Garage Lighting
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 10,920
Likes: 6
From: Upstate New York
RE: Garage Lighting
OR,,,,,,!!!
get 1 of them halogen little lites,like I use when I'm on trouble calls at nite,,
they have straps that fit around your hardhat or head,, proby only $15.00
or less,,, every where you look will be bright lite!!!
get 1 of them halogen little lites,like I use when I'm on trouble calls at nite,,
they have straps that fit around your hardhat or head,, proby only $15.00
or less,,, every where you look will be bright lite!!!
Road Master
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 1,004
Likes: 2
From: somewhere
RE: Garage Lighting
i have a 32 X 24 garage w/ 12 ft ceiling. I have 3 rows of two - two tube 8ft fluorescent lignts for a total of 12 tubes. Very bright. I hate trying to work with a stupid drop light. I had even thought about the lights mounted on the wall as weel, but decided to put up sheetrock on the ceiling and walls and fix the shop just as my house garage is. Looks better that just sxposed studs. Lights are cheap at home depot.
Tourer
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 436
Likes: 0
From:
RE: Garage Lighting
as an electrician...i totalyy agree.....8' HO fixtures......if a higher bay........metal halide low bay fixtures..or t5 ho fixtures..........the ho fixtures will make a BIG difference....a few $$$$$ more however well worth the $$$$$$$$$$$$$$.....BC
ORIGINAL: glideridemike
As an electrician I have found that most people are happiest with those high ouput (HO) 8'-2 tube flourescent fixtures. The light output is excellent, they will fire up down to about -20 f and are quite economical as well. Using 4 150 watt bulbs is about the same as using 2 of those fixtures (amperage wise) and puts out much less useable light. In my 28 x 32 shop I have 4 mounted on the ceiling, with a 5th over my camaro storage area. One pair I have end to end over my work bench area, the other 2 I have over my engine bay. These are on 2 independent switches. The 5th one is on a switch by itself. I have 2 4'ers on chains over my work bench hanging down on chains about 2' below my 10' ceiling. I have 2 HO 4'ers, on chains, each independently switched, one each hanging on chains just above the garage door (sides) so that the door, when open, will not hit them, but when the door is down I can use them. These work perfect for doing work on the sides of my camaro and shines into the interior with the car doors open.
As you can see I love being able to see what I'm doing when doing detail type of work. Can't get enough light
As an electrician I have found that most people are happiest with those high ouput (HO) 8'-2 tube flourescent fixtures. The light output is excellent, they will fire up down to about -20 f and are quite economical as well. Using 4 150 watt bulbs is about the same as using 2 of those fixtures (amperage wise) and puts out much less useable light. In my 28 x 32 shop I have 4 mounted on the ceiling, with a 5th over my camaro storage area. One pair I have end to end over my work bench area, the other 2 I have over my engine bay. These are on 2 independent switches. The 5th one is on a switch by itself. I have 2 4'ers on chains over my work bench hanging down on chains about 2' below my 10' ceiling. I have 2 HO 4'ers, on chains, each independently switched, one each hanging on chains just above the garage door (sides) so that the door, when open, will not hit them, but when the door is down I can use them. These work perfect for doing work on the sides of my camaro and shines into the interior with the car doors open.
As you can see I love being able to see what I'm doing when doing detail type of work. Can't get enough light
Tourer
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 496
Likes: 2
From: Weston, Florida
RE: Garage Lighting
180 Watts total, five 4' FL's on the ceiling, one FL on the wall above the bench. White ceiling and walls. White Epoxy floor. Reflects back the light evenly, can spot a leak immediately. The Doctor is in!
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 2,893
Likes: 2
From: USA
RE: Garage Lighting
My garage is a single car. I have 4 dual HO48" electronic ballast with the large industrial reflectors. 2 of them are mounted on the sides for seeing while the door is open and the other 2 are just the reverse forward of the overhead door. Plenty of light. And thats with out having the bench or grinder lamps on.
I've gone through a lot of different enclosures, that really does not matter. But, when you go through bulbs like crazy and the temps drop to 40* inside the garage. You can forget the magnetic ballasts. They are cheap and I've changed enough of them to know you don't even want them period.
Start off getting either the 4 or 8 ft HO (high output) bulbs with electronic ballasts. You will be money ahead and have no problems. Bulbs start full brilliance pretty much and instantly, no flickering andlong warm up period.
Don't forget the plastic tubes that keep the glass from raining all over you if by chance you happen to have something cut loose and hit a tube.
I've a grinder with wire wheel and a cloth wheel on another one. Its not much, but some time thingsdo get away from you and go off in any direction, a nut, bolt or a washer. They will save the tube too when you get a hornet to fly into the garage at night and go to the tubes, then you can spray the bug spray with out blowing up a tube too!
I've gone through a lot of different enclosures, that really does not matter. But, when you go through bulbs like crazy and the temps drop to 40* inside the garage. You can forget the magnetic ballasts. They are cheap and I've changed enough of them to know you don't even want them period.
Start off getting either the 4 or 8 ft HO (high output) bulbs with electronic ballasts. You will be money ahead and have no problems. Bulbs start full brilliance pretty much and instantly, no flickering andlong warm up period.
Don't forget the plastic tubes that keep the glass from raining all over you if by chance you happen to have something cut loose and hit a tube.
I've a grinder with wire wheel and a cloth wheel on another one. Its not much, but some time thingsdo get away from you and go off in any direction, a nut, bolt or a washer. They will save the tube too when you get a hornet to fly into the garage at night and go to the tubes, then you can spray the bug spray with out blowing up a tube too!
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