Hey All-

Just wondering who had what for lighting in the garage? Seems like it's 4' Shop Lights or ???

Looked at the net for some ideas - last Shop I had installed a bunch of these lights which worked well - but I'm investigating other possibilities.

So - what are you're recommendations?

 

Well when they built mine they put in 6' lights, all I know is there is more than enough light in there now !

http://www.928s4.com/project/photolibrary3/shop9.jpg

Shot doesn't do the 'brightness' justice.

Chris

 

Finishing up on my 104'X50' shop in PA. I am going to install 35 8' Low temperature flouresent lights. Only have about 15 on the walls now as I am putting up my insulation and celing and 15 seems to put out alot of light. I considered using Halogen lights like the ones used in Lowes and Home Depot but if you listen they buzz when they get old and I don't like to be driven crazy. Another option was canister lights but I would probibly have to install hundreds to get the same amount of light from the flouresent bulbs. If you are not looking for flouresent lights I know of a friend who uses what looks like a 4' shop light but carries 3 halogen bulbs in it. But it all depends on the size of your shop what kind of lighting would make sense for your needs and wallet. Hope I helped out. Will be posting photos of my shop somwhere in a month on my website.
http://www.geocities.com/elwoodbluesii/HOME.html

 

jay,
i have 10 6 foot flourescent fixtures with 4 bulbs in each for my 26x36 garage. ample light, definitely not overdone.

 

florescent is the way to go , I have four 4' twins in the garage and they are very good for illuminating the workspace.


Z

 

Hey Jay

I have 4..4ft fluorescent lights sets (2 bulbs in each fixture). Got them at Home Depot. Plenty of light for my uses. I have them wired to a motion sensor on the wall, by the door to the house, so when i go out or my wife does at night to get something out of the spare fridge they come on automatically...works good when she pulls in the garage at night as well. Much brighter than the garage door opener lights. They can also be turned on and left on via the switch.

Only draw back i see at this point is i tend to go through the bulbs quicker than normal as they turn on and off quite a bit. I may switch to some regular 100w fixtures, recessed in the ceiling, like in the house.

Nothing worse than a dimly lit work area!

if your still looking for a lift i saw one at SEMA that looked beefey....illl add the scan of the brochure below shortly

 

I didnt get a price...never talked to them actually. Perhaps give them a call and tell them you saw there product at the SEMA show and wold like it for your home?

I like the way it looks...Looks strong with nicw wide ramps and work area.




I love their tag line at the bottom (above)...So true!

 

In my last shop I had a number of the 4' tube lights - worked very well. Looks like I'll probably go that route again.

Hadn't thought about the motion sensor - good idea!

In as far as the lift - got one picked out and should be installing next week - it's a two post model (#DP-10A) at - http://www.forwardmfg.com/.....only $3200 installed.

 

Funny timing on this topic...... Last night, I purchased 8 dual bulb florescent shop lights for my 2-car garage with 8-ft. ceiling....... Total bill with lamps was about $105.

I will be using the garage door opener as the switching mechanism (through a solid state relay). That way, any time the garage door is opened/closed, the lights come on.

Additionally, they are individually switched so if I want to reduce light impact, I can turn off unneeded lights.

I'll post pics later.

 

Having had both, I think metal halide is preferrable to florescent. I've got a 28x50 metal building as a garage with 2 350 watt quick start metal halides wired for 110v with thick glass reflectors. They are completely silent. At night you can see enough to walk around in about 15 seconds, full brightness in about a minute. The white light is really nice and even throughout the building. I keep expecting the authorities to stop by thinking I'm growing something in there.

Installation is much easier than florescents since there's only 2 lights. Got them used on ebay for $50 each. They are industrial quality and the bulbs last forever.

 

I have regular light fixtures with flood bulbs.
I also installed a 4 bulb track lighting w/ floods near the work bench. I can aim the light down for working on the bench or direct it right at the car for under hood work. Gives some flexability when you need it really bright.

 

I used 1 foot square white ceiling tiles ( pressed paper ? ) attached to "furring strips" which I spaced down from the cross beams , shimmed to level . That allowed me to install 18 recessed "spot lights " . They are somewhat adjustable for direction and wired to two circuits ...bench / laundry area and the main lights . It makes a neat , clean ceiling and light arraingement but I still use a florescent drop light under the car . I personally do not like the "industrial look" of the industrial florescent tube fixtures .

 

I am also looking to install lights in the near future, due to my nephew is tired of holding the flashlight so I can what I am doing.

I like the low temp start 4' 2-bulb fluorescent fixtures. I had 12 of these at my last residence, it worked out great.

 

Don Carter has the right idea. I have 4 350 watt quick start metal halides wired for 110v with thick glass reflectors in my 24' X 28' 2 car garage with white epoxy floor and semi-gloss white walls. The only trouble with this setup is, if you are working under the car, you have to be sure to get all the way under it, or you risk "sunburned" shins!!.

 

OK--

Plan for the new section is flourescents, a total of eight six-foot four-tube boxes with the diffusers, surface-mounted on the cathedral ceiling. I also have wiring for a couple more six-foot 2-tube units on the upper facing wall, will reflect off the wall and some off the ceiling. At the back of the bay where the front of the car goes, I have cans in the celing to help brighten the business end. They are in the sloped section a few feet from the wall, and can be aimed into the engine bay area with the hood open I hope. At the benches we have wiring for undercabinet lights that might be flourescents of maybe halogens that lend themselves better to the dimmer.

Added a 30A ciruit for the air compressor, will be 120 at first until I get around to changing the taps in the compressor for 220. Added a 20A 220V overhead for the future lift motor, plus a few separate 20A 120V circuits for those countertop outlets. Got a dedicated 15A circuit for overhead drop light on the reel, and a similar extension cord on a reel.

I added a dedicated 20A 120V circuit for a heat pump, which will probably spend the bulk of its running life as an air conditioner.


In my limited experience doing this stuff, your shop will never be too bright, and you can't have too many outlets. Trust me!


The old house has 8' HO flourescents, the kind that they use in industrial installs and in signs. Six of those in a two-car garage, supplemented by 4' twin-tube "shoplights" did the trick nicely. New garage has the ceiling lights in wood-trimmed boxes finished to match the cabinet doors. It's a wife thing. When I told her I was going to stain the cabinet doors to cherry to match the kitchen cabs, she said she wants 'her' area (ten running feet of cabs and drawers...) done in plain while Home Depot crap. (my word, the 'crap' one..." She'll probably end up with some that match the rest of the garage, at least that's what I have in mind right now.


I'll need to take a look at the lift.