chodosh Posted November 11, 2019 Share Posted November 11, 2019 I am making good progress with a decent size extension at home. Unfortunately I have lost a metre and a half off the garage, but its still about 7 metres long so adequate space for a car and tools. Nice thing is that the overall height will raise to just under 3m so I am also considering a parking lift - perhaps a stretch but would be nice to keep the Mini and the Corvette in the garage. On the consideration of good working light, I am having a skylight fitted at the front end of the garage to get some daylight but really have no idea of what I should be looking at for lighting wise. I would like to guess that 4 long strip lights would be appropriate with them mounted perpendicular to the garage door in 2 rows of 2 with independent switching for near and far. What lights have people fitted? Traditional fluorescent tubes? LED? where have you sources from? Screwfix? Amazon? feedback welcome. This will be my man cave - need to get it right. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jevvy Posted November 11, 2019 Share Posted November 11, 2019 Garage sounds fab, nice work. Got to be LED for lights, I have these in my garage and they are great: https://www.tlc-direct.co.uk/Products/RTWPLED25.html I even use them as work lights under the car as they are very robust and I have fitted each one with a 3 pin plug so can be unclipped and used anywhere. You can find cheaper alternatives but the output is often less so make sure you get all the specs and compare apples to apples. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mean in green Posted November 11, 2019 Share Posted November 11, 2019 I would probably go for at least double the amount of lights you think you need, at different heights and switched by a proximity sensor. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mobydick Posted November 11, 2019 Share Posted November 11, 2019 I went for two 5 foot (double tube) fluorescent light fittings from Wickes (in a single garage) and they work really well, give off lots of light, and not expensive. The garage is really bright. However, the best thing I did was paint to walls white with masonry paint - I found this made a big difference given the light is reflected and not just absorbed by the walls. Paint the floor too! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jonny Hart Posted November 11, 2019 Share Posted November 11, 2019 I bought these. Instant, super bright and very light weight. A doddle to put up, two clips and you're done. Light is yellow/white, not the nasty blue tint. https://www.screwfix.com/p/lap-twin-5ft-led-batten-white-60w-5600lm/7223v Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Gander Posted November 11, 2019 Share Posted November 11, 2019 I used five foot twin tube LED lights. Beautiful white bright light and economical to use, very pleased with the result. David Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PeterK Posted November 11, 2019 Share Posted November 11, 2019 I used fluro tubes until I started spraying. Then I swapped to the LED batons that Jonny linked toSent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard Bernau Posted November 12, 2019 Share Posted November 12, 2019 You really can't beat the LED/flouro tubes. My garage is now semi-converted to outdoor games and living and I have lost the tubes due to aesthetics. I also sprayed the ceiling dark grey and painted the walls a mid blue. It looks great and industrial, but you can't see a thing despite having about 600w of lighting (double garage). I had to buy a tripod with 2 x 300w LED floodlights for when I need more light. Detailing places often have tubes on the wall as well as the ceiling if you really want lots of light and ability to see under the car. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
World Citizen Posted November 12, 2019 Share Posted November 12, 2019 4 minutes ago, Richard Bernau said: You really can't beat the LED/flouro tubes. Detailing places often have tubes on the wall as well as the ceiling if you really want lots of light and ability to see under the car. I'm planning to use LED's but panels not strip lights in my shed Undecided for the garage, panels give a more uniform intensity but strip lights are good for looking at light lines on bodywork Great idea with wall lights, low down could work well for under car work Think I'll do some playing with positions before committing Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mean in green Posted November 12, 2019 Share Posted November 12, 2019 Installing at differing heights if the space lends itself to that is a great idea. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jevvy Posted November 12, 2019 Share Posted November 12, 2019 1 hour ago, World Citizen said: Great idea with wall lights, low down could work well for under car work After a bit of experimenting I fitted mine at 45 deg angle in the corner between wall and ceiling all round the work area, seems to throw the light better than mounting them flat against the wall or ceiling. 16 minutes ago, mean in green said: Installing at differing heights if the space lends itself to that is a great idea. Half of the lights I fitted I used adjustable suspension mounts a bit like these (with a 45 deg adapter): https://www.tlc-direct.co.uk/Products/RTWPSK.html A bit flimsy but the few times I've needed light at a different height they have been canny useful. Once you go LED batten you don't go back! