Recommend type of lights, size, how many?

[bd8134]

Hi,
I am in the process of having a 42x30 garage being built. Majority has 12' high ceilings and hopefully a 2-post for the far corner.
Do some paint work - body work, mostly mechanics on cars. Can you recommend or point me to other discussions on garage lighting.
Thanks
Brian

 

[jmack]

Flourscents will likely be best for maximum light/low operating cost. Stick with a standard size like 4ft T8. Just make sure to look at the K-rating. For your paint area, you likely want 6500k, which is supposed to resemble daylight

 

[bd8134]

With 12' ceiling I dont want to mount them that high do I?
Changing the bulbs will be a problem, I am not that tall, get in the way of lift etc..
I was thinking of mounting lights around the wall, say 10' high.
I do have some 6' twin T12 fitting that I did have in the garage.
What is more improtant the CRI # or the "color" 6500k or 7500k?
What do garages use?

 

[jmack]

Its both. The K value is usually easy to find on the package and the bulb. CRI should be 85 or above. This number is usually not found on the bulb itself. You'll need to look at manufacturer websites.

I don't think 12' is too high. Don't you have an 8ft step-ladder you can use to change bulbs? If not- check Lowes- they have a fiberglass for $60

If you mount them along the walls only, there will be no light in the middle and you'll always be casting a shadow on your work.

 

[Palmetto]

I was very suprised at the light that 6 of the 8' long T8 fixtures put out in my 30x40. Lights are mounted @ 14', and they are pretty dang bright. Got mine at lowes. They take (4) 4' bulbs to each 8' fixture.

 

[Dragster Racer]

Dumb question. If we are talking about 4 ft two bulb units, does the fixture have much to do with the output, or is it strictly the bulb? Where can you get decent bulbs? I'm not real impressed with the ones I picked up at Menard's. I want some light!

 

[burger]

My garage has 10' sidewalls and a semi- cathedral ceiling that's 13' tall at the flat spot. The ceiling is shaped kinda like this /-\ if that makes sense. Ceiling and walls are finished in drywall. I have not painted the floor or walls yet. Floor dimensions are 23 x 24.

I have 16 4-ft fixtures equally spaced in a grid. It's bright enough for surgery without being overly obnoxious.

I decided on that number based on a formula that was posted on this board. It compared the work area (or maybe it was volume?) to the lighting output in terms of watts. If you look at my garage, you get either 1.86 watts per sq-ft or .11 watts per cu-ft. Maybe those figures could be used to ballpark your lighting requirements.

 

[Matti]

My garage has 10' sidewalls and a semi- cathedral ceiling that's 13' tall at the flat spot. The ceiling is shaped kinda like this /-\ if that makes sense. Ceiling and walls are finished in drywall. I have not painted the floor or walls yet. Floor dimensions are 23 x 24.

I have 16 4-ft fixtures equally spaced in a grid. It's bright enough for surgery without being overly obnoxious.

I decided on that number based on a formula that was posted on this board. It compared the work area (or maybe it was volume?) to the lighting output in terms of watts. If you look at my garage, you get either 1.86 watts per sq-ft or .11 watts per cu-ft. Maybe those figures could be used to ballpark your lighting requirements.

Someone was recommending 1 to 1.5 watts/sq foot so I just installed 12 -4 foot 2 tube T8 fixtures with 5000k daylight tubes. This gives me 1.23 watts/ sq ft. I'll find out how well it works in a couple of weeks when I get power.

 

[e-tek]

I installed flourescents on the walls at 6 feet as well as on the ceiling. They are awesome and I highly recommend, BUT - Even though it may seem like a lot light, once you're working down lower there's a lot shadows, so I have added even more for painting and under the lift!! I added ones at 2 feet for painting and mounted 2 flourescents on a cart to bring up close to my work (paint, prep, buffing, under the lift...)

 

[theblur98ss]

My ceilings are 12' 3" in my 30x72 garage. I went with 8 400w low bay lights. It turns night into day. I also put 6 cheap lights down the middle if I just got in for something quick. I got the low bays off ebay. They were used but came with a guarantee. Got them for $50 something each delivered.

 

[matt60j]

Good timing, on the subject of lighting
im looking to light my 40x56x12. I am leaning toward the 4 bank fixture of t8's. FWIW my company just switched from industrial type fixtures(400-600w i think) to the 4ft t8 type. The light is fantastic. They changed out a ton of fixtures, pallet after pallet.

 

[bmacz06]

Hi,
I am in the process of having a 42x30 garage being built. Majority has 12' high ceilings and hopefully a 2-post for the far corner.
Do some paint work - body work, mostly mechanics on cars. Can you recommend or point me to other discussions on garage lighting.
Thanks
Brian

I would use 12 150 watt Metal Halide fixtures. I would also paint the walls white and use a light color for the floor.

 

[JDMopar]

I just hung my lights in my new garage. I used T8's thoughout, and they are the 8' fixture with 4- 4' bulbs. The big room in my building is 1600 sq ft, and has 12 of the lights in it. The light is great in there. The little room, where I will do all my work is 400 sq ft. It has 9 of the lights in there.....and I may have to wear sunscreen...lol. My ceiling is 11' high. I got all my lighting at Home Depot. I'm very pleased with the T8's. I heard thru the grapevine that T12's are on their way out, and that played a small part in my decision to use the T8's. Good luck.

 

[Matti]

Someone was recommending 1 to 1.5 watts/sq foot so I just installed 12 -4 foot 2 tube T8 fixtures with 5000k daylight tubes. This gives me 1.23 watts/ sq ft. I'll find out how well it works in a couple of weeks when I get power.

Just put some temporary power to the lights. The light is good but not great if you are looking for something very bright. I wouldn't go with any less lighting than what I have done. The ceiling is 11' in the center and 9' at the sides.

 

[Bojans]

This weekend I painted the walls and ceiling in my garage - new house and installed the lighting. Garage is approx 1000 sq (42x24 - 14-15' ceiling) with white ceiling and walls (lower section of walls will be gray soon. I installed 6 8' T12 HO fixtures along with 4 100w CFL's on a separate switch (just enough light to go get a beer from the fridge or unload groceries). The light output of these 6 fixtures is great. Every inch of the garage is like an operating room - bright, but not obnoxious. I am at 1.3 watts per sq foot