Help me install better garage / shop lighting

Daox · 11-10-14, 10:02 PM

I've come to the conclusion that my garage is inadequately lighted. I really want more light when working out there. As it is, I can barely take pictures without the trouble light, and even then the pictures are dark. Yeah, its workable, but a little extra lighting would probably do me a world of good I think.

So, I'm looking for suggestions. Mainly, I'm looking to have better lighting for working on cars. I'm wondering what you guys have that works good, and probably just as importantly where to place the lights? I'm guessing 4' florescents are the easiest and least expensive to put up. But where? On the sides and between the cars?

Below is my general garage layout. Its a 2.5 car garage. The orange shows my current lighting. I have 4 E27 (standard screw base bulbs) that have 100W equivalent CFLs in them. I then have a 2 bulb 4' florescent over my workbench off to the left. I have no idea what the specs are on it. The blue shows what I think might work good. I really only work on cars in the left stall, so one 4' florescent fixture on either side of where the engine bay is would probably be good? I don't think having the light in front of the car would do much good as my shadow would block a lot of the light.

Ideas and suggestions would be great.

ecomodded · 11-10-14, 11:40 PM

Avoid shadows by using cross lighting

randen · 11-11-14, 07:55 AM

I had just posted about changing the T8 out to LEDs It looks like you have the same size garage. In mine I have 6 x 2 tube fixtures. The T8 fluorescent lights were OK but those 6000K 17 watt LEDs kick butt. It may not be the answer your looking for (inexpensive) but its extremely well lit.

I would recommend placing min 4 x 2tube surface mounts but 90 deg. to the fixtures you have now. Or single strip again 90 deg to what you already have.

Randen

Daox · 11-11-14, 08:52 AM

So, something more like this?

I'm not opposed to LED. I'm just not out there THAT much, and the house still doesn't have LEDs. So, I'd rather spend for home lighting first.

randen · 11-11-14, 09:24 AM

Yes, but use the wiring already there. put the 4 fixtures (flush mount) over the hex boxes of the screw base lights. Drop the wires in.

I'm really pleased with the amount of light from the LEDs. The fluorescents needed time to warm and brighten. However the LED are instant on. With the 6 fixtures in the garage it is like daylight.

As you had indicated you wish to illuminate your garage to work on the vehicles. One big one is to paint the walls with a bright colour. With this the light bounces around (indirect)light. So as you have the hood up the light bounces off the bright wall and under the hood.

I know dollars are a deciding factors but think of it this way. You will be doing this up-grade DIY and not having to hire an electrician. Saving big $. And if your going LEDs it could be your last visit to the top of a step ladder to change the bulb for the rest of your life.??? (life span of 20-30 yrs).

Oh, almost forgot electrical energy reduction.

Daox · 11-11-14, 09:41 AM

Point well taken. Thanks!

The white walls/ceiling are a great idea. The garage is completely unfinished and uninsulated at this point.

randen · 11-11-14, 09:54 AM

You may be able to find fluorescent fixtures at the second hand building store. But offer only $1.00 as your going to through out the ballast. I was able to get my LEDs for $12.00 ea.

You could install your fixtures and only put a couple LEDs as you have spare $.

Randen

Daox · 11-11-14, 10:24 AM

I think I have three 4 foot fixtures. They have old magnetic ballasts in them. Can those be used for LEDs?

celblazer · 11-11-14, 10:45 AM

You should be able to. Just remove the ballast.

randen · 11-11-14, 10:59 AM

Yes

Definitely you use the old fixtures. You remove the ballast and direct wire the LEDs to 90-280vac.

You will love the LEDs

11-10-14, 10:02 PM	#1
Daox Administrator Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Germantown, WI Posts: 5,525 Thanks: 1,162 Thanked 374 Times in 305 Posts	Help me install better garage / shop lighting I've come to the conclusion that my garage is inadequately lighted. I really want more light when working out there. As it is, I can barely take pictures without the trouble light, and even then the pictures are dark. Yeah, its workable, but a little extra lighting would probably do me a world of good I think. So, I'm looking for suggestions. Mainly, I'm looking to have better lighting for working on cars. I'm wondering what you guys have that works good, and probably just as importantly where to place the lights? I'm guessing 4' florescents are the easiest and least expensive to put up. But where? On the sides and between the cars? Below is my general garage layout. Its a 2.5 car garage. The orange shows my current lighting. I have 4 E27 (standard screw base bulbs) that have 100W equivalent CFLs in them. I then have a 2 bulb 4' florescent over my workbench off to the left. I have no idea what the specs are on it. The blue shows what I think might work good. I really only work on cars in the left stall, so one 4' florescent fixture on either side of where the engine bay is would probably be good? I don't think having the light in front of the car would do much good as my shadow would block a lot of the light. Ideas and suggestions would be great. Attached Thumbnails __________________ Current project - To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. & To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

