LED v.s. Fluorescent lights in the garage

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What kind of lights do you use on the ceiling of your garage ?

I live in Mid Michigan and have an unheated garage* (remember that part for later)

I want to add some lights for the overhead. I would roughly say it's about 10ft up to the ceiling.

But when I was looking at a variety of lights at my local Home Depot, I noticed there was quite a varitey, for the garage.

Some were 2 bulb, some were 4 ... some seemed much brighter than others.

and back to my colder Michigan Winters - are some better in colder climates than others ?

The one I liked the best had 4 lights / seemed the brightest.

I have an electrical outlet already up there, so I could plug them in, or have my Electrical buddy, hard wire them in (so if I wanted to go with some High-output lamps, I think that would be an option.)

My garage is rectangular shaped

Roughly 1 and a 1/2 car deep

I usually pull straight in because the garage door comes in and up, so the part of the ceiling is blocked ...

The work bench is at the end of the garage (roughly where my front bumper of the car would be if I pulled in ... no where close to the actual garage door)

Want something more than a drop light on a retractable cord


thanks for the thoughts ...
 
Fluorescent lights ARE somewhat temperature dependent. If it's cold enough in the garage, they may never come up to temp and not be as bright as you might want. They can warm up if they're in a reflector that traps hot air.

In my basement, we have some BR-style reflector compact fluorescents and they are DIM when I first turn them on --and that is conditioned space, so it's probably mid-to-low 60s at startup. They come up to temp in a couple minutes max, but they are in ceiling plenum.

Given unlimited budget, I would string a few long strips of adhesive-backed LED light strips all over the place and let them do the heavy lifting. They are temperature stable, vibration insensitive, and will last for a very long time.

I have these in my kitchen, literally stuck on the underside of the cabinets and they are exceptionally bright.

Ubflex2-370x300.jpg

Ultra Bright Flexible Strip- Prices Starting at $7.00

They make workshop lighting as well:
Garage and Workshop LED Lighting | Inspired LED
 
Home depot carried a number of low temp or zero temp lights, I would recommend those as they are cheaper, and easier to get, also go with a fixure that uses 4' T-8 as I believe the T-12 are going to be retired
 
AntC said:
Home depot carried a number of low temp or zero temp lights, I would recommend those as they are cheaper, and easier to get, also go with a fixure that uses 4' T-8 as I believe the T-12 are going to be retired
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:iagree: I have T-8 daylight bulbs and they work from 0 degrees up and have never had a problem with them working. Here is a picture of them.

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In Michigan you should have a Menards. Go there. They have a better selection. I have to $10 two bulb T-8's in my garage with 4100K bulbs. Daylights are too blue and the 4100 gives out more light any way. T-8 fluorescents, like stated before will be operational at 0 degrees due to electronic ballasts. So the cold will never give you a fit even in the cold winter months. My garage is unheated as well but never gets below 40.
 
I have 12 ceilings in the garage so floresent tubes do a great job lighting everything and the electric bill is cheap to run them.
 
Here's a good thread on garage lighting that is full of useful info Finally a comprehensive review of the best bulbs out there... - Autopia Forums - Auto Detailing & Car Care Discussion Forum

I have two 2 bulb fixtures running lengthwise and two 2 bulb fixturs crosswise so when I pull the car in the center of the garage there is light all around. Then I have 4 100W CFLs in clamp lights that I position on each side of the garage for better lighting on each side of the car. All are 5000K as this is very neutral light--I find the 6500K too blue and the 4100K too yellow. Some may say you need more than this, but I find it plenty of light for routine washing, waxing etc. for the weekend detailer.

When I polish I use a par38 single diode 5000K LED on a photographic light stand.
 
Fill the garage with 4' banks of T-8s. Very inexpensive and effective.
 
If you can spend the bucks go with HO T-5s at 4100k. The AG "Show Car Garage" is lit with T-5s and its like daylight inside. Forget leds with a 10' ceiling, too high.
 
Dear Todd

That's a very tidy and well-lit shop you have there.

You and I have the same pressure washer.
 
I have two 8' tandem T5-HO fixtures in my 20x20x9 garage with 4100K bulbs (8 total), and its like daylight in there!! 40,000 lumens total light output. I've actually had neighbors stop by and ask me about them.

I bought them at Home Depot for a little over $200, with bulbs.
 
erichaley said:
I have two 8' tandem T5-HO fixtures in my 20x20x9 garage with 4100K bulbs (8 total), and its like daylight in there!! 40,000 lumens total light output. I've actually had neighbors stop by and ask me about them.

I bought them at Home Depot for a little over $200, with bulbs.
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Any pics of your lights,it sounds like something I would like.
 
Here are my garage lights like I promised:

Please forgive the mess, I've had a ton going on lately...

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My offset garage/shop is only usefull for motorcycles. Everything else detail wise is under a tarp outside. Power to garage = one heavy duty chord from house to cord reel with a industrial two plug outlet. one outlet to a surge bar the other for teh big fan or what have you. Beer frige and everthing else is run off the surge LOLOL. So for lights just to hang out,, I use little christmass lights. I have a 500Watt spot, clip light and drop light for the rest. LOLOL here is a pic at night after a ride w/ friends:
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As you see the spot does pretty good LOLOL. turn it off and the christmass lights are very relaxing.
 
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