Iroc-Z
Well-known member
Thought of a possible sticky for the electrical section. Show off your shop lighting. I would like to see how people are lighting there shop.
Show off your lights
- Thread starter Iroc-Z
- Start date
ddawg16
Well-known member
I have 16 23W (100W equivelent) CFL's in recessed cans.......as soon as the prices come down on larger CFL's, I'll upgrade some of the bulbs....but for now I have plenty of light.
Lithonia from Home Depot. 4 bulb, 4', T8's. I have extra outlets in the ceiling in case I want to add lights in the future. Each light has dual plug in boxes so I can also plug something into the ceiling, anwhere there is a light.
These lights are on 2 zones. Front row lights closest to garage door are on their own switch. The other row is on their own. Then I have 3 more lights in my shop and 4 more on the bay.
These lights are on 2 zones. Front row lights closest to garage door are on their own switch. The other row is on their own. Then I have 3 more lights in my shop and 4 more on the bay.
Mickey O
Well-known member
sberry
Banned
T VETTE
Well-known member
When I built my retirement complex five years ago. I installed a total of fifty T12 eight foot long Lithonia fluorescent fixtures in my garages. They have non-apertured shades. That means there are no openings in the top of the shade to bounce some light off the ceiling. And directs all the light downward. Because all my walls and ceiling are smooth drywall surface painted with industrial semi-gloss enamel, I could have gone shadeless. But I just like the look of shades! There's over a 100 foot candles of light at working level. Great for us old timers!
At the time, T8's were just becoming popular. But I felt the cost out weighted their advantages and installed the T12's. Plus old habits are hard to fight!. Knowing that they'll eventually become harder to find and more expensive. I stashed away a 100 spares for $2.00 each...
Here's my 30' by 50' garage workshop with three continuous strings of five fixtures in each.
At the time, T8's were just becoming popular. But I felt the cost out weighted their advantages and installed the T12's. Plus old habits are hard to fight!. Knowing that they'll eventually become harder to find and more expensive. I stashed away a 100 spares for $2.00 each...
Here's my 30' by 50' garage workshop with three continuous strings of five fixtures in each.
I have 16 23W (100W equivelent) CFL's in recessed cans.......as soon as the prices come down on larger CFL's, I'll upgrade some of the bulbs....but for now I have plenty of light.
what are the larger CFLs you would use?
jvitez
Well-known member
When I built my retirement complex five years ago. I installed a total of fifty T12 eight foot long Lithonia fluorescent fixtures in my garages. They have non-apertured shades. That means there are no openings in the top of the shade to bounce some light off the ceiling. And directs all the light downward. Because all my walls and ceiling are smooth drywall surface painted with industrial semi-gloss enamel, I could have gone shadeless. But I just like the look of shades! There's over a 100 foot candles of light at working level. Great for us old timers!
At the time, T8's were just becoming popular. But I felt the cost out weighted their advantages and installed the T12's. Plus old habits are hard to fight!. Knowing that they'll eventually become harder to find and more expensive. I stashed away a 100 spares for $2.00 each...
Here's my 30' by 50' garage workshop with three continuous strings of five fixtures in each.
I was pondering what lumen level to spec for my garage, admitting I do need more light now than before. This picture seals it. Target: 100 ft candles! Thank you OldCarGuy.
nolatoolguy
Banned
Wow thats probably worth more then my house
Thanks for letting me know that the ballasts will not be available past July. I would have never thought about that. I’ll be stocking up on them this next week! Though all mine are the old fashioned magnetic ballasts style that are four times weight and size as the newer electronic ones. And from my experience last far longer...
Oh,, don’t come back and tell me that the electronic ballasts are quieter. Even though they were twice the cost. I installed 32 Lithonia fluorescent fixtures in my old garage. When I complained to the manufacturer about being so noisy, they said it was the GE bulbs! In my new build, I can say the 100 GE bulbs in my tried and true magnetic ballast Lithonia fixtures are a heck of a lot quieter!
No, instead you can buy electronic T8 ballasts, and get more light with half the juice. (and it doesn't sound like somebody is frying bacon upstairs) I'd post my antique 8' T12HOs but I'm embarrassed...
Good riddance I say.
Oh, I am. You can't compare your experience with ONE electronic ballast to ALL of them.
Go down to Home Depot and you can get a Sylvania Quicktronic 2, 3, or 4 tube T8 ballast for about $15-20. They do not make ANY NOISE WHAT SO EVER! Better yet, they're so efficient, when you install two 32w bulbs, the fixture only draws 47 watts total! I don't know for sure, since I wasn't looking for magnetic ballasts, but I'd bet they cost more too due to all the copper inside and the fact that they hardly sell any anymore. It is also wise if you have that many tubes to buy, to buy the exact one spec'd for your ballasts, in a case of 25-100. I have lights much like yours and as soon as I get enough time I won't be able to rip them down and throw them in the dumpster fast enough.
Hell, I'll sell you my ballasts cheap if you want 'em. Recently I took one of the brand new old spares I had and cut the wires off to use it as a door stop. Seems like it could make a good weapon.
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No, instead you can buy electronic T8 ballasts, and get more light with half the juice. (and it doesn't sound like somebody is frying bacon upstairs) I'd post my antique 8' T12HOs but I'm embarrassed...
