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Tool Talk Discussion Forum

Shop Lighting

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Glenn FitzGeral

05-06-2006 21:42:09




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I am about to frame in the ceiling on my shop. It is an old building. The inside measurements are 21x33. It has an 8' ceiling. It will be used for all types of work: welding, carpentry, mechanical work, auto body, tractor painting, etc. I have worked for years with inadequate lighting, but no more. I will be heating with a Modine heater. I have been accumulating florescent light fixtures for some time and have a LOT. I have 4 bulb(4'long) and 2 bulb(4'long)fixtures. How many would you say would be the maximum I should use? How many 4' florescent bulbs would it take? I want to be able to find a little nut/screw on the floor! The walls and ceiling will be white. I plan on starting tomorrow morning. I appreciate your responses. Glenn F.

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Matt Clark

05-12-2006 13:20:03




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 Re: Shop Lighting in reply to Glenn FitzGerald, 05-06-2006 21:42:09  
Finishied a 30x40 metal pole building with 10 foot ceilings last fall. All white metal inside, heated w/radiant in floor. We went with 3 rows (8' OC, starting 8' from overhead doors) of 8 foot 4 bulb lights. Each actually used four 48" bulbs...these are WAY less than half price of 8 foot bulbs. T5 bulbs, high efficiency.

This covered the first 24 feet of the 40 foot dimension, where the wood shop is located. Placed just a couple of additional fixtures over the last 16 feet for general lighting. Granted, the lighting's not fantastic in this last area, but it's GREAT in the other portion. Lights weren't cheap but my BIL got them at cost...about $65 each, w/bulbs.

Didn't use hot start (high output) fixtures/bulbs because of the constant heat.

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David - OR

05-07-2006 07:14:54




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 Re: Shop Lighting in reply to Glenn FitzGerald, 05-06-2006 21:42:09  
I recommend 8 foot tandem channel fixtures in continuous rows on 8 foot centers. Each 8 foot fixture takes 4 F32T8 tubes and has an electronic ballast. Orient the rows the same way you will orient any vehicles you will be working on. The continuous rows allow you to run the wiring inside the fixtures and saves a bunch of extra work installing them. Use something like the Phillips F32T8ADV850 Alto tubes. This have a 5000 K color temp, a color rendition index of 87, and about 10 percent more light per watt than generic tubes.

This arrangement gives around 100 foot candles of uniform lighting throughout the shop with excellent efficiency at about 1.75 watts per square foot. Nice and bright for almost any kind of work.

Electronic ballasts will strike down to 0 degrees F. The best ones are absolutely silent.

For examples of this kind of lighting, go into the nearest chain grocery store and look up.

You can download lighting design software from Lithonia's website. It is free for 30 days.

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dr.sportster

05-07-2006 06:56:21




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 Re: Shop Lighting in reply to Glenn FitzGerald, 05-06-2006 21:42:09  
There are two types of lighting,general and task.The type you seem to want is task lighting.You could probably do a search and find specs for the type of lights you plan to use and how much they give.White walls are also the best.A brown wall absorbs 80% of the lighting.The lighting manufacturers catalogs also have info on how to lay out lighting for each use.Ceiling lights will not light up a workbench or kitchen countertop for task lighting.

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dr.sportster

05-07-2006 06:53:35




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 Re: Shop Lighting in reply to Glenn FitzGerald, 05-06-2006 21:42:09  
There are two types of lighting,general and task.The type you seem to want is task lighting.You could probably do a search and find specs for the type of lights you plan to use and how much they give.White walls are also the best.A brown wall absorbs 80 of the lighting.The lighting manufacturers catalogs also have info on how to lay out lighting for each use.



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dr.sportster

05-07-2006 06:57:32




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 Re: Shop Lighting in reply to dr.sportster, 05-07-2006 06:53:35  
OOps already said that sorry.Dont know how I did that.



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RickL

05-07-2006 06:52:41




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 Re: Shop Lighting in reply to Glenn FitzGerald, 05-06-2006 21:42:09  
cold start units are must to me unless you always have it in the 40 degrees or above. I would use eight ft doubles. That close to the floor defnitely the silent ones also that hum can drive you crazy. You need a very goood exhaust system also for what you wanting to do,that would be more important looks to me like



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Steve Crum

05-07-2006 04:31:50




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 Re: Shop Lighting in reply to Glenn FitzGerald, 05-06-2006 21:42:09  
Definently put up at least one row of 'cold or rapid start' fixtures if your shop won't be heated constantly, that way as previously stated, you have some instant light to get in and out quick. Also to work on the heat if the furnace crashes.



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evielboweviel

05-07-2006 03:48:42




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 Re: Shop Lighting in reply to Glenn FitzGerald, 05-06-2006 21:42:09  
max is however many you can fit on the ceiling.
Recomend that you put alternate rows on seperate switchs and use about 4 switchs. Lights on the wall are handy also, to see under and around equipment.
Wire one to three rapid start fixtures down the middle of the shop and over the work bench for those get in and out gotta grab something times
Ron



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