Garage Lighting Options
Discussion
Hi there need a bit of help with garage lighting.
I have built myself a 3 car garage aprox 9.5 meters by 6 meters, just at the stage now of 1st fix for the electric cables and looking at lighting.
The garage is what you would call a "posh garage" ceramic tiled floor, plastered walls etc. Now 3 strip lights per bay would do but would look naff but i know they would do the job very well.
I have looked at recessed / down lighting like what you have in the showrooms and shops, these are what i call bean can ones something like this http://www.tlc-direct.co.uk/Products/GLPL218E.html
I have no experience with these but i would guess i would need around 15 of them ? I am concerned they would just focus the light down on to the floor rather than out like strip lights.
Also i think i read on here that someone had used security type LED lights recessed in the roof like these http://www.tlc-direct.co.uk/Products/GLFL30CW.html I have seen them cheaper but just to give you a idea of the type of light.
So whats your thoughts ?? any input would be good
I have built myself a 3 car garage aprox 9.5 meters by 6 meters, just at the stage now of 1st fix for the electric cables and looking at lighting.
The garage is what you would call a "posh garage" ceramic tiled floor, plastered walls etc. Now 3 strip lights per bay would do but would look naff but i know they would do the job very well.
I have looked at recessed / down lighting like what you have in the showrooms and shops, these are what i call bean can ones something like this http://www.tlc-direct.co.uk/Products/GLPL218E.html
I have no experience with these but i would guess i would need around 15 of them ? I am concerned they would just focus the light down on to the floor rather than out like strip lights.
Also i think i read on here that someone had used security type LED lights recessed in the roof like these http://www.tlc-direct.co.uk/Products/GLFL30CW.html I have seen them cheaper but just to give you a idea of the type of light.
So whats your thoughts ?? any input would be good
I have flourescent tubes in mine and they look a bit naff i suppose but the lighting is fine. . . i have halogen down lighters over my bench as i found these at a house clearance, but to be honest the light isnt as good. You tend to get a lot of shadow as i guess the light beam is narrow. Perhaps i need more of them but i will go for tubes next time.
I re call the inspection areas on the RR factory(saw it on TV) factory being made up tubes, albeit plenty of them, so perhaps they are better than spots.
Guess it might depend on what your doing, my garage see's me spray a car, tinker with the oily bits and all sorts, but you have more space than me so perhaps you could have a work area (tubes) and a neat and tidy bit (spots)
I re call the inspection areas on the RR factory(saw it on TV) factory being made up tubes, albeit plenty of them, so perhaps they are better than spots.
Guess it might depend on what your doing, my garage see's me spray a car, tinker with the oily bits and all sorts, but you have more space than me so perhaps you could have a work area (tubes) and a neat and tidy bit (spots)
The issue is not so much having light, as opposed to not having shadows. Whilst strip lights can/do look a bit naff, the modern tubes and starters do a very good job of throwing light about. In my 3m x 7m workshop/garage, I've got roughly 500W of strip lighting, and it's plenty. Granted, it may not be the look you're after but it is nice and bright! 
chippy348 said:
Hi there need a bit of help with garage lighting.
So whats your thoughts ?? any input would be good
Flat LED panels that could be surface mounted? Our latest version is just 8.5mm thick, 40W but shoves out over 3000 lumens and the LUX over distance is outstanding. If you're looking for a posh finish these could work really well. So whats your thoughts ?? any input would be good
Snake the Sniper said:
The issue is not so much having light, as opposed to not having shadows. Whilst strip lights can/do look a bit naff, the modern tubes and starters do a very good job of throwing light about. In my 3m x 7m workshop/garage, I've got roughly 500W of strip lighting, and it's plenty. Granted, it may not be the look you're after but it is nice and bright!
nice midget project there. . .E36GUY said:
Flat LED panels that could be surface mounted? Our latest version is just 8.5mm thick, 40W but shoves out over 3000 lumens and the LUX over distance is outstanding. If you're looking for a posh finish these could work really well.
