Lighting Questions for my workshop

[Marion Smith]

http://m.homedepot.com/p/Commercial-...E26/203596700/

I installed 5 of these in a family room recently, and I really liked them!
They were a breeze to install, the warm white light is what I like, and, they are dimmable. I also like the enclosed feature of the unit.
They aren't any more expensive than a good 4' twin-tube fluorescent fixture, but probably would last my lifetime as opposed to the fluorescent bulbs life.
My question for you lighting guys is: How many of these would I need to light up my 16' x 32' shop with 8' sidewalls?

[Peter Aeschliman]

Hi Marion,

I wouldn't be the guy to answer your question about "how many", but I discourage you from using recessed lighting in a shop setting. They are very directional lights compared to the typical T-8 fluorescent tube fixture. They are more like spot lights, meaning you get most of light when you're standing directly underneath them, which usually means casting shadows on your work.

Since tube fixtures usually sit on the surface of the ceiling, they will cast light in almost 180 degrees, meaning that the lighting from one fixture will overlap the light from the next... which means fewer shadows obscuring your vision for detailed work.

Just my $.02.

[Mike Heidrick]

16X32 lit to what ft candle?

Lets do 100ft candles as it is great light.

(512sqft X 100 lumens per sq X 2 (assuming 50% loss but it is prob more since it is enclosed)) / (650 lumens each bulb X 1 bulb per fixture) = ~158 lights you need to install
But it will still be kinda dim due to enclosed footprint, a very warm light, and the non wide dispersal of those bulbs.

Same math with T8 4 bulb fixtures 2800 lumen each:
(512X100X2)/(2800X4) = ~10 lights you need to install But it will actually be a LOT brighter and more accurate color representation

Read the lighting thread stickied at the top of this workshop section. The linked article is the reason I have AMAZING light in my shop.

[Charles Taylor]

There's a very informative sticky thread in this forum titled "Shop Lighting...". I recommend taking the time to read that thread and the Jack Lindsey article referenced in the first post. And I second Peter's recommendation to use fluorescent tubes in the workshop.

[Steve Milito]

I based my lighting on the "Shop Lighting ..." thread also. The electrician and contractor thought I was crazy until they did the install. It seems like a lot of lights when your installing but the lighting is spectacular when it's done.

[Marion Smith]

Well, if I would need 158 of them, that would be nuts! The cost would be about $5,000 in the lights and the work boxes...yikers! Plus, I don't even want to think about twisting almost 500 wire nuts either!
I have to ask though, if 5 lights lit up that family room like this, why do I need 158 for my shop? The rooms are the same size.

[Marty Tippin]

I have to ask though, if 5 lights lit up that family room like this, why do I need 158 for my shop? The rooms are the same size.

Hard to tell from the photo, but that room looks to be maybe 8 or 10 ft wide by maybe 16 ft long? Not quite 16x32.

Fluorescent really is the way to go - I used 9 of these (3 rows x 3 per row) in my 40x40 shop and have plenty of light. http://www.homedepot.com/p/Lithonia-...-SCD/202193133

[Peter Aeschliman]

Marion, shadows are key. Stand under one of those lights and bend over like you're doing some chisel work. I'll bet your head and shoulders will cast a pretty dark shadow.

[Ken Fitzgerald]

I used Jack Lindsey's original article published in FWW to design the lighting in my 24' x 30' shop. I bought some better quality 8', 4-bulb, T-8 fluorescent fixtures at HD and spent about $600. Friends who drop by are amazed how well my shop is lighted and the lack of shadows.

As Jack points out in his article, the amount of light required at the work height is important and varies as we age.

[Mike Heidrick]

If you want 3.17 lumens per sq ft of very direct yellow muted lighting in your shop, knock yourself out with 5 of those lights. You don't have to take any recomendations from us - its only science and math and experience we are speaking from. You only have to make you happy.

[Marion Smith]

Geeeesh, I was just asking trying to learn something. I read, and even re-read the lighting sticky thread before I even posted my question about the led lites. Like I've mentioned in my previous "I'm getting a new workshop" posts, I've always worked in a garage space or basement. The lights in those spaces consisted of a few incandescent bulbs hanging from the ceiling joists or a couple 4'-2bulb cheapie strip lights. The shadow thing is something I didn't think of. It kinda dawned on me then, that I have been working with several tools, but always scooted them into my workspace by the light. In the new shop, stuff is pretty much gonna stay put, thus the light standard and the math. So, now I'm convinced I need to go shopping for some good fluorescent light fixtures and give up on the led idea.
I'll be checking out the lights Marty mentioned.
Mike, what fixtures did you choose for your shop please?
Last but not least, which 'color' bulbs?
Cool white...neutral... Daylight... the list goes on & on...

[Mike Heidrick]

Sorry I was kinda off with that reply. When you posted the but hey look at this room post I honestly saw a very dim lit living room picture with lots of shadows (I knwo cameras make things look weird too. It kinda reminded me of a buddy that loves his flexible led strip above his bench. To me it is horrible lighting there. I really feel like he (and maybe you) have just never experienced good lighting to know what you are missing. He bought them based on price and ease of install and not the result they would provide. He did no research. But again, whatever makes him happy - I celebrate all shops. If he wants facts and to learn I will explain what that lighting article said, point it to him, and let him choose.

Point is do what you like for sure. I know I am WAYYY off the norm in my world.

I have 16' rafters so its tall and 2560 sq ft.

In the center of my shop I am using 6 bulb T5HO Howard fixtures and 5000K lamps in them - 30000 lumen ea. It was $800 for 8 of them. They are considered low end to those in the know I guess.

Along the edges I currently have sixteen used 320watt metal halide lights. I am not a fan of them as they are very tall and I dont like the humm. I plan to change them to the same T5HO lights in the spring.

Sorry again. Dont mind me. Posting when tired I am not on my game

I love that you have a new shop coming!

[glenn bradley]

I have to ask though, if 5 lights lit up that family room like this, why do I need 158 for my shop? The rooms are the same size.

Marion, shadows are key. Stand under one of those lights and bend over like you're doing some chisel work. I'll bet your head and shoulders will cast a pretty dark shadow.

It is always tempting to go inexpensive or to try some novel approach. In a shop you want even, shadow-free light. My shop is 20 x 30 and I have about 18 four foot, dual tube T-8 fluorescent fixtures. I still have task lighting on the bandsaw, scrollsaw and drill press areas. I'm not blind, there is just a need for shadow elimination and some machines have nooks and crannies where it makes no sense to try to eliminate them with overhead light sources.

[cody michael]

you can still get led's if that is the way you go, there are tons of different leds varieties, from ones that look just like flourescent tubes, to led "tape" I used the "tape" in my small one room cabin, put 4ft on each rafter joist, it cost about 15$ including the dimmer and looks awesome.

[Greg R Bradley]

If you are talking about a shop or warehouse and you are thinking LED, it is best to stop and investigate further. In general, they are not more efficient than flourescents and can only be justified if it is hard to get to the bulbs to change them etc. Normally, you can't justify removing flourescents and replacing them with LED, even if the new LED lamps are free.

Using LED instead of incandescents or those horrible CFL things is usually a great idea.

If LED referenced in the original post are probably 50-60 lumens per watt of electricity. Good T8 warehouse fixtures are about 100 lumens per watt.