estesbubba Posted August 28, 2014 Report Share Posted August 28, 2014 I got power connected to my new shop yesterday and have a 4 day weekend coming up so hopefully getting a lot done on the inside. I need to figure out my lighting soon so I can run the wires for it. Any suggestions for how many lights, what type of lights, and layout? Here is a rough idea of my shop layout, but I want consistent light throughout the shop, so it probably doesn't matter. Also, how many switches should I do even if all of them would run on one breaker? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Llama Posted August 28, 2014 Report Share Posted August 28, 2014 Most importantly, and you probably know, but keep the lights on their own circuit. You can use more than one breaker for this of you want to, but I don't see an advantage. Unless, you want to have the lights on two breakers just incase one pops for some reason. Just to be safe. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wdwerker Posted August 28, 2014 Report Share Posted August 28, 2014 All the lights in my 24 x 60 shop are on one circuit with 2 three way switches at the front and back door. My shop used to be a photography studio and having all the walls and ceiling painted white helps a lot with the lighting. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
..Kev Posted August 28, 2014 Report Share Posted August 28, 2014 Are you planning on putting up a ceiling? Are you planning to close up the walls? The reason for the questions is that these things will effect your lighting as in how many, how far apart, etc. When I did my recording studio, I had a lighting expert come in, evaluate the space, offer suggestions, and then of course, he offered to do the work. I chose to do the work myself and save a bundle of money. I think his services cost me about 100 bucks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
estesbubba Posted August 28, 2014 Author Report Share Posted August 28, 2014 It will have a 10' ceiling and painted OSB for the walls and ceiling. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
..Kev Posted August 28, 2014 Report Share Posted August 28, 2014 So, you'll need to keep that in mind as you set up lighting. The reflection from those surfaces will most likely mean you'll need fewer fixtures. That's where a real lighting expert earns their money! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wtnhighlander Posted August 28, 2014 Report Share Posted August 28, 2014 Pay attention to the color temperature and color rendering index of the lights you choose. Lights with a higher color temp let you see more with less fixtures, as they are closer to sunlight. Many find them harsh for in home use, but great for a work space. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tim0625 Posted August 31, 2014 Report Share Posted August 31, 2014 You may need to get up with Vic Hubbard on this forum. He's a lighting guru. He said recently he spends a lot of time lately on facebook so you might have go there and flush him out. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
estesbubba Posted September 1, 2014 Author Report Share Posted September 1, 2014 You may need to get up with Vic Hubbard on this forum. He's a lighting guru. He said recently he spends a lot of time lately on facebook so you might have go there and flush him out. I've tried contacting Vic both here and FB with no luck. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tim0625 Posted September 1, 2014 Report Share Posted September 1, 2014 MARC!!!!!! PUT UP THE BAT SIGNAL AND RETRIEVE VIC......WE NEED'EM!!! He is wayward...our little Tumbleworks buddy is out with those new friends updating status' and such.....I hope the Arizona sun hasn't fried him. Y'all KNOW that place is too hot anyway. It's even too hot for Zombies! Have you ever seen Zombies walking among the cacti? Nope....even the Zombies won't go there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
estesbubba Posted September 5, 2014 Author Report Share Posted September 5, 2014 I'm thinking of going with 8 of these strips which are 8' HO with 4 lights. They put out 12,880 lumens which would put me at 94 lumens per sq/ft. With painted walls and ceiling I think that should be plenty bright. What do you guys think? Should I space them equally on all 4 sides or less gap by the walls? http://www.homedepot.com/p/Lithonia-Lighting-Tandem-4-Light-White-Fluorescent-Strip-Light-TUNS-2-32-MVOLT-1-4-GEBHL/202193181 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wtnhighlander Posted September 5, 2014 Report Share Posted September 5, 2014 I think your future is so bright, you'll have to wear shades! 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tim0625 Posted September 6, 2014 Report Share Posted September 6, 2014 Mike did you read the reviews on this light on the HD site? Looks like you're in for a lot of frustration but if you can overcome the design issues and lack of instructions, it seems this will light your shop pretty well. They do have a tec dept. that you can call from the first review. Tec could also advise on spacing. You've come this far and spent a lot of money, make sure you have more than enough lighting for the eyes that age and need a little more light. Tyme's Dustless Shop is a two part video where a guy gives a tour of his shop. It's somewhat of a big Laguna commercial but at the 3:05 mark of the first video, he discusses his lighting. He has researched it thoroughly and his idea of separate switches for the lights to work in a specific zone is a good idea. Heck, the two videos are something anyone should watch who has a shop or is setting up a shop. He has so completely thought through everything, anyone can get a ton of ideas for your own shop. I watch them again and again for ideas. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
