Best Garage Lighting

[texasjohn]

Everything I have learned about this topic is covered, including photos, exact fixtures obtained, which lights and why and a candlepower calculator is in this thread:

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/projects/91587-shop-light-decision-thanks.html#post1030584

 

[Mace Canute]

Awhile back I helped a friend do lighting in his shop, 32' X 28'. He had bought a bunch of salvaged four foot tube fixtures, 4 tubes per fixture. He didn't want to use as many as we ended up using but since he had a plethora of them, I convinced him there was no better place to store them than on the ceiling! All it took was a few more screws to attach them...same amount of wire and less 1/2" conduit. (All wiring surface mount). We divided the lights up on four switches fed from two separate breakers. We ended up with four rows of fixtures with the fixtures in each row butted end to end. Total of 96 four foot tubes. Very nice light!

It's like I told him...most people are so used to crappy lighting, they don't realize they have crappy lighting!

 

[roamerr]

I use screw-in CFL bulbs (100 watt equivalents) in my 36 x 40 garage. I have 9 of them and they are plenty bright after 45 seconds of warm-up. I built the garage a year ago and went with screw-in for ease. I was tired of the tube flourescents after fighting them for years in my previous garages. I can dispose of these easy, keep spares, and no longer have to worry about ballasts. The screw-in CFL's are a win-win in my opinion...

 

[3Bladz]

I used the T5 HO's in my shop. Its 36x42 and lined with white metal. I put 6 fixtures up that have 6 bulbs each and have chrome reflectors. They are called T5HO specular lights and I bought them for $125 each with a cord and plug end installed, and a twist lock recepticle included. I got them from econolite.com shipped free.
It is absolutly plenty of light, but I am sure the white walls help. I have a friend that used them in his shop which is bigger. He has OSB on the walls and ceiling, and it is well lit, I can't remember how many lights he used though. My lights come on full bright within 1 second of flipping the switch. I keep it at least 50 in there in the winter. You can see them in this pic.

 

[Ed Love]

I built my shop as a 26 X 30 space in a 30 X 50 bldg. Ceiling is 8' and I painted walls and ceiling in white semi gloss. Considering I was 44 when I built it I knew I wanted lots of light when I was older and could'nt see as well. My re-search showed a 4' 2 bulb fixtures provided move candle power (light) than an 8' light. I designed "labratory lighting" that when the bulb finally got dirty would still provide 135 (not sure about the term) lums or candle power. Now 19 years later I have just painted the inside of the shop and it's great again. I used 4' fixtures end to end and spaced about 5' apart and switched to provide light to 3 specific areas I wanted lit. No complaints in lighting. It's great for painting or what ever I'm doing. As for energy costs, I'm not sure but did'nt care because I felt the lighting was too important to skimp on.
Ed

 

[rvaitor]

I put 6 fixtures up that have 6 bulbs each and have chrome reflectors. They are called T5HO specular lights and I bought them for $125 each with a cord and plug end installed, and a twist lock recepticle included. I got them from econolite.com shipped free.

Couldn't find these guys at that link, do you have a better link?

Thanks,

 

[MikeInMaine]

From all the responses you are getting, this is a great and complicated question. The mounting height for your lights may actually determine what choice you eventually make. Here are a few things to keep in mind:

The many previous posters are mostly steering you towards linear fluorescent lights -- T8s and T5s. These are a great choice.

The most economical linear fluorescent to install will be T8 fixtures. Many come with electronic ballasts that are rated to start at 0ｰF. Be sure to buy "800 series" lamps for the best quality light, such as 835 or 841.

T5 fixtures will be the most economical to operate, but will be more costly up front. Remember that these are "high bay". Definitions vary, but it usually means they should be mounted around 18' or higher because they are so intensely bright.

If you divide the lighting between two switches, make them be unequal, like 30/70. That way, your lighting will be like a 3-way bulb: 30/70/100. If the lights are divided equally, you only get 50/100.

 

[MikeInMaine]

It's --

e-conolight.com

 

[ecoslik]

Thanks for the explanation and clarification. I appreciate.

 

[grsthegreat]

I have 4-qty 6-bulb T5 fixtures set at 15' in my 40'x60' shop. I love the bright white lighting this produces; there is plenty of light. Each 6-bulb fixture draws 54 watts. I paid $240 per fixture plus my time and materials to install.

It is amazingly efficient since I'd swear the 54 watts was equivalent to 400-1000 watts of incandescent depending on reflectors.

I highly recommend that if you use 4 or 6 bulb fixtures to dual switch them so that you can turn on 2 (switch 1 by itself), 4 (switch 2 by itself), or 6 bulbs (switch 1 and 2 together) at a time which is easy to do with these fixtures. The versatilty of awesome even if it does require an extra circuit (cost of conductor).

the fixtures you are describing are what stores like Lowes and home depot are using to replace the high bay fixtures. there very bright, and very energy efficient....Pay now or pay later with higher electrical costs.

i have the older style High output florescent 8 foot lights in my shop. have 11 foot ceilings, and they work great, but i have 8 fixtures and each take 220 watts to operate. so it is a power guzzling monster. Since i only use the lights a few hours a week, im in no hurry to swap them out yet. when i fully retire, i may swap them, but by then maybe there will be a magical 1 watt led that puts out 500 watts of light. HEHE. and yes, t5 are generally meant for high bay use 18 ft up, t8 are good for low bay installations.....according to my supply houses.

In the good old days (when i built my shop) high output (HO) florescents were used because of there extreme low temp start ratings (-40F). but they BUZZ to get the band....drive me nuts. The new t5 & t8's will afford good low temp startup (not as low as HO florescents, but still good) and dont hum. Since i built my shop, ive added heat, so it really doesnt matter anymore.

by the way...thats a GREAT looking shop your building there......put heat in it incase the wifes throws you out of the house :laughing: :thumbsup: