I had doublechecked my shop lighting after this.
My original design put 2x 4 foot tubes on every rafter. That's I believe 24" centers. But my price point was $5 per fixture for that since I would need about 30, and I think I found fixtures for $10 each at best. So I went every other rafter. Basically think 2 car garage. Over each car space, post 5x light fixtures every few feet, total of 10x fixtures. Each fixture holds 2x 4 foot fluorescent tubes. Because I got in when T12's were being shut out, I got them for a dollar a piece. I mix light color because it more closely mimics real daylight on stains and finishes.
to cover the sides of the shop I put in 4x more fixures. 3x on one side and 1x in the front because that's where the equipment was. Other side can get a little darker because it's wood storage, I don't need to brightly light that.
With 28 4 foot tubes, it comes out to 212 lumens per square foot. This is a little big higher than the target 175 lumens, but again, cannot cast a shadow, and can always see what I am doing no matter where the work is, how hunched over a part I am, etc etc etc.
Very frustrating to shade your work because you bought ONE task light and hung it over your bench, then needed to look top down over something. May as well be working in the dark.
(I love my shop)
My original design put 2x 4 foot tubes on every rafter. That's I believe 24" centers. But my price point was $5 per fixture for that since I would need about 30, and I think I found fixtures for $10 each at best. So I went every other rafter. Basically think 2 car garage. Over each car space, post 5x light fixtures every few feet, total of 10x fixtures. Each fixture holds 2x 4 foot fluorescent tubes. Because I got in when T12's were being shut out, I got them for a dollar a piece. I mix light color because it more closely mimics real daylight on stains and finishes.
to cover the sides of the shop I put in 4x more fixures. 3x on one side and 1x in the front because that's where the equipment was. Other side can get a little darker because it's wood storage, I don't need to brightly light that.
With 28 4 foot tubes, it comes out to 212 lumens per square foot. This is a little big higher than the target 175 lumens, but again, cannot cast a shadow, and can always see what I am doing no matter where the work is, how hunched over a part I am, etc etc etc.
Very frustrating to shade your work because you bought ONE task light and hung it over your bench, then needed to look top down over something. May as well be working in the dark.
(I love my shop)



Bob B.
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