Oooh looks good proposition over strip lights, how many & how much to cover a 20 x 22 dbl garage, getting it fitted out over next couple of months and was originally going strip lights benters said:
I have flourescent tubes in mine and they look a bit naff i suppose but the lighting is fine. . . i have halogen down lighters over my bench as i found these at a house clearance, but to be honest the light isnt as good. You tend to get a lot of shadow as i guess the light beam is narrow. Perhaps i need more of them but i will go for tubes next time.
I re call the inspection areas on the RR factory(saw it on TV) factory being made up tubes, albeit plenty of them, so perhaps they are better than spots.
Guess it might depend on what your doing, my garage see's me spray a car, tinker with the oily bits and all sorts, but you have more space than me so perhaps you could have a work area (tubes) and a neat and tidy bit (spots)
Thanks for the Reply, i have seen similar multi tube set ups in the Morgan factory in there paint inspection area. I re call the inspection areas on the RR factory(saw it on TV) factory being made up tubes, albeit plenty of them, so perhaps they are better than spots.
Guess it might depend on what your doing, my garage see's me spray a car, tinker with the oily bits and all sorts, but you have more space than me so perhaps you could have a work area (tubes) and a neat and tidy bit (spots)
In regards to what i will be doing in there, general tinkering / repairs etc. Along the back wall (9.5 meters long)i will have the combination of work benches, sink with water heater above for washing cars and dirty hands etc and wall cupboards so plan to have down lights like you have along with lights under the cupboards.
Snake the Sniper said:
The issue is not so much having light, as opposed to not having shadows. Whilst strip lights can/do look a bit naff, the modern tubes and starters do a very good job of throwing light about. In my 3m x 7m workshop/garage, I've got roughly 500W of strip lighting, and it's plenty. Granted, it may not be the look you're after but it is nice and bright!
Thats the issue i know strip lights work and "throw" the light about but they just look naff stuck on the ceiling and it is the "look i am after" but they still want the light output like you have just hidden Nice workshop by the way
bogie said:
strip lights in IP65 rated covers is what I have...look a bit better than bare tubes, 2 x 70w units are about £50 ish
If i was going for strip lights it would be the covered type ones because as you say the bare tube ones look "bare" and if you accidentally hit them the pop. E36GUY said:
Flat LED panels that could be surface mounted? Our latest version is just 8.5mm thick, 40W but shoves out over 3000 lumens and the LUX over distance is outstanding. If you're looking for a posh finish these could work really well.
They look very good, i did look on your site, how would you surface mount them ? what is the surface mount kit like, also what price are they ?? I suspect they are quite expensive.
I have about a dozen strip lights installed and don't get any problems with shadows. White ceilings and walls to reflect the light helps there too. I also have a small mezzanine area (about 3m x 3m) that I didn't want strip lights sticking out of so I cut in 15 low voltage halogen lights mounted between the joists and they work pretty well too.
E36GUY said:
Flat LED panels that could be surface mounted?
Those do look great, and having just boarded over to create a ceiling I could probably cut them in quite easily. However, the cost per panel and number that I would need would make it pricey. Hmmmm. Will have a think and might try to fit one in over a specific working area with a view to cover the rest at a later date (or when prices drop as the technology progresses?)chippy348 said:
also what price are they ??
I suspect they are quite expensive.
I had a bit of a search around earlier and cheapest I found so far was £114 each, inc. VAT. To properly cover my garage I reckon I'd need about 8 of them so the cost is a bit prohibitive for me at the moment, especially having already sunk funds into the strip lights. They do look like they would look very tidy though, if budget allows.I suspect they are quite expensive.
benters said:
Snake the Sniper said:
'Tis a Sprite. And a ex-Californian one at that. 2stis said:
I had a bit of a search around earlier and cheapest I found so far was £114 each, inc. VAT. To properly cover my garage I reckon I'd need about 8 of them so the cost is a bit prohibitive for me at the moment, especially having already sunk funds into the strip lights. They do look like they would look very tidy though, if budget allows.
I can do better than that but you'll need to email me for prices. 
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