New Shop Lights?

[monteu]

I am wiring my 30' x 40' shop. The sidewalls are 14 ft. high. Any recommendations on what kind of lights I should put in? I really don't have any ideas. Is there like some kind of online lighting planner where you enter your dimensions and it tells you how far apart to space your light fixtures? I will be doing machine work in here. The ceiling will be white metal. Any ideas will be appreciated. Thanks

 

[woodlandfarms]

Where do you live? How cold does your shop get? To me you put up as much light as you can afford, generally the flourescent tubes are the most cost effective and keep a good color range, but there are other alternatives.

 

[monteu]

NE Kansas. Temp range is -0 F degree to 100+F.

 

[KennyG]

4 foot T-8 fixtures. Make sure they are cold start. Menards has these on sale periodically and they work great. Install a network of outlets on the ceiling, perhaps two or three rows with outlets every 8 feet in your case. You can then move the lights around or add extra ones where you need them. In your case, I would start with about 3 rows, each with 4 fixtures. That's about 0.5 watt fluorescent per square foot. That's what I have in my pole barn and it's fine but I'm adding an extra set to double that just over the workbenches. Try it and then you can add extra lights where you find they would be good for working.

 

[murphy1244]

Do to goverment restrictions the 4ft fluorescents are no longer made.

 

[monteu]

4 foot T-8 fixtures. Make sure they are cold start. Menards has these on sale periodically and they work great. Install a network of outlets on the ceiling, perhaps two or three rows with outlets every 8 feet in your case. You can then move the lights around or add extra ones where you need them. In your case, I would start with about 3 rows, each with 4 fixtures. That's about 0.5 watt fluorescent per square foot. That's what I have in my pole barn and it's fine but I'm adding an extra set to double that just over the workbenches. Try it and then you can add extra lights where you find they would be good for working.

The lights I have seen at Menards are plugin. Is that what you are suggesting just put in electrical outlets?

 

[MotorSeven]

If you have a Home depot, go look at their display. The HO(High Output) tubes are the way to go, I put 4 pairs in my 30x36 basement and they are very bright. For a shop I would add two more pair.

 

[wedge40]

I went to Home Depot and got 6, High Output, six bulb fitures to cover a 40'x40' area.. Works great and I'm very pleased with the outcome. These.. http://www.homedepot.com/Lighting-F...splay?catalogId=10053&langId=-1&storeId=10051
Wedge

 

[DutchHenryBrown]

Like Wedge40, I have the HD 6 light HO fixtures in my 30x40 and they do a great job. I am going to add more as the money allows.

 

[scott_vt]

I went to Home Depot and got 6, High Output, six bulb fitures to cover a 40'x40' area.. Works great and I'm very pleased with the outcome. These.. Industrial 6-Light High Bay Hanging Fixture-IB 632 MVH at The Home Depot
Wedge

Good Evenin Wedge,
Those look great, soon as I finish sanding and painting my shop, those lights look like the ticket !

Thanks !