Workshop Lighting Placement?

[saxman2u]

Hi,
I am redoing the lighting in my workshop. The room is 12x24. The ceiling is 8ft high. How many lights do I need? I have two florescent lights in there now, each with 4 bulbs. I was thinking about 6 lights total, but was not sure how far away from the walls the lights should be placed and if the lights should have 2 bulbs in them or 4 bulbs. Thanks for your help. I enjoy readying this formum.

-S

 

[regguy1]

I think 6 would be about right for that space. I'd put the rows 4' off the walls so you'd have about 4' space in the center. 2 tube should be OK. I used 2 tube 48" with 6500K tubes in my 26' x 30' here: http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=140674

 

[saxman2u]

ok, thanks for the info. your garage looks great! I am planning on building some sliders too. should update with some pics.

 

[Falcon67]

I have two 8' 4 bulb fixtures with 6500K bulbs in the same space. There is also a 8' unit over the main bench and task lighting in the form of 4' 2 bulb fixtures over other benches.

 

[saxman2u]

So, i decided to add some sofit cabinets. If my dimensions change to 10x24, how close to the wall can I get and squeeze in 2 lights within 10 feet?

 

[Jack Olsen]

Show us a picture of the place. Fixtures on the ceiling are only one of the ways to light a shop. If you want more of a 'surgical theater' approach, you need to think in terms of task lighting.

 

[ptschram]

Whatever you do, do not put them in uniform rows.

This results in polarized light and is irritating to the eyes.

My old shop had lights hung in what appeared to be a haphazard fashion but I had great lighting, few shadows and less eye irritation.

Lighting companies have spent fortunes on researching this topic but due to esthetic concerns, few do anything about it.

 

[saxman2u]

ok, let me know is this link does not work. Sorry for the mess. It is 12x24 and i would like to add sofit cabinets on the wall that is adjacent to the garage for overhead storage. this narrows the space down from 12 feet wide to about 10.5 ft wide. It is narrow but 24 ft wide.

The workshop is in the garage. There are two doors to the workshop, one you enter from the garage and the other opens up to the backyard. I attached a layout picture. I noted the workbench area because that looks out into the backyard which is a nice view of my most recent project. thanks for your help.

http://photos.readynas.com/saxman/?v=3EZP25

 

[saxman2u]

Here is the link. http://photos.readynas.com/saxman/?v=3EZP25

The workshop is 12x24. The workbench area is noted in the sketch. I like that area for the workbench because it looks out into the backyard, my latest project.

There are two doors, one that leads from the garage, and the other door opens up into the backyard.

Thanks for your help.

 

[saxman2u]

BTW, sorry for the mess.

 

[regguy1]

I put 2 48" lights under my soffit storage because it caused a shadow on the wall. The 2 lights took care of that. Imagine the light coming down from your fixtures as a V shape. You can see them in the photos or video

 

[saxman2u]

ok, that makes sense to add one light under each soffit on each side of the workshop.

but, for the main celing now, i am trying to figure out how to space two rows of lights.

so, from the wall, centers of 2 lights, and to the other wall??

which scenario?

1. 2.5 ft -- 5 feet -- 2.5 feet
2. 2 feet -- 6 feet -- 2 feet
3. 3 feet -- 4 feet -- 3 feet

my workbench area is against the wall, so, I need to have good lighting over my bench, but, i don't want to get the light too close to the wall...

 

[Hawke]

I put some 4' Fluros vertically on my car lift, and some sealed units at floor level at the bottom of some cabnets.

The light from the side and below is useful when you are working under a car.

 

[PhantomEB]

I would go the 3/4/3 method, but thats the millwright way of thinkin uniform and precise. Hell we would probably split the difference across the board but 3/4/3 is close enough.

 

[saxman2u]

OK, thanks for the input. We will see how it turns out.

-S

 

[Ch3No2]

ok, that makes sense to add one light under each soffit on each side of the workshop.

but, for the main celing now, i am trying to figure out how to space two rows of lights.

so, from the wall, centers of 2 lights, and to the other wall??

which scenario?

1. 2.5 ft -- 5 feet -- 2.5 feet
2. 2 feet -- 6 feet -- 2 feet
3. 3 feet -- 4 feet -- 3 feet

my workbench area is against the wall, so, I need to have good lighting over my bench, but, i don't want to get the light too close to the wall...

I would personally go with the 2.5/5/2.5 that way all the buffer zones are equal...2.5 for each light...just my opinion