drzaius Posted September 8, 2014 Report Share Posted September 8, 2014 I used 8 of the 4 lamp, 8' fixtures similar to the HD items you linked to. My shop is 23' x 25' & the light is great. The lamps are Philips TL950s, which have 5000K color temp & are very high CRI, higher than the TL850s. The high CRI is important when it comes to choosing stain & paint colors. To light a shop of your size to what I thing is an acceptable level, your'e going to need more than 1 circuit. I've got all the fluorescents on 1 switch & 4 keyless fixtures on another. It's also a garage & I don't want to have to turn the fluorescents on every time I go out there. The fixtures themselves are cheaply made, but if you use all the screws to hold the ends together, then by the time they are installed on the ceiling they are just fine. It is important to install wire guards though. My ceiling is just under 10', but I manage to whack a fixture every year or 2 & they save me from a glass shower. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
estesbubba Posted September 20, 2014 Author Report Share Posted September 20, 2014 I think I'm going to do 10 of the 8' fixtures instead of 8. I just hate to put them up, paint the walls and ceiling, then find out not enough light. If that happens then I'll have to climb in the rafters above the enclosed ceiling and change all the wires. I would rather have too much light than too little since I'm in my 40's. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tim0625 Posted September 20, 2014 Report Share Posted September 20, 2014 10 years from now, you'll be in your 50s and hear it from someone who is there, you'll be glad you did. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
estesbubba Posted September 22, 2014 Author Report Share Posted September 22, 2014 Put up two of the 8' 4-lamp high output T8 strips from HD and they are bright. No instructions come with these lights but they are pretty straightforward to install. Now I can work out there without using the blinding portable halogen lights. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tim0625 Posted September 22, 2014 Report Share Posted September 22, 2014 Mike, there's something you may want to consider. Have your lights on two switches. Either have them by sides of the shop or have one switch controlling a light toward the back and one toward the front. The thinking is if you want to go into the shop in the dark just to retrieve something, you don't have to fire up the entire shop of lights. i have mine by sides and it's nice just to poke your head in and grab something and only turn on one side. #2...when the first large power tool gets plugged in....that's the moment we all wait for....need a picture. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
estesbubba Posted September 23, 2014 Author Report Share Posted September 23, 2014 Tim I have 2 switches for the lights. That 12-2 wire is a pain to work with so I went with 2 boxes for more room. I also have had my new SawStop in the shop for about a month and use it to test each 220 outlet. I have yet to cut anything with it as I'm waiting for overhead lights to see well to make all the adjustments. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
..Kev Posted September 23, 2014 Report Share Posted September 23, 2014 That is really looking awesome! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wdwerker Posted September 23, 2014 Report Share Posted September 23, 2014 Woodshop porn ! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tim0625 Posted September 23, 2014 Report Share Posted September 23, 2014 IT IS OFFICIAL!!! WE HAVE POWER TOOLS....IT....IS....A SHOP!!!! Man it's coming along and looking good. I'm with you on the 12/2. It's a pain. My mind often goes to '14/2 is nice to work with and is probably good enough for this or that but I'm chicken. I don't know loads very well so I over engineer and just let the correct sized breaker do it's thing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
estesbubba Posted September 23, 2014 Author Report Share Posted September 23, 2014 So here is the light layout I'm going with using this tool: http://www.visual-3d.com/tools/interior/default.aspx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wdwerker Posted September 23, 2014 Report Share Posted September 23, 2014 Looks logical to me. I have added infill and task lighting using those architects spring arm fixtures from IKEA with a exterior LED spotlight bulb. I had to replace a few springs cause the LED bulbs are heavy. They let me get bright light wherever I need it to see a cut line or a raking light to see sanding or finish flaws. You can mount the base for the fixture with the included clamp or screw it to a surface or wall. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
..Kev Posted September 23, 2014 Report Share Posted September 23, 2014 Like Steve, I too have added some task lighting here and there. Most notably on the bandsaw and the lathe. Your lighting plan looks solid! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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