Garage Lighting
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Junior User
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 75
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From: Montpelier, VA
Garage Lighting
This is probably a dumb question, but I will ask anyway. Just finished putting insulation and sheetrock up in my attached garage and painted the walls and ceiling white. Now time for upgrading the lighting. The ceiling height is 14'. Should I mount the florescent fixtures at ceiling height or suspend them at 8'-10' over the different work areas? Not sure which way would provide the best lighting.
Posting Guru
Joined: Jun 1999
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From: Oregon
I would do it both ways. General lighting on the ceiling over the vehicle and rest of garage with lower, spot lighting over the bench areas and in front of the truck - so when you pop the hood it lights in, not shadows.
Posting Guru
Joined: Aug 2003
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From: Wichita KS.
I pretty much agree with putting lights all over the garage, there can never bee too much. In addition to regular lights, I own two work lights (can't think of what they're called at this moment = brain fart) and they are invaluable to me. They imitate the sun in the garage and I can move them outside if I need to.
Cargo Master
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 2,585
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From: Duluth, Mn.
Halogen
My bro mounted 3 halogen lights in front of each of his bays. One centered and two about 5-6' to each side. He mounted them down about a foot from the ceiling. When you open the hood and turn on the lights, it's simply amazing!
My bro mounted 3 halogen lights in front of each of his bays. One centered and two about 5-6' to each side. He mounted them down about a foot from the ceiling. When you open the hood and turn on the lights, it's simply amazing!
Posting Guru
Joined: Aug 2003
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From: Wichita KS.
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5th Wheeling
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 49
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From: Somewhere USA
Or you could put Metal Halide low bay lights in the shop. I have a 40x64 shop with six 400W metal halide lights, it looks like we're working with anti-matter in there from through the windows. Probably cheaper than dozens of flourescents too. They cost me $65 ea. Bulbs last about 20 years.
Senior User
Joined: Jun 2003
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I've got sevral of the lowbay 400 watt metal halide lights for over all lighting (15 foot ceiling), then halogen lights on stands. You can also take a cheap four foot florescent fixture with a stort cord and some small chain and hang from the hood of a vehicle for extra light when working in a engine compartment.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 1,493
Likes: 346
From: SE Iowa
Be careful with Halogens. Its very easy to overload a circuit. Upgrade accordingly! Some will even call for 500W for each bulb putting the entire unit at 1000W per fixture. So any more than two lights and your beyond the 80% rule with fixture/outlets for a 20amp breaker.
Stryder
Stryder