Garage lighting

[88Colter]

Two-car garage with 10’ ceilings. Desperately need to replace my two flouresent fixtures so that I can detail my cars. Recommendations for overhead LED setups?

 

[Marcozi]

First, determine how much light, measured in lumens, are produced by your current set up. If you need more light add 30% to the current lumens figure. Try home depot, Lowes, Mcmaster-Carr.

 

[iahawk]

search led shop lights on Amazon...unlimited choices.

 

[MasterSolenoid]

Check out:
www.bulbs.com

One thing to educate yourself on is the 'K' value of bulbs.
Find the "K' value of your fluorescents and get something similar.

I bought LED's for my basement and the 'K' value is adjusted by a 'switch' on the bulbs.

 

[JWC86]

I bought 8 of the cheapest T4 fixtures from Home Depot, then bought the LED Tubes from Costco

Two strips of 4 x 4ft in my 22 x 24ft garage seems about right. 12ft ceilings.

If your detailing everyday I would add lights to the walls as well.

 

[MasterSolenoid]

I bought 8 of the cheapest T4 fixtures from Home Depot, then bought the LED Tubes from Costco

Good idea.
I would NOT buy fixtures that you can NOT change the bulbs.
As in, when the bulb stops working, you throw the whole fixture away.

 

[JWC86]

Good idea.
I would NOT buy fixtures that you can NOT change the bulbs.
As in, when the bulb stops working, you throw the whole fixture away.

Exactly!

Its been about 8-9 years now and no problems and nice to know I can just get new tubes if one goes out.

 

[Arc]

Put a few led strips on the wall too. It takes away all the shadows.

 

[JTK]

Does the current location of the lighting totally work for you or do you want to change it up?

Like mentioned, lighting placed around the perimeter (if possible), could benefit you.

You fellas mentioning to only get LED fixtures with replaceable "bulbs", those don't exist unless you buy incandescent or fluorescent fixtures to retrofit with LED lamps, which is kind of silly to do right out of the gate IMO.

 

[JWC86]

You fellas mentioning to only get LED fixtures with replaceable "bulbs", those don't exist unless you buy incandescent or fluorescent fixtures to retrofit with LED lamps, which is kind of silly to do right out of the gate IMO.

I don't mean this in a confrontational way, just want to know why that would be silly?

 

[awguy]

Harbor Freight sells LED garage lights. 10,000 lumens at $49.99 each. Four tubes each light fixture.

I bought four. They can be daisy chained also. Really bright. I took my old lights, florescent fixtures, and mounted them around a perimeter so I could do car detailing in the garage.

https://www.harborfreight.com/light...amond-plate-led-hanging-shop-light-56780.html

 

[JTK]

I don't mean this in a confrontational way, just want to know why that would be silly?

i should have elaborated better. What I meant was if you are adding new fixtures, I don't see the point in installing a new fluorescent or incandescent fixture for the purpose of putting LED lamps in them. That is the only way you can have an "LED" fixture with replacable bulbs.

 

[eljefino]

I got some 4-foot long fluorescent tube shaped LED lights super cheap online, it was like a six-pak of two-tube fixtures for $40.

Assuming a 2-car garage, arrange them like an "E" with tubes down the walls, middle, and far wall from the doors. This'll get down into the shadows better than bulbs directly over the cars.

Don't be afraid to light it up like a photography studio, more is better and an absurd amount better still, particularly if you have normal grey concrete floors and unpainted wood walls that don't reflect very well.

 

[Tempest1]

Harbor Freight sells LED garage lights. 10,000 lumens at $49.99 each. Four tubes each light fixture.

I bought four. They can be daisy chained also. Really bright. I took my old lights, florescent fixtures, and mounted them around a perimeter so I could do car detailing in the garage.

https://www.harborfreight.com/light...amond-plate-led-hanging-shop-light-56780.html

I put 6 of these in a 2 car garage and it will give you a tan... They each have pull chains so they can be individually turned off.

They often go on sale for 35 or 40% off if you can wait. So far so good.

 

[Michigangster]

I bought these on sale, I daisy chained 3 pairs together for a total of 6 lights, same size garage as you, they have worked well for me the last four years.
I was also skeptical about a fixture where you can't replace the lights, but LED bulbs last way longer than other types of bulbs.

 

[GaryMX5]

I replaced all my 4' fluorescents (garage and basement) with 4 foot LED's from Costco. Last ones I got were 29.99 or so for a pair of fixtures. Nice bright light @ 4000 degrees so. I personally don't like anything cooler (higher temp,) Good color rendering at that temp. as well.

 

[97prizm]

Two-car garage with 10’ ceilings. Desperately need to replace my two flouresent fixtures so that I can detail my cars. Recommendations for overhead LED setups?

I'm sure someone makes a lightning calculator. How many lumens from your current setup? Is that enough? What Kelvin temp are your fluorescent bulbs 4100k, 5000k, 6500k? I like between 5000-6000k fluorescent bulbs as if they are full spectrum create even natural colors.

 

[GaryMX5]

I'm sure someone makes a lightning calculator. How many lumens from your current setup? Is that enough? What Kelvin temp are your fluorescent bulbs 4100k, 5000k, 6500k? I like between 5000-6000k fluorescent bulbs as if they are full spectrum create even natural colors.

At some point it seems like the color rendering index (CRI) should be upgraded or adjusted to reflect modern lighting. CRI (100) index has been based on incandescent lighting and 2700 degrees seemingly forever!