Low-level garage lighting for spannering

[Jakg]

I've got a double garage with 6x20w LED battens in the ceiling



The problem is that while that light above is great when you want to work on something like a saw, as soon as you put a big car in there a lot of that light isn't getting where you want it.

Obviously you can just put a worklight underneath, but I'm wondering if there's a more permanent solution?



E.G. if you want to work inside a wheel arch you could do with more light inside the wheel well or underneath



I was thinking about some LED bulkhead lights on the brick walls at either end in the corner, at about wheel-centre-cap height.

Unfortunately the racking is stopping anything on either side.

Anyone tried anything else?

[Steve H]

Even if you put lights on the side walls you will create a shadow when looking into that wheel arch.

A head torch the best answer I have found.

https://ledlenser.co.uk/collections/hf-series

[Lefty]

I use a combination of wall mounted LED battens and a flexi worklight thing.

[motco]

Steve H said:

Even if you put lights on the side walls you will create a shadow when looking into that wheel arch.

A head torch the best answer I have found.

https://ledlenser.co.uk/collections/hf-series

I agree with a headlight being by far the best solution but I respectfully suggest Blukar as being cheap enough to be almost expendable, and it's verry good too.

[Griffith4ever]

I switched from using a magnetic led hand lamp, which never stays where you put it and is hopeless on my motorbike as its all alloy, to a chunky work light that takes drill batteries. This way the weight of the battery keeps it in place (on floor, angled). I just plop it on the floor and angle it up.

https://uk.ryobitools.eu/power-tools/lighting/r18a...

[Alias218]

Mains powered lead lamp. Used in workshops across the world. They come with a spool of cable and usually a hook and/or magnet so you can place them in your location of choosing. Something like this:

Lead Lamp

You can get battery powered ones too though I’d always go for a mains one for indefinite longevity.

[Griffith4ever]

I've found lead lamps and magnet lamps just end up shining in the wrong place or, in your face. Hence the move to one you put on the floor and angle.

[Belle427]

Griffith4ever said:

I switched from using a magnetic led hand lamp, which never stays where you put it and is hopeless on my motorbike as its all alloy, to a chunky work light that takes drill batteries. This way the weight of the battery keeps it in place (on floor, angled). I just plop it on the floor and angle it up.

https://uk.ryobitools.eu/power-tools/lighting/r18a...

I have the folding double version and it's a great bit of kit.
Great for wheel arch work and underneath too.

[droopsnoot]

Griffith4ever said:

I've found lead lamps and magnet lamps just end up shining in the wrong place or, in your face. Hence the move to one you put on the floor and angle.

I find that with pretty much every kind of light I use - it either shines the wrong way, or just casts a shadow on what I'm trying to work on. I do have a head torch, I must stick some new batteries in it and see why I stopped using it.

[Griffith4ever]

Head torches are indeed great. The chinese ones are like artificial suns (though only good for around 2 hours)

[motco]

Griffith4ever said:

Head torches are indeed great. The chinese ones are like artificial suns (though only good for around 2 hours)

I'm only good for about 2hrs!

[PH5121]

You could get an impact resistant non-corrosive LED batten with a length of flex and a plug top. You could then put it on the floor under the car, lean it up on the wall behind you, or put hooks on the wall at low level onto which it could be fixed.
Giving you flexibility without the expense of having a series of low level lights hard wired on your garage walls.

[BlackZeD]

As above I have a twin LED weatherproof batten with a long lead on it.
I just shove it about where I need it.

[pacenotes]

You need more lights, Not brighter, just more available light.

I'd put one on each beam, Then paint the floor a light color so it bounces the light up under the car.

[motco]

pacenotes said:

You need more lights, Not brighter, just more available light.

I'd put one on each beam, Then paint the floor a light color so it bounces the light up under the car.

True! One of the worst times to try to look down into the depths of the engine compartment is in bright sunlight outdoors.

[biggiles]

Griffith4ever said:

chunky work light that takes drill batteries. This way the weight of the battery keeps it in place (on floor, angled). I just plop it on the floor and angle it up.

I have two of the Makita angled ones - very handy. Every maker sells them, "two should be enough for anybody". Drill batteries are always charged, and you can put the lights wherever you want.

[Austin_Metro]

biggiles said:

I have two of the Makita angled ones - very handy. Every maker sells them, "two should be enough for anybody". Drill batteries are always charged, and you can put the lights wherever you want.

Another vote for these. Two would provide loads of light.

[Byker28i]

I had one of the LED batten lights turn up broken so turned it into an inspection lamp. These are brilliant for exactly what you want as they are low profile. Just don't buy a really long one if you want to put it say inside the wheel well.

Cool as well, none of the issues of the old halogen work lights and heat

[Jakg]

Added a pair of lights above the toolboxes / workbench and painted all the walls.

Bought some extra lights, mocked up with a plugtop for now and put at floor level



Way too bright to be on all the time so would have to be individually switched.

Jacked a car up to see if it made a difference on vs off:





Certainly better, not sure about the wheel well situation though.

Edited by Jakg on Tuesday 20th February 16:51

[randlemarcus]

Polished steel tiles