How many fluorescent's for my garage

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DSVWGLI

New member
I'm tired of the 4 single bulbs in my garage and I want to install fluorescent lights. I need your help to decide. My garage is 23 x 23, how many and what size of fluorescent lights do I need? I also have a 1000 watt halogen tripod. I was thinking of installing four 8 ft lights running almost directly over the cars. What do you think?
 
I am in the process of converting a 36x24 Morton building into my corvette garage. We are hanging two metal halide lights , each with 400 watts of light. I am hoping this will light the garge sufficiently and if not we will hang another one. They were bought at U.S. Electric wholesale and cost about $126.00 each. I will install a flourescent for quick lighting as metal halide takes about five minutes to activate fully and I may need this if I'm going in the garage for a few minutes only and then leaving. Will your garage be heated ? Cold temp will affect some flourescent lighting.
 
I'd get more than that, but I'm not sure how many. I have a *lot* of the 8 footers, but I also have a cathedral ceiling so I dunno what'll be right for you.



Besides the fluorescents and the halogens, I'd mount some metal halide or even just high-wattage incandescents ( I have nine 300W ones) since fluorescents don't really work well (at least for me) for swirl-spotting and relying entirely on the halogens is inconvenient.
 
DSVWGLI,

Definitely go for fluorescents - you won't regret it. I have a standard double garage with two double 5ft fluorescents over the center of each car, front and back - that's 8 altogether, and it's great.



I can't remember the exact wattage, but they are the brightest I could get, and are daylight temperature. You can never have too much wattage. My garage is also painted flat white, walls and ceiling, for maximum light reflectivity.



I started off with a tripod halogen along with two 200w ceiling bulbs, but got the fluorescents installed immediately after backing one of the cars out pulled the cord and caused the light to fall against the door. Expensive repaint! Don't have stuff in your garage that moves, because your cars will attract it like a magnet.
 
I just put 3 double 4 footers in my 2 car garage(1 down the center and 1 above each car)....along with the 2 single 100 watt bulbs and its plenty! When people walk in it at night, they usually squint!
 
I have 3X 2 bulb 8ft HO strips. I am thinking about adding a metal halide fixture to get some real light :D





You can never have too much light!
 
I have 5 fluorescent fixtures with reflectors & chain pulls, each holding two 48" 40w bulbs in a single car garage.



Fixtures are positioned parallel to the parked car, approx. 2 feet in from the walls and aligning with the quarter panels and one over the workbench that illuminates the hood/engine bay. Everything is illuminated but the wheelwells.



Can't put a 6th fixture over the rear illuminating the rear deck/trunk area 'cause the track for the garage door opener is in the way.



The ceiling and three of the four walls are painted white & the area is more than bright enough for working, now if only it was heated.
 
my garage is about the same size (23'x23') w/12' ceilings. i have a large window in there, but it has 10% tint on it :D



i have 2 48"x2 florecents hardwired to a switch (main lighting) and 2 48"x2 florecents that are chain pull (aux lighting)



i still need more lights, but this is very adequate with light colored walls. i might need to upgrade the wiring for more juice in the near future (which will be done when 220v goes in)
 
good rule of thumb, go for at least 2W/sq ft ~ 30 ft candles



your space ~ 530sq ft x 2 w/sq ft ~ 1000 w



8' bulb = 80 W ~12 bulbs or 6 2 bulb fixtures

4' bulb = 40 W ~24 bulbs or 6 4 bulb fixtures



locate 3 rows 2 each



there are programs for calculating this stuff

search, IES light calculations

I'm an EE that does this tuff for a living



put 1 ckts/2 switches 1/2 on each switch





http://www.cps.gov.on.ca/english/plans/E3000/3952/3952L.pdf
 
DSVWGLI said:
Thanks everyone for your input, that helped alot:xyxthumbs .
Click to expand...
I just installed two metal halide lights in my 36x24 garage last night and the light is BRIGHT! No need for any other lights! :up I will install a quick turn on/off light for those quick trips into the garage when I'm not going to stay for long.
 
Please excuse my ignoance but could you please post a picture of the light that you're referring to ( Halide ) ?



I really appreciate the help...I'm closing on my house next tuesday and it's like I've got a brand new car with no mods just begging to be modded.



Thanks again.



Andy
 
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