Shop Lighting

[james13242]

While in between houses and currently renting, I am about to start renting shop space. It is a pretty small bay (12x35) with a 12x10 storage area behind that. Current lighting is in the form of two standard light bulb fixtures. I know going into the deal that I am going to have to hang some fluorescent fixtures. Since I am renting I dont want to drop a ton of money on the project. Is there a general rule of thumb that works well for determining the amount of lighting for a given space?

[Pook]

put lights were you need them most. over the work areas, your bench etc

How high are the cielings? If its a full height warehouse you could go with some 400w HPS high bays, they through a ot of light and are cheaper to run when comparing there output to a flourescent.

[Gummi Bear]

For simplicity's sake, I'd stick with fluorescent fixtures.

Most shop spaces have a 12-18' ceiling height, and even a low bay fixture isn't particularly effective, even less efficient at that lighting distribution level. To do an effective lighting system using common HID fixtures, ceiling heights need to be 20' or more.

Your description tells me that your space is a long rectangle, for a nice amount of light to work with, I'd put 5-6 of the 8' fixtures in there. I'd orient them crossways, not a long line (does that make sense?)

Also - paint the area. Before you move all of your junk in, put a coat of fresh white paint on the walls, and the ceiling if you can. This will make a dramatic difference in the amount of light.

To keep the cost of lamps down, and make changing and stocking spares easier, I'd do the 8' strips that use 4-4' lamps.

Something like this:
http://www.acuitybrandslighting.com/library/PSG/LL/Fluorescent%20Lighting/Strips-Industrials/Striplights/C.pdf

You can get these fixtures at Home Depot for ~$50 or so a piece.

Toss one more in the storage area, just for a light so you're not stumbling around in the dark.

[roverjohn]

Another idea that is easily removable when you leave is to plug some of those "Y" type bulb adapters into your current sockets and then use CFL bulbs in those sockets. Eack 23 watt CFL puts out the light of a 100 watt incandesent. Dirt cheap, plenty of light, no 60Hz hum,and leaves when you do. You can make very inexpensive reflectors for each bulb out of foil pie tins. If you have a non reflective ceiling these help a lot. Use four CFLs in each of your current sockets and you'll have an amazing amount of light. I've stopped using the 4 and 8 foot bulbs anywhere because it is just too easy to buy three or four ceramic bulb fixtures( $1.97 at Lowes), put them exactly where I need them, and then fill them with CFLs. Here in KC the local utility subsidizes the cost of CFLs so they are pretty cheap.
John..

[james13242]

Good call on the CFL's. I think I may do a combination of the CFLs and overhead tubes as mentioned. The ceiling height is variable as the roof "peaks" near the rear of the bay and is non reflective. At the lowest point it is about 14' and at the heighest about 30'. With them oriented crossways and using the existing fixtures that are on the wall in the center of the bays with Y'ed CFLs I think that may cut back on the need for as many overheads.