Garage/shop lighting?

[1BAD68]

I'm looking at different options to replace the 3 100w bulbs in my 2.5 car garage, I need more light.
So far I've narrowed down to T8 and T5 fluorescent fixtures. T8's are more affordable upfront as well as the cost of bulbs but they say T5's are 40% brighter.
Anyone have some experience with these two?

[moparguy01]

I've got t8's in my garage and love them. Then again I have 6 two bulb fixtures over 2 of the 3 stall in my garage that I work in. It's bright!

[Domino]

my electricians recommended 4' T5 x 6  All I can say is wow.  Only 4 fixtures and you need sunglasses in there.  30x40x14

[66FBCharger]

Domino,
Looks like you have plenty of light! Do you have any problems with shadows? I have a 36x24 3 car garage that I will be putting lighting fixtures in shortly. Approx. what do the T5 fixtures and bulbs cost? How did you orient the fixtures themselves? I want to make sure that I can get light all around the cars and would like to some how be able to get some light under the open hood. maybe I can angle the fixture towards the car?

[Domino]

Looks like you have plenty of light! Do you have any problems with shadows? Not really, paint the walls with semigloss white to reflect the light, plus it wipes up easier.

what do the T5 fixtures and bulbs cost? try here just for example
http://www.electricalmarketplace.com/6-Lamp-T5-Hi-Efficiency-Fluorescent-High-Bay-Lamps-Included-P1305.aspx

How did you orient the fixtures themselves? It's really up to you and how you think you'll use your shop.  But think about the overhead door(s) being up and blocking light, I decided I'd not really have my door up at night because of flying bugs coming in, so I spaced the fixtures based on the door down.  If I did it again, I would use qty 6 of the 4 bulb fixtures and put the outside ones closer to the side walls with two down the center.

maybe I can angle the fixture towards the car?  A lot of light bounces around with white walls and a high ceiling, but I also keep a cheap walmart drop light handy.  It's very bright in there, it's always the first comment I hear from people.  If you have a low ceiling, I'd go with more fixtures and less bulbs per fixture and get cages over the bulbs.

[twodko]

1BAD68,

T5's are a good bet but quality ballasts are key.

[1BAD68]

From what I've read the t8's could have either standard or electronic ballasts and the T5's are all electronic ballast.
I've also read that T5's give off better lighting when mounted up high 14' or better but not so good when they are low, my ceilings only 10'
Sometimes I think I just start overthinking things and make it difficult for myself.

[sunfire69]

Just my opinion but just one type of lighting doesn't work for everything you want to do.....
The T8/T5 lights are great for general lighting say two or three around your garage.......but also think about maybe flood lights mounted lower on the wall on a seperate switch that will shine under your hood......and maybe more direct task lighting over your work bench...again on a seperate switch so it's only there when you need it...I have also seen guys put the single bulb fluorescent fixtures along the wall about 4 feet up...( with a good guard of course) so when they do body work the light is right there on the panel.....Another biggy is the walls....look at that picture those white walls reflect a lot of light...with white semi-gloss or high gloss walls you will need less light..and a gloss finish will wipe down easy ....I also like one or two single incandesent bulbs on a motion detector so as soon as I step into my garage a light pops on....then goes off 10 min after I leave.....no more forgetting the garage light....just food for thought....

[66FBCharger]

sunfire 69,
Great tips! Thanks!

[mauve66]

if you turn around and say goodnight to her as you turn off the light you'll never forget, and she'll be happier knowing you care.........

[bakerhillpins]

Domino,
Looks like you have plenty of light! Do you have any problems with shadows? I have a 36x24 3 car garage that I will be putting lighting fixtures in shortly. Approx.

I have seen it where folks have mounted the light fixtures into the walls and have them on separate switches to help combat down lighting shadows. We have them on the back wall of the Fire Dept but it doesn't work well there for 2 major reasons. 1 - the trucks back up against that wall so most of the light is obscured when the rigs are in there. 2 - we typically work on the sides of the trucks not the rear so the light is in the wrong place.

On the other hand, it works great though when one trucks is pulled out and thus not obscuring the lights behind it. Seems to me it would chew up wall space that might be used for tools. Place them above eye level though.

[dodgeboy67]

go with the t5.... t8 lamps are on the way out....just like the t12......

