[creativerenos]

I have a new 1000sq ft. garage/workshop. I was thinking of installing 6 (2 rows of 3) 8' fluoresent fixtures that have 2x75 watt bulbs plus some localized pot lights above work benches. Will this provide sufficient lighting?

[Missouri Bound]

Suffecient lighting is a relative term. What are you going to do in that workshop? What you suggest will be fine for general lighting, but not nearly enough for some detail tasks. Some additional light will probably be needed over workbenches depending on what you are doing.

[Clough]

Hi, creativerenos!

Yes, what sort of things will you be doing in there? For one of the types of work that I do, which is refinishing and painting, it's even good for me to have fluorescent light coming from above and from the walls.

Thanks!

[creativerenos]

Thanks for the replies. I will have additional lighting above work benches as well as portable halogen work lights. I will be doing everything from restoring cars to carpentry in this garage.

[tkrussell]

Fluorescent would be best. Be careful with halogen, lamp and fixture get very hot, can cause burns and set combustibles, like wood dust, on fire.

The lamps and ballast you have work best at 50 degree F and above. Cool or cold will cause the lamps to be dim and flicker.

Shops are tough, better to overlight by a few fixtures, due to color of walls and floor, dark objects covering the wall, ceiling height, and type of tasks.

Fixtures on the walls, say 5-6 foot high, is a great idea, esp. for working on cars.

[ceilingfanrepair]

I have a 900 square foot workshop that is heated and air conditioned, I share it with two other people.

The ceiling is maybe 12'. There are 11 8' fluorescent fixtures not including additional fluorescent fixtures over the workbenches. Also, some of the 900 square feet is used for a stairwell and for a bathroom, if these areas were open, more fixtures would be required.

If I recall correctly, the rows of 8' lights are 6' apart and the fixtures are end to end. This works well, there is enough light to work clearly anywhere in the space.

I would stick to fluorescents, including over the work benches. Personally I don't like the fixtures mounted face-out on the walls, as TK suggests, because they glare in my eyes, however I am not working on cars.

I can post some pictures if it would help.

[Missouri Bound]

If you go with the 8 ' fixtures, use the fixtures that take 4 4' T8 lamps. They will use an electronic ballast which will inherently be low temperature. Also the t8 technology is better, the lamps last much longer, are brighter, and 4 lamps per fixture (4') will cost you less than 2 8' lamps. There are also reflector type fixtures which will increase the light output, although they will have to be cleaned if your shop becomes a dusty or dirty environment.

[KISS]

HID lighting can be more economical, but oly if you have supplimentary lighting and can wait the re-strike time which can be as long as 20 minutes.

Fluorescent bench lighting where the fixtures are hung as low as practical.

A painting area could require more.

There are supplimetary work lamps also.

A shop without adequate lighting is a bear to work in.

Take a look at a typical food store. There may be a mix of fluorescent and HID lighting.

Zone it too, to save even more energy.

[creativerenos]

Thanks for all the responses. I know all about dimly lit shops, I've lived with one for 30yrs. Comparing the new shop (fluorescent) with the old shop (incandesent) the new one should be 3x as bright. Plus I'll have extra lighting over work benches as well as portable lamps, oif needed.

[ceilingfanrepair]

I still think your amount of fluorescent fixtures is low. My shop is negligibly smaller and has double the amount of fixtures, and the amount of light is perfect.

[Clough]

I'm a "light freak" in my home or in my shop. In my shop though, I like to have as much lighting as possible, and variable, depending on what I want to use it for.

Thanks!