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chodosh Posted November 12, 2019 Author Share Posted November 12, 2019 18 minutes ago, jevvy said: After a bit of experimenting I fitted mine at 45 deg angle in the corner between wall and ceiling all round the work area, seems to throw the light better than mounting them flat against the wall or ceiling. Half of the lights I fitted I used adjustable suspension mounts a bit like these (with a 45 deg adapter): https://www.tlc-direct.co.uk/Products/RTWPSK.html A bit flimsy but the few times I've needed light at a different height they have been canny useful. Once you go LED batten you don't go back! Who thought lighting could be so interesting?? I like the Idea of mounting them in the corners. If I fit a 2 post lift, keeping the ceiling clear of potential obstructions is also something I am trying to keep in mind (aside from the whopping great lump of steel!!). Did you just mount them to some MDF with some kind of brackets ? At the moment the walls are simple brickwork - would painting them make much of a difference with light reflection? I am leaning towards 5 battens. 2 x 2 and one at a right angle facing inwards from the roller door. That should be plenty as the garage is 3.5 metres wide and 7ish metres long. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phill Posted November 12, 2019 Share Posted November 12, 2019 8 minutes ago, chodosh said: Who thought lighting could be so interesting?? That's debatable isn't it Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
World Citizen Posted November 12, 2019 Share Posted November 12, 2019 21 minutes ago, Phill said: That's debatable isn't it Illuminating topic Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sopor Posted November 12, 2019 Share Posted November 12, 2019 1 hour ago, chodosh said: At the moment the walls are simple brickwork - would painting them make much of a difference with light reflection? Yes - white masonry paint will make a huge difference in the brightness of the garage. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
saxon46 Posted November 12, 2019 Share Posted November 12, 2019 White masonary paint and led strip lights,both of which I bought from screwfix, a vast improvement on the regular florescent lighting Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr Rock Posted November 12, 2019 Share Posted November 12, 2019 On entering the garage, the IBer couldn’t see a damn thing.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Busybee Posted November 12, 2019 Share Posted November 12, 2019 I’ve just bought 10 of these. Very light. Super bright and only £7 ish each. Fixing clips are useless but I’m installing on steel purlins so white zip ties on the white ends to hold them up. Not finished installing yet but I’ve hooked one up and it’s a great light https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ebay.co.uk%2Fulk%2Fitm%2F163868073660 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Busybee Posted November 17, 2019 Share Posted November 17, 2019 Fitted 8 out of the 10 leds I bought today. Great light from them. Good enough to detail by at night Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard Bernau Posted November 18, 2019 Share Posted November 18, 2019 Looks good - though I would say that I think I need more lights... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Busybee Posted November 18, 2019 Share Posted November 18, 2019 6 minutes ago, Richard Bernau said: Looks good - though I would say that I think I need more lights... Can't argue Rich. Thing of beauty. The Led strip lights I bought were cheap as chips. Under £7 a batten and quite bright. They're not industrial quality but at that price, who cares. Fitting on a flat surface might not be so easy as the clips are useless. Luckily, I was fixing to purlins so drilled holes for cables and am zip tying then on using another couple of holes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard Bernau Posted November 18, 2019 Share Posted November 18, 2019 I have just ordered 4 similar 4 foot lights, which should be fine for one side of the garage. I only need one side with car appropriate lighting and can fix them and part hide them among the beams so the industrial warehouse aesthetic is not spoiled too much. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wingnonut Posted November 18, 2019 Share Posted November 18, 2019 Nice big garage there Haith! You need some more cars in there 😋 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Busybee Posted November 18, 2019 Share Posted November 18, 2019 3 minutes ago, Wingnonut said: Nice big garage there Haith! You need some more cars in there 😋 Lol Thanks. It's not really my garage Rich. I've pinched a bit from our warehouse to feed my car obsession. When I retire though, mine all mine - unless the Mrs has her way and we end up in France that is. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fxm911 Posted November 10, 2020 Share Posted November 10, 2020 Old topic but wanted to thank Busybee as just had mezzanine floor put in workshop so needed some light underneath. Looked at lots of options, prices etc and finally decided to go with the ones you fitted. Result is great, these are so cheap to buy, really not worth debating going for something else as the light they put out is excellent. Fitted mine in 3 different zones/separate switches, (4 above the car, 2 on side columns and 3 above work area) as don't always want them on all at once. No lights / only side column lights / all on. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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