Hello, my question is... is there a rule of thumb for lighting placement and amount of wattage per square foot of room? My new garage is 1200 sq ft (30'x40'). I would like to go with fluorescent lighting. I live in Kentucky with some cold in the winter. I was told to go with the T8 because of cold start up. I have also heard of a new T5 but do not know anything about them. I would like to space the lights so I get even light ,but not sure how many or how far a part I should install them. Thanks for any help, Scott

This sounds like a big garage -- is there an overhead door that will open and affect

Where lights are placed -- do you plan on having a work bench that needs lighting

There are probably sites on the internet that give you light spacing for fluorescent

8 foot fixtures -- based on height of fixture off the floor level... I had a 2 car garage

That had 2 - 8' flourescents in the bench area which covered the front of garage and

Were about 4' from the wall... A vehicle pulled in for repairs needs light under hood--

This being said -- I have fluorescent fixtures in my current basement -- I angled fixtures

And feel they put light where I need it not just light shining straight down.

I’ve been there done that on your question. I live in Michigan and my shop is 40 x 64 with 14.5 foot ceiling. I would not recommend any of the tube type fluorescent lights. What I have found works best and very reasonable on pricing are the new fluorescent bulbs that fit a standard incandescent socket. In my case, because the ceiling was going to be finished, I installed the closed location recessed light fixture cans and installed 32 watt fluorescent bulbs that output over a 120 watt equivalent light. When the outside temp gets below freezing these lights come on dim, but within two minutes or less will develop to full brightness. My recess light cans cost about $6.50 a piece and the fluorescent bulb cost under $10 give a grand total of $16.50 per light. In a 38 x 40 foot area I have 15 lights. This supplies very good lighting of the whole shop.

Best of luck on your project! Keep us posted on what you end up with and how you like it.

Eric D

I like the 8" flourescents also, less shadows, The make more efficient bulbs in most styles now, I Believe

What T5 fixtures are available to you? I highly recommend an industrial T5 fixture, most available come with an Alzak aluminum mirror reflector, very bright, less fixtures. They come in 1' x 4' or 2' x 4', and 2,3,4, or 6 lamp,depenidn on how much light is needed.

What will be the task? What do you plan to do in the shop?

What color will the walls, ceiling, and floors be?

Will there be any overhead doors?

To comment on the recess fixture, any recess fixture without a reflector and a compact fluorescent lamp that is not a reflector lamp is a poor lighting design. A standard CFL is a point source, and needs a reflector to "push" the light down and out of the recess fixture housing. A standard recess housing has no reflective properties, and needs a reflector to utilize the light output of any lamp efficiently.

If a standard CFL is being used, I assure you that using a reflector CFL will greatly improve the lighting.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Stratmando

I like the 8" flourescents also, less shadows, The make more efficient bulbs in most styles now, I Believe

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I guess I've not seen 8 inch flourescents other then the round tube ones. Where do you get them, how much do they cost and how much light do they put out?

Eric D

TK,

I agree with you that the T5 is a much better shop light compared the cans and fluorescent bulbs that I'm using, the price was the issue for me. For less then two of the good T5 fixtures and tubes I have my entire shop outfitted with lights. You are correct, the reflectors improve the down light compared to not having them, but even without and in the high bay installation they do a great job. I have two friends with shops about the same size of mine. Both have switched from tube fluorescents to the same cans and new fluorescent bulbs that fit a standard incandescent sockets after they seen how well lit my shop is. For the money they are hard to beat and they work great even in cold weather.

Just my humble opinion.

Regards, Eric D

I too use 8' fluorescent fixtures in my garage. I find they provide better coverage and less problems than CFL's. However if you're going to be needing them in the winter, make sure you get fixtures rated for the appropriate temperatures.

There's a website for everything.

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