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Someone please check my Calculations

Team Tom

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Apr 16, 2015
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With the framing almost completed on my 44’x40’ shop/boat storage/horse barn I started calculating and researching my lightning needs. I believe I have a good lighting plan in the works, but I could use a thumps up from one of the experts on this site.
As mentioned this will be a multi-use building. Used for every type of home project one could ever imagine. Woodworking, small welding projects, home auto and marine maintenance. For lighting purposes: I foresee my boat being there most of the time taking up space. If the boat is gone I’m gone there for not using the shop. For the horse stall area my wife says “there are no special lighting needs for her horse stall area.” Although I’m thinking this area should be put on a dimmer?
My working area for lighting is open with no limitations. Bottom of the trusses measure 15’ 3”. Trusses are flat, but the ceiling is not. The inside pitch is 4/12. The ceiling will have white installation bats with the walls uncovered other than the pine T&G for the horse stalls. Most of my shop time will be working on my boat which is the center of the building under the most lighting which is perfect.
In playing with the numbers and comparing layouts within this forum, I think if I installed (16) 110W Diva Light LHB series in a 5/10 pattern I would have a very stable lighting system in excess of 100 cf. I am I correct? If not, please point me in the right direction. Another question: to increase or extend the cf outward I do install higher wattage lights on the outside runs or do I increase the total number of lights?
This is where it starts to get fuzzy!

Thanks,
Tom
 

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Radix2

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I'm fuzzy on what a 5/10 pattern is of 16 lights....

You can get a uniform light pattern using the same lights for the whole thing.

Also curious how keeping horses in this garage is to work? Do they come in through the left garage door? Mucking it out?
 
OP
T

Team Tom

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Whoops your right! I was attempting to give the measurement of spacing between the fixtures for the 40 length of the building. 16 lights evenly spaced thought out the building is what I was driving to.

Each horse stall has it's own Dutch style door opening to a covered area and to pasture land.To get my shop/boat covered I had to give in to my wife for two stalls. Not bad considering the horse barn I torn down to build the shop never once, in twenty years, housed a horse.
 

Radix2

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If you want a simple simulation to estimate your light levels, use the lithonia lighting tool https://www.visual-3d.com/tools/interior/

Find a lithonia light similar to what you want or find the .ies file for your lamps.

It is very simple to use

Ok, makes sense on the stalls, didnt see any stall doors on your plans so it was lookin kinda grim...:)
 
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RPH

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Watch out for condensation with the animals inside and pine t-111 siding the horses will eat. My boys horses eat through the 1.25” white oak boards on a regular basis. They chewed through one of his headers! He built a newer horse barn even though the other one was just built a year earlier. New one was built higher but the still chew on anything they can. They spend all day on ten acre pasture.
 

alfredeneuman

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There are products that discourage horses from wood chewing and cribbing.
In the past, you'd just be able to paint the wood with creosote. (It irritates their mouths)
Since creosote has become a no-no, alternative products containing cinnamon or hot pepper have developed.
They are available at feed stores and vet supplies.
 
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OP
T

Team Tom

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Thank you!
I have used the visual -3d tool and invested a good deal of time researching the subject. My knowledge is limited and thought I better run my plan by some expert’s first before shelling out money for lights and directing my electrical buddy what my layout will be.

Also thanks for the advice on the horse chewing. My wife has a stall system coming that has every exposed edge and corner covered in metal. Like I said earlier I'm betting that I never have a horse enter the shop. The stalls in the old barn were used as a tack room and hay storage. In addition my wife does not want the extra responsibly of cleaning up after them.
 
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