11-10-14, 11:40 PM	#2
ecomodded Supreme EcoRenovator Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Vancouver Island,Canada. Posts: 1,037 Thanks: 116 Thanked 100 Times in 87 Posts	Avoid shadows by using cross lighting Last edited by ecomodded; 11-11-14 at 10:35 AM..

11-11-14, 08:52 AM	#4
Daox Administrator Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Germantown, WI Posts: 5,525 Thanks: 1,162 Thanked 374 Times in 305 Posts	So, something more like this? I'm not opposed to LED. I'm just not out there THAT much, and the house still doesn't have LEDs. So, I'd rather spend for home lighting first. Attached Thumbnails __________________ Current project - To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. & To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. Last edited by Daox; 11-11-14 at 08:56 AM..

11-11-14, 09:24 AM	#5
randen Uber EcoRenovator Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Strathroy Ontario Canada Posts: 657 Thanks: 9 Thanked 191 Times in 129 Posts	Better lighting for the man zone Yes, but use the wiring already there. put the 4 fixtures (flush mount) over the hex boxes of the screw base lights. Drop the wires in. I'm really pleased with the amount of light from the LEDs. The fluorescents needed time to warm and brighten. However the LED are instant on. With the 6 fixtures in the garage it is like daylight. As you had indicated you wish to illuminate your garage to work on the vehicles. One big one is to paint the walls with a bright colour. With this the light bounces around (indirect)light. So as you have the hood up the light bounces off the bright wall and under the hood. I know dollars are a deciding factors but think of it this way. You will be doing this up-grade DIY and not having to hire an electrician. Saving big $. And if your going LEDs it could be your last visit to the top of a step ladder to change the bulb for the rest of your life.??? (life span of 20-30 yrs). Oh, almost forgot electrical energy reduction. Attached Thumbnails Last edited by Daox; 11-11-14 at 09:41 AM..

11-11-14, 09:41 AM	#6
Daox Administrator Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Germantown, WI Posts: 5,525 Thanks: 1,162 Thanked 374 Times in 305 Posts	Point well taken. Thanks! The white walls/ceiling are a great idea. The garage is completely unfinished and uninsulated at this point. __________________ Current project - To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. & To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

11-11-14, 07:55 AM	#3
randen Uber EcoRenovator Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Strathroy Ontario Canada Posts: 657 Thanks: 9 Thanked 191 Times in 129 Posts	I had just posted about changing the T8 out to LEDs It looks like you have the same size garage. In mine I have 6 x 2 tube fixtures. The T8 fluorescent lights were OK but those 6000K 17 watt LEDs kick butt. It may not be the answer your looking for (inexpensive) but its extremely well lit. I would recommend placing min 4 x 2tube surface mounts but 90 deg. to the fixtures you have now. Or single strip again 90 deg to what you already have. Randen

11-11-14, 09:54 AM	#7
randen Uber EcoRenovator Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Strathroy Ontario Canada Posts: 657 Thanks: 9 Thanked 191 Times in 129 Posts	You may be able to find fluorescent fixtures at the second hand building store. But offer only $1.00 as your going to through out the ballast. I was able to get my LEDs for $12.00 ea. You could install your fixtures and only put a couple LEDs as you have spare $. Randen

11-11-14, 10:24 AM	#8
Daox Administrator Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Germantown, WI Posts: 5,525 Thanks: 1,162 Thanked 374 Times in 305 Posts	I think I have three 4 foot fixtures. They have old magnetic ballasts in them. Can those be used for LEDs? __________________ Current project - To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. & To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

11-11-14, 10:45 AM	#9
celblazer Helper EcoRenovator Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: South Jersey Posts: 57 Thanks: 42 Thanked 17 Times in 11 Posts	You should be able to. Just remove the ballast.

11-11-14, 10:59 AM	#10
randen Uber EcoRenovator Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Strathroy Ontario Canada Posts: 657 Thanks: 9 Thanked 191 Times in 129 Posts	Yes Definitely you use the old fixtures. You remove the ballast and direct wire the LEDs to 90-280vac. You will love the LEDs