Recommended Lighting for shop?

[RaceDeck1]

We have an old building where we want to swap out the old fluorescent lights in the ceiling. I would love to hear a few suggestions. Here is one that was recommended by a detail shop https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07V38BS9M/?tag=atomicindus08-20

and here is the space. it would take 20 to 24 8' lights

 

[Mr HandyRex]

I don't have any suggestions but wanted to say I love the shop and all the vehicles. very nice.

 

[cybrdyke]

That's a fantastic space with beautiful machines. Please dont ruin it by using cheap fixtures from Amazon. Understand that there's an art and science to lighting just like there is with your flooring products and the cars on display. Have someone that knows about lighting design you something worthy of the area.
CD

 

[Zeke]

Did you read the sticky on the top of the forum page?

 

[Innovate1]

If you are happy with the 8' tubes you might consider doing 4' LED tubes. I haven't used them but I understand there are kits available to convert 8' fixtures to 4' LED tubes. That may be your cheapest alternative.

 

[Jeff Ivers]

Having started with 4' flour. fixtures, then changing to 8' flour fixtures, I don't ever want to mess with 8' flour tubes again. The 8' flour fixtures I have can be converted from 2 8' bulbs to 4 4' LED strips. As my ballasts fail, that is what I am doing. If I were starting from scratch, I would look for 8' fixtures that use 4 4' LED strips.

 

[Jakemedic]

I would totally recommend Prime Lights. Www.primelights.com. I used them for lighting in my shop and enjoyed not only their customer service, but their products. I am not associated with them, except I am a happy customer. They will even do a layout at no cost. Cheap made in China? Nope, made in the USA! Have a look, classic example you get what you pay for.

 

[RaceDeck1]

thanks for the comments and suggestions. the light in there now are over 20 years old and give off a dull yellow effect ( compared to bright LED). I have sent a few requests out including the suggested above

 

[Jakemedic]

Outstanding! Let us know what you find and what you decide on. Lights are incredibly important, and getting what is best for your situation is crucial.

 

[cybrdyke]

Let me ask...how is this space used? From the picture, it looks like a showcase of special cars, but it's hard to tell...maybe its just storage. I dont see any tools, so it doesn't seem to be a mechanic's shop or a detailing shop. It looks super clean.
So, what's the gist?
CD

 

[pelletman]

I wouldn't think you would need waterproof, and there is a whole huge thread here on choosing lighting. I think I would buy fluorescent fixtures and use replaceable LED bulbs though. I have just been converting old fixtures and removing ballasts and putting in LED bulbs, it is easy and cheap. That being said, the stuff from Primelights looks great and fairly reasonable

 

[BillK]

I replaced all of my 8 ft T-12's with ballast bypass LED tubes. Probably doubled the light and did not have take down fixtures which are all on conduit. I would start by doing that. Then if you want to add more you can do additional fixtures.

I prefer the replaceable tubes as compared to sealed fixtures. I dont care what anyone says the leds will fail sooner or later. Its a 15 minute job to replace a tube compared to who knows how long to do an entire fixture . . . if you can find one to match.

 

[yelchevelle]

I wouldn't think you would need waterproof, and there is a whole huge thread here on choosing lighting. I think I would buy fluorescent fixtures and use replaceable LED bulbs though. I have just been converting old fixtures and removing ballasts and putting in LED bulbs, it is easy and cheap. That being said, the stuff from Primelights looks great and fairly reasonable

That’s exactly what I did and I love them. I bought the tombstones off Amazon and installed them in fluorescent fixtures. Mine aren’t fancy but put off good light.

 

[yelchevelle]

That’s exactly what I did and I love them. I bought the tombstones off Amazon and installed them in fluorescent fixtures. Mine aren’t fancy but put off good light.

 

[Wiz02]

Let me ask...how is this space used? From the picture, it looks like a showcase of special cars, but it's hard to tell...maybe its just storage. I dont see any tools, so it doesn't seem to be a mechanic's shop or a detailing shop. It looks super clean.
So, what's the gist?
CD

Great point about designing the lighting for the intended usage.

 

[pelletman]

That’s exactly what I did and I love them. I bought the tombstones off Amazon and installed them in fluorescent fixtures. Mine aren’t fancy but put off good light.

I bought tombstones but haven't needed them yet. Just use an ohm meter to make sure what is there is on shunted

 

[racecougar]

These are "cheap fixtures from Amazon" in my "ruined" shop, but hey, they work great and don't cost a ton. I have 72 of these lights in service, with between 4 and 5 years of daily use, and zero failures thus far. They are linkable, and are also sold in 8' lengths. In the 30x60x12 building below, I used 48 fixtures, linked up in 12' lengths. That setup produces good even lighting with reduced shadows and no notable hot spots.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07DNPL2VC/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[kbuhagiar]

These are "cheap fixtures from Amazon" in my "ruined" shop, but hey, they work great and don't cost a ton. I have 72 of these lights in service, with between 4 and 5 years of daily use, and zero failures thus far. They are linkable, and are also sold in 8' lengths. In the 30x60x12 building below, I used 48 fixtures, linked up in 12' lengths. That setup produces good even lighting with reduced shadows and no notable hot spots.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07DNPL2VC/?tag=atomicindus08-20

Nice.

Which color temperature did you use, 6500K or 4000K?

 

[racecougar]

Nice.

Which color temperature did you use, 6500K or 4000K?

I went with the 6500K units. I like nice bright white light in the shop / work areas.