Pole barn lighting

[michaelscheuren]

Hello everyone! My first post here(besides the introduction) so, plese bear with me. I just built a pole barn. It's 30' x 54' with a ceiling height(to bottom of rafters) of 9'8". What do you recommend for lighting? Has anyone used L.E.D. lighting for a similar application? I am thinking of finishing the entire building in drywall including the ceiling and would like to have the lights be flush mounted if possible. What do you recommend??

Thank you for the help.

Michael.

 

[Norcal]

LED is new enough that fixtures are still costly, if you have a lot of dough go for it.

 

[Stuart in MN]

T8 fluorescent tubes are probably the best bang for the buck if you consider cost and efficiency. Surface mount will be easier and probably less expensive, but if you do go with flush mount, and assuming your ceiling will be insulated, the fixtures will have to be rated for direct contact with the insulation or else you'll need some sort of air space around them underneath the insulation so they don't overheat. A real nice light treatment is what HIRISC used in his garage condo; he posted some photos of the light install here: http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=40899

 

[Cuda]

I love evrything I have seen of the LED's..... except the price. They are coming down, but have a long way to go before I'd go with them. I went to a local electrical supply house who was having an Open House, with factory reps there. One rep had an LED fixture that was 2 foot square. He said it was designed to replace a 250 watt HID fixture. But the price was nearly $1,000.00 for one fixture. Hard to swallow that.
I agree T8's are right now the best bang for the buck.