What lights do I want?

[SchuLace]

I need some help on what lights to get for my garage. It is 22x22x10. Right now it is not sheeted so it is the brown of insulation and OSB. I plan on sheeting eventually. The garage is used as a workshop for my motorcycles as well as car parking. I live in SD and the ceiling is not insulated and the garage is not heated.

Right now I have 4 fixtures each roughly 7 feet from the walls. I will not add and more so I am staying with 4. I am planning on cold weather flourescents. Do I got with 4 8 ft T8's? 4 footers? T5's? This I what I need help with. I don't want it to be too bright but I want it light enough.

Any helps?

 

[Randy in Maine]

I use T5s high outputs (5 fixtures of 4 x 4' bulbs) and I am very pleased I went that way. No comparision to the T8 high outputs (3 fixtures x 8' x 2 bulbs) I have in the woodshop portion.

I find as I get older I like more light in the work area.

 

[cybrdyke]

4 8' T8's will be plenty.
CD

 

[James-W]

I am using 12 of the 100 watt CFL's in my garage and I really like them a lot. If one burns out I just unscrew it and screw in another one. I have the lights on 4 differenet circuits so I can turn the lights on in groups of 3 so I don't necessarily have to turn them all on if I don't want to. I prefer the "daylight" type of CFL but there is more than one type so you can the type that suits you best.

 

[Bigbandguy]

Mine (24 x 24) x 12 high had 4 standard 3 light outdoor fixtures. I put two CFLs in each and put a screw in outlet socket in the third running to an add on "shop" fluorescent from Homer. Not ideal but has the advantage of cheap, easy and lights the place up.

 

[pattenp]

What are the low temps you get in SD that the lights will need to start up in? Regular T8 starts down to 0 deg F and cold start are down to -20 deg F.

 

[SchuLace]

Down to 0 or a little below outside temp. So far my garage has stayed around 20 degrees warmer than outside temp when it starts to get that cold. I am planning in getting the -20 units. Even if it doesn't get near that cold inside, I have heard the 0 degree ones will still struggle when it gets below freezing.

 

[SchuLace]

Bump

 

[cybrdyke]

The -20 ballasts are pretty commonly available, and cost about the same. Ask for those and 32w lamps.
CD

 

[LS6 Tommy]

I have (3) 8' T12 dual tubes & (2) 4' T12 dual tubes in a roughly 18' x 25' garage. It's not dim, but I wouldn't mind more. It's all older bare wood, so that does make it seem darker than a sheeted and painted room.

Tommy

 

[rburke65]

What lights do you want is akin to me asking you what color should i paint my house. i have T-8 lighting fixtures in my shop from Home Depot. I like them.

 

[Highbeam]

What lights do you want is akin to me asking you what color should i paint my house. i have T-8 lighting fixtures in my shop from Home Depot. I like them.

I agree and also used the t8. I believe that for almost all garage applications, the t8 route is still the best way to go with regards to cost for the lumens.

 

[amolaver]

As cold as it gets in s.d., and with so few fixtures, I'd probably pony up for some led fixtures. I'm pretty firmly in the t8 fluorescent camp for most situations, but in your shoes, the instant on (no warm up) and fairly small in absolute dollar terms cost increase would be worth it..to me.

ahm

 

[Denwood]

I just posted this: http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=274462