Shop/Barn lighting

[Oregonhunter5]

So I'm having a bear of time trying to find the right lights to make my shop bright as the sun at night. We live out in the country and it's pitch black. My ceilings are about 16 feet high. Like to hear from those that have actually done this project.

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[clearconscience]

LEDs

Put LEDs in. We changed out our lights at work to LED bay lights and you could perform surgery in their now.

And we use a crap ton less power.

You can buy 4ft T8 replacements lights and put twice as many and still use half the power and they are bright as heck.


By the way that place is F-in gorgeous! Nice work

 

[Oregonhunter5]

Thanks. I was hoping to find those at Costco on a special price deal. The whole place is 32x86. But 30 of that is loading shed. So 33x56 indoors. Thinking about running 3 rows back to back in a solid line. Think that would cut it?

 

[clearconscience]

Probably be real nice.

End photos when it's done!

 

[Kruel J]

Another vote for LED tubes. And another vote for a jealous member wishing that was his!

 

[The Heretic]

Yeah, I have about a dozen of the lights from Costco bought at their sale price. Have not put them up in my shop yet. Currently has fluorescents which are annoyingly slow to come up, especially when it is cold. I also got one fixture which is a little different in that it is motion sensor - not sure where to put that yet.

 

[Oregonhunter5]

Another vote for LED tubes. And another vote for a jealous member wishing that was his!

Ha! Don't be jealous. It's been a pain the bubblegum dealing with it. But thanks. With the led lights, I guess a tubes a tube? Curious if I needed a certain style or brand. I kinda hate buying stuff twice.

 

[jbett98]

I've installed some of the newer LED flat panels and if I was in your shoes I wouldn't hang a tube type fixture.
They collect dust, reduce the overhead clearance and are prone to casting shadows.
Take a look at surface mount LED panel that ProLight offers.

The TechBrite 50 Watt 2x2 LED dimmable flat panel would be a perfect addition to your application to turn it into a modern, visually pleasing space. This panel is designed to mount as a drop in panel or can be mounted suspended and can also be mounted flush with an additional mounting kit. This panel delivers 5,250 lumens of 4000K daylight white light. Applications include: offices, education environments, healthcare, hotels, retail, and commercial buildings. Order your TechBrite WS-UL50W22DL-40K today, or contact our certified lighting specialists to learn more.

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• 5 year warranty
• 120-277V

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct...ighting.html&usg=AOvVaw1wrqfYJwJMnwJIPAD15RCQ

 

[Lilhigbee]

Definitely LED's, but not necessarily in strips. I put them in a grid pattern, that way there aren't any shadows. If you can stand anywhere in the shop with your arms outstretched and not make a shadow, you have enough lighting. Except for over the benches, extra lights there.

 

[Silver Hand]

I like to use the biggest twin incandescent flood light bulbs money can buy! I use 150 watts or larger x 2 over every machine in my shop, all on separate switches. That way when the fire goes out or before it warms up the shop, eight or nine months of the year I have good light and a direct inexpensive heat source shining down on my shoulders and back as I start or finish my day.
I did start with commercial halogen fixtures with 500 watt commercial halogen bulbs, then Sodium fixtures and high dollar Sodium bulbs. They were to expensive to maintain, and required cross lighting to avoid dark shadows. A shop is a place to work and comfort is not always a controlled heated environment. Have fun.
Silver Hand

 

[Ramjet12]

LED. I put 4 ft T32 fixtures in my garage and have been slowly replacing the fluorescent bulbs with LED bulbs.

 

[woody06]

You say you want to light your shop "as bright as the sun". The lighting level provided by the sun on a typical summer day is about 10,000 footcandles. Duplicating this in your shop would require about 3300 four foot four lamp T-8 fixtures. You might want to consider a more realistic lighting level. Probably something in the range of 50 to 100 footcandles.

The Sawmill Creek Forum has an article that explains how to light a shop. Just look under the heading "Articles" .
Sawmill Creek Woodworking Community - The Sawmill Creek Press

 

[Certaindeaf]

.. lights to make my shop bright as the sun..

The sun is as bright as the sun.. how 'bout a couple a skylights, lol.
nice shop!

 

[Cardoff]

The sun is as bright as the sun.. how 'bout a couple a skylights, lol.
nice shop!

I was thinking a retractable roof.

 

[2A2Dend]

Having 16ft ceilings will make it a chore to replace whatever it is you decide to put up for lighting.
Unless I skimmed over the replies to quickly, I didn't see any mention of constant temps inside the structure.
Wanting to save money is one thing. Wanting to invest sensibly, once, don't look to accomplishing this buying budget fixtures. They don't last like one assumes they will. As a suggestion, look into the tried and true fluorescent lighting. T8 (cold) or T8HO (colder) type rated ballast for better results long term.

 

[IronMonster]

Another vote for LED, but a disclaimer that good LED's are expensive (although you will need fewer of them.) Make sure you buy a "high bay" style lite and one that is commercial quality. I would expect to pay $200-$400 per fixture but for your space you probably only need 8 or 10 for really good light. In the long run you will be much happier if you buy good lights the first time. If you buy cheap lights you will likely be changing them (cheap LED's seem to fail with real use)

I would also look at doing some spot lighting over tables and work areas, can make a big difference.

 

[CountryGent]

Ditto LED. And I'd add, nice looking shop. 'gratz.

 

[robertg]

About a year ago I replaced all my fluorescent tubes with T8 LED's. It was a big improvement, and an expensive one. Try and get as good quality as you can afford.