What kind of lights should I put in my shop?

ShineTimeDetail

ShineTimeDetail

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I have lots of florescent lights but Would like to brighten it up even more. The ceilings are high which is why I want brighter lights. I'm not sure of what is an affordable approach to this and which ones work best.

Thanks
Tom!! :xyxthumbs:
 
Are you looking for general lighting or able to do paint correction better?
 
I would say the best you could put in would be those LED tube lights
 
I am going to be doing my garage in my new house in a month or so and would like to hear this as well. Going to need lights to do corrections and general task.
 
If you go with standard 4ft/8ft T8 florescent lights (cheapest solution), the color temp of the bulbs is what makes all the difference. Go with 5500K bulbs, or even 6500K. Some think the 6500K are on the blue side, but it shows true colors better. Going with the cheap 3000-3500k, and they are yellow. Google florescent light temp and you will learn alot!
 
I just replaced the ballast in my 4 ft fluorescent lights today with an electronic ballast and was able to switch to a T8 bulb instead of a T12 bulb. It made a huge difference in my three car garage. I still need more lights in there and will probably put 3 more just like that in in the near future. Not sure if that helps you any but the T8 daylight bulbs are really bright and are supposed to use less electricity.
 
I'm going to buy some metal halide lights. I really need to brighten this garage up! When I shut the garage door I cant see what I'm doing inside. I prob have 25-30 fluorescent lights but its just not enough
 
I saw some interesting lighting on Robert's (Impressions Fine Automotive Detailing Facebook page). He essentially took 8 ft (2 x 4 ft) florescent lamps and mounted them VERTICALLY in some home depot bucket. As he notes, they look like Star Wars light sabers.
 
Thanks Bunky!
Actually they are 8' 4 bulb fixture T8 bulbs
The album has quite a few pics comparing to Brinkman
The nice part is they are portable light and I can direct them where I need them
 
I have lights posted horizontally on the walls but it still just doesn't put the light I want in the shop. I want the light I would have outside, inside. Even with all those lights impressions had still wouldn't be the amount I want. I'm use to doing mobile detailing so I'm use to using sunlight to detail. Even when I am under my canopy up I still have tons of light in the interior. Think of how much light a 1000w parking lot light puts off...that's the kind of light I want.
 
ShineTimeDetail said:
Think of how much light a 1000w parking lot light puts off...that's the kind of light I want.
Click to expand...
-Will the shop's current "electrical system" carry such a load?

-If you're renting this detailing-space...
Who pays for a 'wiring-upgrade'(if needed)/lighting-purchases?

:)

Bob
 
FUNX725 said:
-Will the shop's current "electrical system" carry such a load?

-If you're renting this detailing-space...
Who pays for a 'wiring-upgrade'(if needed)/lighting-purchases?

:)

Bob
Click to expand...

This guy right here would be paying. The shop could supply the power.
 
ShineTimeDetail said:
This guy right here would be paying. The shop could supply the power.
Click to expand...
OK...Then all you gotta do is budget. One way, perhaps:

Your out-of-pocket cost of Light-fixtures = X
...............Number of details...............


:)

Bob
 
FUNX725 said:
OK...Then all you gotta do is budget. One way, perhaps:

Your out-of-pocket cost of Light-fixtures = X
...............Number of details...............


:)

Bob
Click to expand...


I'm pretty sure I already have enough wiring so all I'd need is the lights which aren't too terribly expensive if I get them off Craigslist.
 
You say your ceilings are high. How high? Do your current flourescents have reflectors on the top of them (big metal shield over the top of the fixture)? Also, are you running T8's or T12's? Like stated before, the 6500K Daylights are your best bet in a flourescent. Cost wise the metal halide high bus are not the best choice as far as operation cost. They do give a lot of light but are not the cheapest things to run.
 
JAF06SE said:
You say your ceilings are high. How high? Do your current flourescents have reflectors on the top of them (big metal shield over the top of the fixture)? Also, are you running T8's or T12's? Like stated before, the 6500K Daylights are your best bet in a flourescent. Cost wise the metal halide high bus are not the best choice as far as operation cost. They do give a lot of light but are not the cheapest things to run.
Click to expand...

The lights are prob 15ish ft high. I don't believe the lights have reflectors and I don't know which bulbs are in them.
 
I use high bay lites from Home Depot, 6 t8 day lite bulbs each. I have six of them in a 24x16 shop with 9 foot ceilings. Works very well
 
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