Hitch

I'm still working on finishing up my new detached garage and am at the point that I need to decide on the lighting lay out.

The garage is 36x26 but with the stair case the working room is 32x26. I've looked at 4' 4 bulb reflector highbay lights like this..

https://www.mscdirect.com/webapp/wcs...tails/68617786

I've been looking around the GarageJournal.com site and a few have said that I would have problems with the light output. It has been recommended to use just standard strip lights like these.

https://www.mscdirect.com/product/details/73837478

I work in the Warehousing Industry and the Lighting company I use has recommended 12 of the highbay lights but that is a Warehouse light for much higher ceilings. What has the Forum used for lighting in your garages? Thanks

Hitch

67vetteal

I was going to go the Florescent Route but went with Warehouse style Barn Lights. http://www.ebay.com/itm/Industrial-GREEN-Porcelain-Enamel-Gas-Station-Barn-Light-Lamp-Antique-14-/111641058123?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item19fe535b4b They give off a warm comfortable glow that is pleasing. Even my wife likes them! Al W.

Kerouac

I did the same as Al W. I went with enamel barn lighting. Mine can accept up to 200 watt bulbs, so they give me plenty of light when I need it. I had my electrician install a dimmer (you need a special kind if you go above 150 watts) so I can set the lighting from a dimly lit jazz club to a working mechanic's garage. Good luck.

skids

4' with T8 bulbs. I am using I believe 6300K bulbs, for a very white light.

Milliamp

try six eight foot fixtures with power groove lamps and 1500 ma ballast see if you can install three switchs to give you a little control. Do the job once you are sure going to be happy when you need more light and all you have to do is flip a switch.

Stan's Customs

I second the T-8 lights...

The T-8 lighting is the best I have ever had in the 50 years of shops I have built/owned. Instant "on" in cold weather and compact fixtures that put out tons of lighting for these old eyes.

I bought a bunch of surplus 4' two bulb lights from a contractor that had some left from updating all the O'rileys Auto Parts stores in the DFW area.

This room is just a 20 ft. wide backside addition to my home 30x40 metal shop building. It has three way light switches to turn on and off at either of two entry doors...and each string of lights has switch at the end of them for independent on/off.

I opted for a few more wall plugs than usual as well....along with two 220 volt plugs for roll around welders.

Although the cheap camera pics may not show the true effect...this room is bathed brilliant white light when they are all on. Easily as bright as any paint booth.

(It also has 3 inches of closed cell foam insulation on the drive thru doors, ceilings, and sandwiched between double sided exterior steel wall panels. Truly unbelievable how easy it is to heat and cool..)

rich5962

Hitch, What's your ceiling height?

Mine is 15' to the peak(14' to the eaves), so even with my 6 dual 8' fluorescents I never seem to have enough down by the floor.

Stan's Customs

You would be amazed at what a few lights on your side wall girts would do for your nice tall shop...!! ...vertical lights by the doors or on the main support legs work well too.

Either one works like indirect lighting...and you can see very well under the hood of cars ..interiors etc.

rich5962

Yes, after seeing your shop that's a great idea.

Sorry Hitch if I got it a little OT. Still curious how high your ceiling is.

Plasticman

I agree with the T-8 bulbs, but note that there is a great difference in bulbs. I had GE, and they were fine (but getting dim due to age), so I tried some Sylvania brand that were cheaper at Lowes. Ended up removing them all, and went back to GE. These were all the same "K" number, so I guess you get what you pay for (learned again).

And Stan's layout lighting is great. I have a similar layout in size (to yours) for my main garage area, and have 2 banks (switches) controlling 6 double T-8 lights on one switch for the overhead, and 10 double T-8 fixtures high up around the sides, front, and back. I can just light up the overhead or just the sides, or turn them all on.

Remember, as we get older we require more light.......

My ceiling is mostly 11' with a raised area for the 3rd bay lift up to 12'6".

And Rich, nice garage and cars, but your lighting is in the dark ages!

Plasticman

rich5962

....and hearing too. What'd you say?

Yea, I know, thankfully the walls and ceiling are white which helps. Just took a few pics while tinkering on a '67 frame. I can see pretty good today, but I always need a droplight somewhere. When working on a "complete" car on the lift it's always dark under there. Especially the 4-post.

Where's Hitch? Must be out at Home Depot getting wire.

It IS a little more crowded in here than it was in those other pics.

Gene jockey

Looks familiar!

DZAUTO

When I built the new building, my desire was to have it look as if it were part of the original house when built. So I deferred buying a metal building and had it bricked to match the house (which was somewhat more expensive). The outside appearance was a priority. This left essentially no funding for interior finishing touches.
I went with twin 8ft lights and when finances are available, I can easily add more. Also, one panel of each of the 4 overhead doors has windows which also provides additional light--------------and lets me see out. NO windows.

SPLITRAY

Exciting, they are supposed to start my new detached 24' X 30' in 10-14 days!

rich5962

Nice! Wife's cars over here. SWC is gone,, but still have the Jag. Now in it's 24th year with her. A keeper.

Where's Hitch???

Roger Walling

I opted for strip lighting, (8' [2 tube 4' bulbs] t8's). When you instal a reflector, it makes for a dark ceiling and gives it that cave look. The strip lighting gives horizontal lighting to the next bay under the hood.

Hang additional ones lower over the work bench.

You should instal the wiring with duplex receptacles on the ceiling and suspend the lights with chains. That way you can add more or move them as needed to eliminate dark areas.

You can never have enough light, I have 84 4' tubes in my spray booth that is 20' X 35'.
Most of them are on the walls, vertical, 5" from the floor.

The shop area has 24 4" bulbs for a 25' X 35' area, with 4 areas in the shop. (96 bulbs)

JohnZ

I have ten 8' twin-tube fixtures, bank-switched in four groups so I can light work areas selectively without having to have the rest of the lights on all the time. I have re-lamped it once in 15 years. The white ceiling and light epoxy floor just about doubles the lighting effectiveness.

Hitch

Sorry guys been out there running my 220vac circuits for my HVAC, Compressor and Welder..

The ceiling is 12' Sounds like I need to post a few more pictures!!!

rfn026

I've got an article coming out in Vintage Motorsport this month about LED garage lighting. It's not cheap but it appears to be the next move.

Check out Big *** Lights

Richard Newton

Hitch

The outside is done... Now if I could finish the inside... Just need to run the lighting circuit, insulate and sheetrock!





Hitch