PDM
Well-known member
So I've been thinking of effective methods to increase the visibility underneath my 4 post hoist for some time and quite honestly have been just getting by with typical reel lights and cordless hook lights for years.
With the increase in popularity and cost effective light output of LED lighting over the past few years I revisited this opportunity for improvement once I reinstalled my hoist in my renovated shop.
My shop itself is much brighter than average with ample T5 high output ceiling lights throughout along with supplemental LED fixtures underneath work areas and benches. I purposely painted all walls white to reflect as much light as possible and keep them free of posters and wall art to maximize light reflection.
However the one area I've always been unhappy with was working underneath my hoists.
My original plan was to try LED strip lighting to illumimate underneath my Rotary 18 foot alignment hoist however as I soon learned the inexpensive light kits you see on Amazon are purely ornamental and do not have the lumens to illuminate effectively. (I will still research higher grade commercial strip lighting as the size of the strips are ideal - however I am new to this technology and need to price out the cost to effectively create the lumens I desire)
So original plans required angling the lights upwards towards the underside of the vehicles so I located extruded aluminum strips used for under cabinet applications to aim the lights upwards.
View media item 107611
Cheap solution vs fabricating my own mounts and they were easily cut and mitred in my metal chop saw.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00PJSSD7K/?tag=atomicindus08-20
I used heavy duty 3m double sided foam tape to mount these aluminum strips to my hoist.
Lights I ended up using were the inexpensive Barinna LED strip lights meant for ceiling or wall mounting which are dirt cheap and surprisingly small in size. I only used the cheaper 2200 lumen version as I figured the stronger lights would blind me being so close to my eyes under the hoist.
View media item 107614
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B086X87DTR/?tag=atomicindus08-20
Simple solution to mount the supplied stainless mounting clips to the aluminum channel.... rivets
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I had to add a 120 volt power supply to feed the lights so instead of running an extension cord that looks cheesy and awkward I mounted a power bar on the inner rail and routed the cord through the inner ramps and alongside the hydraulic and airlines already there.
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This is the first version of the power supply and switch which I'm not fully happy with. I'm going to build a metal protector to go over the power block or move it to the outer section. Just not impressed with the supplied cheap toggle switch and wiring used to feed these lights.
View media item 107616
End results ? Quite happy with my solution so far.
View media item 107620
My installation required cutting and repositioning and welding the coiled air hose that feeds my 2 air powered rolling jacks so I ended up repainting more of my hoist and replacing the aging coiled airline with fresh hose.
View media item 107621
But overall so far I'm happy with the results and the light output is absolutely spectacular that you could never physically replicate with multiple hand held trouble lights.
The nicest thing is the frosted lenses covers give a nice bright light output that does not glare or blind you like typical led spot lights tend to cause.
View media item 107622
View media item 107623
With the increase in popularity and cost effective light output of LED lighting over the past few years I revisited this opportunity for improvement once I reinstalled my hoist in my renovated shop.
My shop itself is much brighter than average with ample T5 high output ceiling lights throughout along with supplemental LED fixtures underneath work areas and benches. I purposely painted all walls white to reflect as much light as possible and keep them free of posters and wall art to maximize light reflection.
However the one area I've always been unhappy with was working underneath my hoists.
My original plan was to try LED strip lighting to illumimate underneath my Rotary 18 foot alignment hoist however as I soon learned the inexpensive light kits you see on Amazon are purely ornamental and do not have the lumens to illuminate effectively. (I will still research higher grade commercial strip lighting as the size of the strips are ideal - however I am new to this technology and need to price out the cost to effectively create the lumens I desire)
So original plans required angling the lights upwards towards the underside of the vehicles so I located extruded aluminum strips used for under cabinet applications to aim the lights upwards.
View media item 107611
Cheap solution vs fabricating my own mounts and they were easily cut and mitred in my metal chop saw.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00PJSSD7K/?tag=atomicindus08-20
I used heavy duty 3m double sided foam tape to mount these aluminum strips to my hoist.
Lights I ended up using were the inexpensive Barinna LED strip lights meant for ceiling or wall mounting which are dirt cheap and surprisingly small in size. I only used the cheaper 2200 lumen version as I figured the stronger lights would blind me being so close to my eyes under the hoist.
View media item 107614
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B086X87DTR/?tag=atomicindus08-20
Simple solution to mount the supplied stainless mounting clips to the aluminum channel.... rivets
View media item 107613
View media item 107615
I had to add a 120 volt power supply to feed the lights so instead of running an extension cord that looks cheesy and awkward I mounted a power bar on the inner rail and routed the cord through the inner ramps and alongside the hydraulic and airlines already there.
View media item 107617
View media item 107618
This is the first version of the power supply and switch which I'm not fully happy with. I'm going to build a metal protector to go over the power block or move it to the outer section. Just not impressed with the supplied cheap toggle switch and wiring used to feed these lights.
View media item 107616
End results ? Quite happy with my solution so far.
View media item 107620
My installation required cutting and repositioning and welding the coiled air hose that feeds my 2 air powered rolling jacks so I ended up repainting more of my hoist and replacing the aging coiled airline with fresh hose.
View media item 107621
But overall so far I'm happy with the results and the light output is absolutely spectacular that you could never physically replicate with multiple hand held trouble lights.
The nicest thing is the frosted lenses covers give a nice bright light output that does not glare or blind you like typical led spot lights tend to cause.
View media item 107622
View media item 107623