Good riddance I say.
Oh, I am. You can't compare your experience with ONE electronic ballast to ALL of them.
I have lights much like yours and as soon as I get enough time I won't be able to rip them down and throw them in the dumpster fast enough.
Hell, I'll sell you my ballasts cheap if you want 'em. Recently I took one of the brand new old spares I had and cut the wires off to use it as a door stop. Seems like it could make a good weapon.
I would not waste money on T8, 8' lamps the cost is excessive compared 4' T 8 lamps, but electronic T12 ballasts are avail. to replace some electromagnetic ballasts.
Here is a countdown to the deadline: http://www.advance.philips.com/
chad pickens
Well-known member
8-400watt metal halide and 3-110 watt fluorescents 30 x60 garage
chad pickens
Well-known member
If your worried about the noise a light makes... Youre obviously not working in your garage. Get to work and youll never notice the noise. lol
HIRISC
Well-known member
I spend hours at a time making electrical cables using nothing louder than a propane torch under my lights, the constant buzzing drives me insane. I'd turn the radio on but it won't work because of all the EMI...
DirtyWhiteBoy
Well-known member
nothing fancy here, I have 12 can lights with 15w cfl floods. These are in the wood shop in progress. It works for general lighting, I'm happy for now, especially for 180w.
In the main shop I have 16 Walmart T8's (notice the dead one).
Also still a work in progress
In the main shop I have 16 Walmart T8's (notice the dead one).
Also still a work in progress
W.I.P.
Member
T VETTE
Well-known member
T VETTE
Well-known member
8-400watt metal halide and 3-110 watt fluorescents 30 x60 garage
I would need eye protection if working in your garage.......
ersatzs2
Well-known member
HIRISC
Well-known member
So nice!
Is this the "great room" in your house or your garage? Good grief
Thanks guys.. this is our 'garage condo' project that we just finished building out.. it's commercial storage/shop/hang out space.
During the build, some people thought it was 'too much' lighting, but when you're in it, it's perfect. T5 high bay lighting and recessed 2xT8's in the 'work space' under the mezzanine.
More pics here:
http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=46593&highlight=condo&page=15
HiRisc, I know it's mentioned in here somewhere amongst all your great post, but what is the size of the area under the mezzanine and how many recessed lights do you have under there? I looked at the professional pictures with just those on and it seemed to light it up pretty well.
Ryan D
Ryan D
Charles (in GA)
Well-known member
Thats half the square footage of my place (60x60) and has 2/3 the MH lights!!! (I have 12 fixtures nearly the same design).
Charles
Charles (in GA)
Well-known member
12ea 400 watt Metal Halide lights with Acrylic Polycarbonate reflectors. Older Probe start type lights. Building is 60x60 16 ft eave and 21 ft peak. Bottom of outboard lights is about 15 ft and bottom of inboard lights is about 16-1/2 ft.
My Lighting Thread
Charles
My Lighting Thread
Charles
HIRISC
Well-known member
Hi Ryan,
There are 19 two bulb recessed troffer lights under the mezzanine (plus the cans as you can see for accenting).
It's approx 30x16 under the mezzanine, but we also get a fair amount of light from the high-bay lights when they are on.
I personally wouldn't want any less lumen value for a serious workspace. In fact, the added light from the plain Jane incandescent bulbs adds value. If I were just doing the troffer lights, I'd have spaced the two rows a bit further apart.
I was planning to put in 20 troffer's - two rows of 10 - but we some plumbing lines got in the way down by the TV end.
FWIW, I got the troffer lights at Home Depot:
http://www.homedepot.com/h_d1/N-5yc...splay?langId=-1&storeId=10051&catalogId=10053
I can't speak to (am/fm) radio interference as we run music off the internet or iPod.
What kind of space are you trying to light up?
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My apologize I should have been more specific. I am looking at your recessed cans. But now I looked a little closer at one of your pictures and it looks to be about 17 in there. I have a much smaller place to light up. Its a 12x24 garage. Yes, I know I am going to get fried on this boards for putting in cans but I think it'll work best for me. Personal preference.... And its not a serious work space.
HIRISC
Well-known member
Oh, sorry..
Yes, 17 cans.. I have plain 65w incandescent in there.. if you're going cans, you might want to look at a higher lumen output bulb for them.. mine are 5" cans. You probably know this, but you can buy 4-5-6" cans or larger.
Everyone and I mean everyone has an opinion on lights. Pick the ones that you feel most comfortable with.
My $.02
Yes, 17 cans.. I have plain 65w incandescent in there.. if you're going cans, you might want to look at a higher lumen output bulb for them.. mine are 5" cans. You probably know this, but you can buy 4-5-6" cans or larger.
Everyone and I mean everyone has an opinion on lights. Pick the ones that you feel most comfortable with.
My $.02
alexjems41
New member
- Joined
- Mar 17, 2010
- Messages
- 4
I like this.it is look better in my house.
Rodney Yeokum
Member
Steevo
Well-known member
My lights.
17 fixtures, 8ft long with 4ea T8 tubes per fixture.
17 fixtures, 8ft long with 4ea T8 tubes per fixture.