Need Help lighting for new garage

[dave1949]

Is this a "garage" or a "shop" garage? I have a 28x32 with 10' ceiling and just used six keyless sockets (about $1 each) with screw-in compact fluorescent bulbs. This is plenty of light for normal work like checking/changing oil, lawnmower blades, etc. I'll use dedicated work lighting if I'm doing close fit-n-finish with a router or something small on the drill press. And no matter how well you light the ceiling, you still can't see the underside of the truck to work there

-rus-

Ditto. I did similar. Surface mount boxes and plastic bulb sockets. 75W equivalent CF bulbs. I didn't worry about making a symmetric grid layout. Put one right over the work bench and one in a corner where my tool cabinets are.

Careful you don't have shelving shading your workbench from the light above.
Dave.

 

[jbford]

the 4 footers are a lot cheaper, easier to replace, easier to find, and easier to transport.

(T8 not T12)

Yeah, 8 foot is better if you have a warehouse to light, for a garage the arguments fall apart.

 

[scrivy69]

Hey everybody thanks so much for all the suggestions I was checking online and found this

Commercial Electric 4 Ft. Shop Light with Lamp Grid and Pull Chain Switch
$22.68/EA
at Home Depot pretty good rating what do you all think?

 

[beppington]

Hey everybody thanks so much for all the suggestions I was checking online and found this
View attachment 178002
Commercial Electric 4 Ft. Shop Light with Lamp Grid and Pull Chain Switch
$22.68/EA
at Home Depot pretty good rating what do you all think?

I think you can get a simpler one for about 1/2 that price. I seem to remember about 11-12 bucks or so last time I looked, not too long ago.

 

[/pine]

Everyone I know that started off with 8' fixtures have gone to 4' because of the cost of the bulbs...

 

[scrivy69]

I think you can get a simpler one for about 1/2 that price. I seem to remember about 11-12 bucks or so last time I looked, not too long ago.

where did you see these for $11-$12? electronic or metallic ballast?

 

[beppington]

Everyone I know that started off with 8' fixtures have gone to 4' because of the cost of the bulbs...

This is what I suspected. While I know HD/ Lowe's carries the 8' bulbs, I can't recall the last time I actually saw an 8' fixture. Whereas the 4' fixtures are everywhere.

 

[beppington]

where did you see these for $11-$12? electronic or metallic ballast?

H.D. ... I'll have to check. I've ever been concerned with ballast type, but haven't had any problems so far (7 years) with whichever I got.

 

[George2615]

As mentioned put your lights on 2 switches. In my garage I used 2 tube 4' fixtures with electronic ballasts and T8 tubes. Make sure the box says for cold start operation. Some say for use in 60 degree or higher temps. I bought mine at Walmart since they were cheaper at the time than Home Depot or Lowes.

 

[rjkobbeman]

8' HO's are a bit more expensive than the cheap 4 foot fixtures, however, lamps last much longer, light output from a pair of 8' lamps is more than double that of 4-4' lamps. Ballasts are longer lived. When maintence/replacement is calculated out over a period of years cost is the same or slightly less.

I recently finished my new home. I have two garage stalls (separate areas): one big two-car stall (29' x 30') and one single-car stall (26' x 12').

I bought the 8' HO fixtures and bulbs at Home Depot. They were a little more expensive, but they are NICE! I can't confirm their lifespan because I have only had them operational for 1 1/2 years, but I can ensure you that when you fip the switch, they turn on NOW! They are BRIGHT too, which is the way I like my shop/garage.

In the big stall, I have six 8' double fixtures and in the smaller stall I have two 8' double fixtures. All eight fixtures are on one 20 amp circuit, but the stalls are independently switched.