Lighting in a pole barn ideas?

andy r · Oct 12, 2021

I just wanted to get ideas on how any of you have installed lights in your machine sheds. I have a 45' by 88' machine shed with 14' tall walls. Two electricians have said to put two runs of lighting the length of the building. Each run would be 1/3 of the distance from the outside walls. The rafters are on an 8 foot spacing so a light would be on every other rafter. Five rafters would have two lights hanging on them each 1/3 of the distance from the outside wall. The front half of the building would be on one switch and the rear half would be on another. The light fixtures would be the typical screw in bulb type. I would use the screw in LED lights that have the panels of light emitting diodes. Was thinking about using 14,000 lumen bulbs. Ten of those should provide plenty of light at a fairly economical operating cost plus they would power up immediately in cold weather. I like the bulbs that have four adjustable panels each so that the light could be focused somewhat downward. I have big sliding doors on each end so 10,000 lumen LED exterior lights will also be installed there. Any other ideas? Thank you.

tomstractorsandtoys · Oct 12, 2021

In my area most new machine sheds they are putting clear or frosted pannels on about 2 -3 ft of the top of the side walls. Lets in a huge amount of light. I replaced the tin on one shed two years ago and did that as well. Rarely use the lights except at night. Tom

Bob Bancroft · Oct 12, 2021

I put up a 60x120x14 pole storage barn a couple years ago. I wasn't going to put electricity out there. But it's so dark in there when the doors are shut, and I was having to run a battery charger often enough, that I ran a little power out there this past spring. I got four, round LED fixtures in a package deal from Amazon, and spaced them equally down the center, between trusses.

Certainly not enough light to work by, but just what I wanted, to see enough to get around.

BarnyardEngineering · Oct 12, 2021

I've been replacing incandescent bulbs with those multi-panel LED lights for a few months now. So far I've been quite pleased with them.

You need a high roof though. If the light source is anywhere in your normal field of view, you're blinded instantly.

knightstead · Oct 12, 2021

Im an electrician that just finished a 40x44x12.5 shop for my personal use. I personally would go with no less than three rows of lights. Also, the spacing your electricians recommended sounds a bit odd. Youll have much more light in the middle than on the sides if you do it their way. Mine are 8 foot off the side walls, 16 feet between each outside row and the middle. Spacing between two light rows should be twice as wide because you have light coming from both sides. Just my two cents.

knightstead · Oct 12, 2021

Actually my spacing must be closer to 6.5 feet and 13 feet.

andy r · Oct 12, 2021

Maybe I didn't explain the spacing of the 2 rows of lights very well. First row would be 11 feet from the wall. Then between the 2 rows of lights there would be 23 feet. Then that last row of lights would be again 11 feet from its the wall. So, the distance between the lights is roughly twice the distance each row is from a wall.

paul · Oct 12, 2021

Are you wanting to see in the shed, or wanting to work in the whole shed?

Your light package is sort of in between, more than needed for a storage shed. Maybe a little weak for constant shop mechanic working.

All in all seems good to me. Can add some lights on the sidewalks in your work area, overhead lights leave the machinery sides and bottom in shadow anyhow.

I have similar size shed, have 8 overhead fixtures I think they put 200 incadecent in each originally. Im replacing with 300 equvilant as they burn out. Works fine for me.

Geo-TH,In · Oct 12, 2021

I installed clear panels under eves.
No need for

lights when the sun is shinning.
I installed LEDS down the middle. Never turn them on.

jacksun65 · Oct 12, 2021

I used the rural king led 4ft lights put a electrical plug in the middle and run the lights to either side. If you need to replace just unplug and plug another in.

Pete in Holland MI · Oct 12, 2021

One super bright light, or many dimmer fixtures, will light the barn. Gotta ask yourself what you'll be doing in it. Storing equipment and restoring equipment need two different light levels and dispersion rates.

Be careful buying 4' shop lights. Understand the lumen ratings, else you will be under, or over pleased with your results.

Buying LED, understand the K-system of color. The color near 2700K is close to incadecent, and is a warmer richer light. Color near 5000 is daylight, or the white light found in a doctor's office.

andy r · Oct 12, 2021

I tend to do work in the front 1/2 of the shed. That is why I am separating the front 1/2 from the back 1/2 with two switches.

fixerupper · Oct 13, 2021

(quoted from post at 10:11:13 10/12/21) Im an electrician that just finished a 40x44x12.5 shop for my personal use. I personally would go with no less than three rows of lights. Also, the spacing your electricians recommended sounds a bit odd. Youll have much more light in the middle than on the sides if you do it their way. Mine are 8 foot off the side walls, 16 feet between each outside row and the middle. Spacing between two light rows should be twice as wide because you have light coming from both sides. Just my two cents.

This is what you should do.

Lighting in a pole barn ideas?

andy r

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tomstractorsandtoys

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Bob Bancroft

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BarnyardEngineering

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knightstead

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knightstead

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andy r

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paul

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Geo-TH,In

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jacksun65

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Pete in Holland MI

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andy r

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fixerupper

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