Need Help lighting for new garage

[dcyrilc]

I have a 30 x 36 shop and am using 5 8ft HO 2 bulb T-12s. These fixtures have been in service since '85 and no ballast failures. Getting ready for the second bulb replacement on a couple of them. Tough to beat a good quality commercial fixture.

I have two other 24 x 60 ft barns with around 40 4ft fixtures in each. These have been in use since about '90. Seems like every time I turn around I'm having to replace a ballast and/or bulbs. I'll take 2 8 footers over 6 4 footers any day of the week. If you ask me, it's just more parts to fail.

 

[MikeInMaine]

I am an electrician. Here's what I like: get the 8' fixtures that use two pairs of 4' lamps. These must have the electronic ballasts that start at 0 degrees F, and run T8 lamps. They won't flicker or hum. They start instantly and provide full output fairly quickly. One 8' fixture is quicker to install than two 4' fixtures. And you won't have to handle 8' lamps which are a pain.

I would stay away from "shop light" fixtures. They will save you some money because they are less expensive to buy, but they won't last.

The other posters' suggestions for switching 1/2 of the lights on one switch and the other 1/2 with the other switch is a good idea, but here's a twist: have one switch turn on fewer than half of the lights, and the other switch operates the rest. In this way, you can have three different levels of illumination in your shop -- less than 1/2, more than 1/2, and all of them! Have fun!

 

[dcyrilc]

I would stay away from "shop light" fixtures. They will save you some money because they are less expensive to buy, but they won't last.

The other posters' suggestions for switching 1/2 of the lights on one switch and the other 1/2 with the other switch is a good idea, but here's a twist: have one switch turn on fewer than half of the lights, and the other switch operates the rest. In this way, you can have three different levels of illumination in your shop -- less than 1/2, more than 1/2, and all of them! Have fun!

I have to agree with both of these comments. My 5 fixtures are split 2 on one and 3 on the other.

 

[MikeInMaine]

I called electrical supply this morning they said t5 H0 may be too much for my application with a 10' ceiling, (he said their rated for 16' or taller) then recommended a t8 8 footer w/4 bulbs might be better for me. he asked if I was doing detail work. I guess the application makes a difference in what we use. now the question is how many? At $61 they come w/lamps.
he also mentioned t8 HO 4 footer they are $150-$200. feel free to chime in guys

Your electrical supplier is correct -- use T8 lamps and fixtures for your 10' ceiling, as the T5 HO are too bright.

Something about T8 lamps you might want to know -- they come in lots of colors, designated by a 700, 800 or 900 number. For example, a common lamp is F32T8/741. The 741 means that it has a CRI (color rendering index) in the 70's and that the color temperature of the light is 4100K. That's a good lamp, but if you can get an F32T8/841, then your CRI will be in the 80's and everything will be easier to see. The light quality of this lamp will be very good. If you find the 741 or 841's too harshly white, try the 735 or 835 which don't put out quite as much light, and are a little more purple and less "hot". I hope this was helpful or interesting. Oh, these ratings are also on other diameter lamps, so T12's are rated the same way.

 

[srs]

P.S. While you are at it, you might want to consider wiring in a few electrical outlets in the ceiling. A friend has done that instead of wall receptacles and uses the self retracting extension cord doo-hickeys. It is much nicer than having cords running across the floor and there is never a problem getting to an outlet, plus they're self storing once you are finished with them. It would take very little extra to wire them in now while you are wiring in your lights. Just a thought....

As Mace Canute just said, here is what I did.

 

[scrivy69]

:thumbsup: GREAT IDEA! Thanks

 

[5030tinkerer]

When I built my garage, I used the 8' lights and thought God was talking when they turned on. Wow! One thing I neglected to consider, however, was light under the hood of a car up against a garage door - I should have installed a pull chain light or similar really close to the edge wall where the door is to throw light under the hood.

 

[Zick]

Here's what I did. Garage is roughly 30x50x10. Setup 4ft fixtures uses T8's and made it so I can have either half on or all on for extra light. Plenty of light with just half on, camera doesn't do it justice.

 

[slaveToHorses]

Another thing to consider is phase.
If your shop has a 240v service, then run half the lights on one phase and the others on the opposite phase. Interleave the fixtures and phases.

Why? Strobe effect with slower moving power tools. I have witnessed pieces in a lathe and drill press appear to freeze because they synced with the phase of the lights. Running the lights on both phases solves this. The other trick is to put some big-*ss incandescents over your susceptible tools.

BTW: I also vote for commercial fixtures. I have had bad luck with the newer "shop lights" from the home improvement stores. They are truly cheap.

Also, I have taken out a few tubes with long boards and metal stock, so having some sort of cover over the lights is a nice feature.