go4dave]

This subject came to me last night,,, i had to have the garage door open,, to work on my car.. plus it was a beautiful night,, and to hot inside the garage. Here is what i am going to try. Mounting High Output LEDS on the inside of my garage door,,, using Uni-Strut and Uni-strut trolleys for cable management. This will give me the best of both worlds. I will run all my wires to a central point, then up to multiple trolleys that will glide back and forth in the Uni-Strut. Using a strain relief on the wire (Keliums-Grip) to the garage door. Then "FESTOON" style the wires onto the trolleys... the wires will splay out,, when the door is down,,, and return into small loops, as the door travels upward. I will have to adjust the TORQUE setting on my garage door opener,, to account for the additional weight of the LED fixtures.

I'll post some pics when i get done,,,, but any suggestions, on something i've missed,, please speak up. Or if you have a good source for some reasonably priced LED fixtures let me know. Everything so far,, is expensive,,, that's why i've been holding off.