Garage lighting
JK Super Freak
Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 1,181
Likes: 2
My lighting is old by today's standards. A couple two tube florescents for general lighting, and then several halogen light assemblies over specific work spaces. I'd definitely go with something more energy efficient if replacing it. If you use your garage for any kind of shop work, then task lighting is important. Even in the daytime (unless you have some nicely placed windows). <img src="https://www.jk-forum.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=662061"/> Oh, the answer to that question that you have: It's a 1979 Tenth Anniversary Trans Am and the other is a telescope. :-)
JK Super Freak
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 1,636
Likes: 7
From: Mentor, OH
JK Junkie
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 2,998
Likes: 4
From: Oregon
I went from a single light bulb to 86,000 lumens in 7 quad flourescents...
Some thoughts:
Not the best photo.. I have never really taken photos of the lights themselves - lol
-The flourescents can take a bit to warm up in the cold - but the reason I went with them instead of LEDs is it gives me the ability to change the K that the light are at. I personally cannot stand "blue" tinted light (i.e. above 5600k (for my eyes). With flourescents I can buy bulbs of the temperature I want and get the color of light I want.
-Wiring: I use 4 sets of switches. one for the light over the bench, and then my lights are in 3 sets of rows. I can just turn on what I need.
Island light only:
- There is no such thing as "too much light". Better to have too much and turn on what you need than all of it on and you still can't see. Make it so you can turn on as much as you need. When I'm working at my bench at midnight I don't have to worry about shadows if I light the entire thing up... as good as working in the day.
old photo: middle of the night
When I drop a valve shim into the bike - I can see it!
Hope this helps.
cheers,
Ed
Some thoughts:
Not the best photo.. I have never really taken photos of the lights themselves - lol
-The flourescents can take a bit to warm up in the cold - but the reason I went with them instead of LEDs is it gives me the ability to change the K that the light are at. I personally cannot stand "blue" tinted light (i.e. above 5600k (for my eyes). With flourescents I can buy bulbs of the temperature I want and get the color of light I want.
-Wiring: I use 4 sets of switches. one for the light over the bench, and then my lights are in 3 sets of rows. I can just turn on what I need.
Island light only:
- There is no such thing as "too much light". Better to have too much and turn on what you need than all of it on and you still can't see. Make it so you can turn on as much as you need. When I'm working at my bench at midnight I don't have to worry about shadows if I light the entire thing up... as good as working in the day.
old photo: middle of the night
When I drop a valve shim into the bike - I can see it!
Hope this helps.
cheers,
Ed
JK Freak
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 782
Likes: 3
From: Pittsburgh, Pa
During the addition of some more garages, I used what I learned from the original garage.
No lights centered in a bay. My added on 36x26 garages got 4 light sockets up each wall, and 4 between the 2 bays. Each has a 100W equivalent fluorescent bulb, soon being replaced by energy efficient LED. At the back, where the island work area and tool boxes are, there is a 4 footer centered in that area.
This allows the sides to be well lit. You can do brakes with no drop lights, open the hood and you only need a drop light if your going down in deep. There is enough light coming from enough angles that there are really rarely any shadow areas. I also mounted the large 80 Gallon compressor down in the lower level garages and ran black pipe up to the main shop area. That way... you don't hear the compressor! It's also heated and air conditioned.
I don't do the sterile clean shop like some of you do. Mine is more like a production auto shop, it's a raging mess with 20 lbs of shit stuffed into a 5 lb bag. But.... I have about every tool I could ant for at this point in life. All I have to do is find it!
No lights centered in a bay. My added on 36x26 garages got 4 light sockets up each wall, and 4 between the 2 bays. Each has a 100W equivalent fluorescent bulb, soon being replaced by energy efficient LED. At the back, where the island work area and tool boxes are, there is a 4 footer centered in that area.
This allows the sides to be well lit. You can do brakes with no drop lights, open the hood and you only need a drop light if your going down in deep. There is enough light coming from enough angles that there are really rarely any shadow areas. I also mounted the large 80 Gallon compressor down in the lower level garages and ran black pipe up to the main shop area. That way... you don't hear the compressor! It's also heated and air conditioned.
I don't do the sterile clean shop like some of you do. Mine is more like a production auto shop, it's a raging mess with 20 lbs of shit stuffed into a 5 lb bag. But.... I have about every tool I could ant for at this point in life. All I have to do is find it!
