Let there be light!

[creekstone]

I recently moved and my garage is dark as a cave. No windows and a single 200 watt bulb ain't cutting it. I'm old enough that there's no such thing as too much light.

So...

T-12, T-8, or T-5?

How many fixtures for an oversized two-car garage?

 

[Bustanut joker]

I recently moved and my garage is dark as a cave. No windows and a single 200 watt bulb ain't cutting it. I'm old enough that there's no such thing as too much light.

So...

T-12, T-8, or T-5?

How many fixtures for an oversized two-car garage?

I have four two bulb t 5's out here, 32x24 8 foot ceiling. I find the output sufficient throughout most of the garage but I think two more would light the corners better. I know they're a damn sight better, and cheaper to run than the 4 100 watt incandescent I replaced. Never gets below 40 out here so cold start isn't an issue either.

 

[Papa Georgio]

Ok So this is my two cents worth.

Cold start will not be a issue since all T5 and T8 now come with an electronic ballast

I would go with the T8 Just because they are cheaper to purchacs and the lamps are also cheaper

If you want Ballpark lighting on you T8 go with Daylight full spectrum lamps they are 5000K with a 90 for color rendering

the lamps may be around $2.00 E more than your standard 735 that operates at 3500K

Best of luck. whatever you do should be better than what you have.

 

[Larry33319]

Another way to add some extra light is to put a couple 2 bulb fixtures mounted to the bottom panel of the garage door. They provide great light when working under a car, the perfect angle for an open hood when the door is open and nice light when your door is blocking the front fixtures when open at night. Hook them up series parallel with a cord and plug at one end so all you need to do is plug them in when needed. Best idea a friend of mine ever had.

 

[FJRBluesman]

I have 3 two light fixtures in my 3-car garage, I could use a couple more.

Ok So this is my two cents worth.

Cold start will not be a issue since all T5 and T8 now come with an electronic ballast

I would go with the T8 Just because they are cheaper to purchacs and the lamps are also cheaper

If you want Ballpark lighting on you T8 go with Daylight full spectrum lamps they are 5000K with a 90 for color rendering

the lamps may be around $2.00 E more than your standard 735 that operates at 3500K

Best of luck. whatever you do should be better than what you have.

Papa Georgio - Excellent avatar, poindexter from Felix the Cat, if I remember correctly.

 

[wheatonFJR]

This thread sucks without pictures...

 

[creekstone]

Okay... here's my "before" picture. I need help to do the "after".

 

[Geezer]

I recently added lights to my garage. I installed T8s because they were less expensive and more readily available than T5s. The fixtures I used have four 48" tubes in each fixture. My garage is odd shaped in that one bay is long enough for 2 cars. I put two fixtures in that bay and one fixture in the other bay. I also have incandescent lighting over the workbench. If your workbench is at one end of the garage then you want a separate fixture over that.

You can't have too much light when working on a bike or car, and fixtures are relatively inexpensive. If you are going to install them yourself, and you are going to do the wiring yourself, I'd recommend two 4 light fixtures in each bay with separate switches for each pair.

 

[Spud]

While you're up there do yourself a favor and install a ceiling-mount retractable cord light. Man do I love mine! Very handy...

https://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_03473943000P?blockNo=6&blockType=G6&prdNo=6&i_cntr=1324419684487

 

[Bustanut joker]

While you're up there do yourself a favor and install a ceiling-mount retractable cord light. Man do I love mine! Very handy...

https://www.sears.com...r=1324419684487

FUZZY BALLS! Though mine somehow wandered off :glare:

Also, I went with the t 5's because me bro in law the electrician gave me the fixtures and a case of bulbs. Otherwise the 8's would have been used.

 

[escapefjrtist]

Go with the 5000K T8 lamps and high BF electronic ballasts. Pay close attention to the reflector design of the fixture, this is what gets the light down. T8's are cheap to run, last a long time and are pretty efficient.

--G

 

[RaYzerman19]

Go with footers, 40W tubes, one over the workbench and 6 more. The garage door thing is a good idea too if you work with the door open. Get the fixtures that reflect the light down. 5000K often doesn't seem like enough light, but you can mix, put one cool white tube in with it. For color, you can use the so-called "Kitchen and Bath" tubes which gives color correction. Always go outside in proper "northern sky" daylight if you are doing any color work/paint match.

 

[Bustanut joker]

I'm hurt Ray....You never told me my lighting sucked :lol:

Do need a couple more though, and the door thingy would be nice when I'm under something working.

I think Bill should buy 'em for me as he skipped out the last tech weekend

 

[Bounce]

I find that my 36", 175 watt, metal halide Wobblelight works well for all but the nooks and crannies of the bike. A flashlight does those areas.

 

[wheatonFJR]

I find that my 36", 175 watt, metal halide Wobblelight works well for all but the nooks and crannies of the bike. A flashlight does those areas.

Good idea...how costly are those?

EDIT: Never mind...found it myself...about $274 for the 175W

 

[Bounce]

They're less expensive than when I bought mine.

https://www.google.com/products/catalog?q=wobblelight&hl=en&output=nojs&safe=on&cid=1808127030165175621&ei=51_zTtrZA8nOmAej7LWFBA&ved=0CBgQ8wIwAQ#p

Add to their brightness, their mobility and multi-use nature and they end up getting used all the time.

 

[wheatonFJR]

Thanks Bounce. :clapping:

 

[yamafitter]

Floor space in my garage is really limited and I can't afford to have another item on the floor to trip over. The retractable work light is a good idea but I would go with a LED model since I have a bad habit of breaking incandescent bulbs at the most inopportune moments.

 

[Bounce]

Floor space in my garage is really limited

get a storage shed. that's why i'm felling trees and clearing brush while everyone else is prepping for Xmas.