[1BAD68]

I was just at Menards and they didn't have any T5 fixtures or bulbs, only T12 and T8's whats up with that?

[sunfire69]

The T-5s are being phased out in lieu of the T-8 and T-12 blubs....

[bakerhillpins]

go with the t5.... t8 lamps are on the way out....just like the t12......

The T-5s are being phased out in lieu of the T-8 and T-12 blubs....

[mauve66]

let me know when they figure out which ones are being phased out and i can stop scratching my chin too........................

[1BAD68]

I ended up using T8's.
Menards has a sale, 8' double tandems for 39.00 ea.
Basically a double 8' fixture made up of 4 4' bulbs with elec. ballasts.
I installed 5 of them and its very bright with 20 4' bulbs. Total = $225.00 + tax.

[jb666]

Looks great --- I run those, as well... The best thing I did was hook up 4 sets to occupancy sensors.. They go on when I walk in and out 15 minutes after I walk out.. 

[green69rt]

Just had to throw my two cents in on this.

The more light the better.  I have  2 X 2 car garage with the back as my car shop.  I have eight  4-bulb T8 fixtures in the back for a total of 32 bulbs.  No light problems but I do need a radition badge.  Also when I did my wiring I took a separate 50 amp feed off my main panel and set up a separate box for the garage with all 20 amp circuits, not the 15 amps normally used in a house.  Lots of extra plugs around the walls and plenty of power for all the lights.  Plus a separate 30 amp outlet for my compressor.  Most expensive items were the light fixtures but I just bought them as I could afford them and used all 20 amp romex.

Forgot to say that the front of the garage (where I park my cars) has four 4-bulb T8 fixtures and it works just fine for oil changes and routine maintenance.  Hope this helps.

[green69rt]

Forgot to say something about the diff between T5 and T8.  Check the lumins on the package, it will tell you which is brighter but also compare lumins per watt, I think the T5s are 40 watt and the T8 are 32 watt so you would expect the T5s to be brighter but use more electricity.

[1BAD68]

Looks great --- I run those, as well... The best thing I did was hook up 4 sets to occupancy sensors.. They go on when I walk in and out 15 minutes after I walk out.. 

Thats a good idea.
I wired the one above the garage door rail to the garage door opener.
So I can flip that one on if I'm just grabbing a tool quick or when the door is activated.

[471_Magnum]

The T-5s are being phased out in lieu of the T-8 and T-12 blubs....

No. T12s are being phased out, as are magnetic ballasts.

The "5" "8" and "12" represent the respective diameter of the lamp in 1/8ths of an inch. "T" is the lamp configuration, in this case TUBE.

I've literally been to school on this stuff. One of my many job responsibilities is spec'ing out industrial lighting and energy efficient retrofits.

T5s are not common for residential use in North America.  They originated in Europe. In North America they are pretty much limited to commercial and industrial use. Hard to find at your local home improvement center. Expect to pay a HUGE premium.

In terms of lumens per watt, T8s are the most efficient. If you're looking for maximum light output though, T5HOs are where it's at.

Unless you're dealing with a 25 ft ceiling, T8s with a quality electronic ballast are the way to go, both in terms of initial investment, and cost of operation.

[A383Wing]

I'm still "old skool" with the fat fluorescent tubes..it's what was in the detached garage when we moved in...the "other red" lights I added over the years

[471_Magnum]

I'm still "old skool" with the fat fluorescent tubes..it's what was in the detached garage when we moved in...the "other red" lights I added over the years

FWIW, I'm still old school as well running four two lamp T12 fixtures in my garage. I installed them in the days before I was "educated" in the finer points of lighting. I do need to update, just to get better light distribution, but I'll probably switch to T8s while I'm at it.

Something else to consider regarding fluorescent that most probably already know: they don't like the cold. If your garage space is consistently cold, you'll need to use incandescent or pulse start metal halide. Neither are anywhere near as efficient as fluorescents though. Who likes to work in a cold garage though....

[A383Wing]

yea..mine don't like the cold either...some won't come on until I turn the heater on and get it warmed up a little bit in there

[maxwellwedge]

The T-5s are being phased out in lieu of the T-8 and T-12 blubs....

Other way around.

After 33 years in the lighting business I say T5 HO - 54watt - Great in the cold as well. They have a great "program start" feature as well. Have almost half my shop converted so far.

[sunfire69]

OOps ...your right...
....