To avoid these ads, REGISTER NOW!

Recessed light fixtures

To avoid these ads, REGISTER NOW!

14binders

Member
Joined
Jun 3, 2009
Messages
11
Location
Seattle, WA.
Remember, these things are a full 24" wide. Even 2byX joists or trusses only have 22.5" clear between them. The diffused lenses are designed to reduce lamp image for office buildings, not shops. They will reduce light output by ~15% alone over a bare bulb and the lenses will also fill with dust eventually, reducing light output even more.

No matter what fixture, I would be concerned about overall coverage and shadows. You should consider 9 fixtures (3 rows of 3) pushed further out to the corners (2' from wall) so there is plenty of coverage coming from all corners, reflecting off the walls into the middle to avoid a huge shadow, esp. with a car on the hoist.

What about strip fixtures? Do you really think you're going to need to get a car within 4" of a 12' ceiling on a regular basis?

(Don't ever buy big box store strip fixtures, the ballasts will all burn out within 1-2 years.)

Consider these:
They are lensed, but don't diffuse as hard as an "office" fixture, and have some gasketing to keep the dust out.
2L gasketed for $79
http://www.goodmart.com/products/1248624.htm
3-lamp gasketed for $85
http://www.goodmart.com/products/1184914.htm

I would consider (9) 2L strip fixtures to be the minimum watts you would be happy with. For an extra $6 ea. go for the 3-lamps.

(thinking more)
In my state, 1watt/ft² is code minumum for an office, 1.4 for a workshop
(9) 58w (net) 2-32w fixtures in your shop is only 0.9w/ft²
(9) 87w (net) 3-32w fixtures in your shop is 1.35w/ft² PERFECT!

Oh yeah, do two switch legs- 5 on one, 4 on the other so you can tone it down when your not workin' too hard.
 

ddawg16

Well-known member
Joined
Jul 11, 2008
Messages
21,005
Location
S. California
Have you considered the 6" recessed cans? I installed 24 of them in my garage.....plenty of light.....
 
To avoid these ads, REGISTER NOW!
OP
U

unvago

Member
Joined
Mar 10, 2009
Messages
24
Thanks for the information. I will probably go with strip lights instead of the recessed 2x4's. I was hoping to avoid my surburban from crushing the lights.
How many cans do you have on one switch or do you turn all the cans on with one switch?
 

e-tek

Well-known member
Joined
Dec 19, 2007
Messages
10,690
Location
Saskatoon, SK
I had my convertible on the lift all winter and when I went to bring 'er down I rasied it up too high (don't ask how!) and crushed the bulbs in one of my fixtures. Lucky for me it was a convertible, as a hardtop would have been severaly damaged. I wish i would have set them flush and still may if I ever have some extra time.
 
To avoid these ads, REGISTER NOW!
Top Bottom