[Firedup6975]

Originally Posted by george kujanski

I replaced 16 4 foot fluorescent tubes with LED tubes, 5000K daylight variety. It is now like daylight in the garage. LED fixtures are the way to go. My lighting is about 350 watts, total.

George

That’s what I’m wanting. Even during the day, if it’s overcast or raining outside, and I have a show the next day, I want to be able to detail the cars well. As well as engine work, body work, anything we need to do inside while the cars are on the lift or just sitting being worked on. Not getting any younger being able to see that great anymore, and once the lighting is up, don’t plan on re doing it.

[Gator67]

We went with a couple rows of LED lights when we built about 2 years ago. Couldn't be happier. This is the only shot I have of the garage at night with the lights on...plenty of light to do anything. When we're just hanging out in the evening (I have a sofa, chairs, TV, ping pong, pinball, darts, etc. on one end), we just use some floor lamps.

[Firedup6975]

Originally Posted by Gator67

We went with a couple rows of LED lights when we built about 2 years ago. Couldn't be happier. This is the only shot I have of the garage at night with the lights on...plenty of light to do anything. When we're just hanging out in the evening (I have a sofa, chairs, TV, ping pong, pinball, darts, etc. on one end), we just use some floor lamps.

Love it!

[Bentwheelbob]

Originally Posted by Gator67

We went with a couple rows of LED lights when we built about 2 years ago. Couldn't be happier. This is the only shot I have of the garage at night with the lights on...plenty of light to do anything. When we're just hanging out in the evening (I have a sofa, chairs, TV, ping pong, pinball, darts, etc. on one end), we just use some floor lamps.

I built my garage before the advent of affordable overhead LED’s so used high end fluorescents instead. However, to accommodate the issue of too much light during informal gatherings or in my case my morning coffee, news and email routine, I wired my overhead lights on two circuits in a hopscotch pattern so you can just turn 50% of them on if you want. I also put a separate switched circuit around the upper perimeter to be able to turn on lighted and neon signs independently, and a fourth circuit to control under cabinet lighting in my work area. Most times when serious work isn’t being done only the signage and under cabinet lights are on. Something to think about.

[Lemans64]

Has anybody been able to compare T5's to the Led's? Seems a lot of the LED'S seem to be kinda cheaply made??
Well maybe just up here, not many places to buy them up here in Canada, except Homedepot. Have t5's at work and they rock
But probably use more power.

[Will]

LEDs use, on average, half the wattage of fluorescents for the same light output.

Summer before last I remodeled the street level lobby of a 43 story skyscraper. During the previous remodel a lot of fluorescent lights were combined on one circuit. When I got there and started looking things over, that 20 amp breaker was running hot and would trip if you just touched the lever. After i got done replacing everything with LEDs it ran nice and cool and no problems.

Fluorescents, even the new T5s, lose light output much more rapidly over their lifespan than LEDs. Plus LEDs typically work much better in cold temps. I can see no reason why anyone would willingly install fluorescent lights any more.

[Jack Gifford]

Originally Posted by GRX

... Not UL certified, and in my experience they often create a lot of radio interference...

The power supplies of all LEDs create significant RFI. For the 60W-equivalent LED bulbs in the house I've tried a half-dozen different brands (all name brands, UL approved)- all of them created too much RFI for TV viewing (we use an antenna). I had to go back to incandescent and CFLs at many places in the house.

[dataway]

Wonder if that has something to do with the local power provider. I have a house and shop full of LED bulbs of all brands, can listen to FM and watch TV no problem ( actually have a roof antenna mounted on a tripod in the living room, right next to LED bulbs).

Any UL listed LED fixture has very strict limits on RF interference. I've got a portable FM radio right here next to my computer, I can stick the antenna right into the LED lamp shade on my desk .... not a hint of interference.

Down in the shop I got way more interference from the florescent than I do from LED. Back when LED bulbs first came out they had a high frequency driver circuit of some sort in them, looked like a big white plastic base, those were horrible and created all kinds of interference, the new ones are great.

I'm up on a mountain and use old school antennas for radio and TV (in addition to streaming) ... so interference gets noticed.

[The Champ]

Jack

My home is also 100% LED now and I use an antenna mounted in my attic for local broadcast channels. No problems with interference on the TV whatsoever.

[TAKerry]

Im in the finishing stages of a new 24 x 40 shop. Mostly for woodworking but with a car bay on the end. I put in 10 - 4' leds. Plenty of light. I may add some task lighting as I get set up and actually start using it though. I had flourescents and halogen in the old shop, they dont compare to the led. I got mine from amazon for about $14. each in a ten pack. I got the same light in my house garage from lowes for about $40. You may want to add some lights on the side walls as well switched separately for your detailing work, similar to what you see in a paint booth. Also, a ceiling hung pull down light would be nice and handy for engine detailing.

[David Jones]

The ceiling height isn't the same as your shop, but in 2015 I replaced 36 4 foot fluorescent tubes in various fixtures with 14 of the 4ft led fixtures https://www.homedepot.com/p/Commerci...3161/205331022 from the local Home Depot. It's 2 car garage with a small work area in front of one of the bays. MUCH better lighting than the fluorescents. You can read a book from just about anywhere in the garage.

[carcrazy]

Originally Posted by Jack Gifford

The power supplies of all LEDs create significant RFI. For the 60W-equivalent LED bulbs in the house I've tried a half-dozen different brands (all name brands, UL approved)- all of them created too much RFI for TV viewing (we use an antenna). I had to go back to incandescent and CFLs at many places in the house.

I have all LEDS and absolutely no issues with antenna TV viewing.

[necdb3]

In the process of building a 37 x 56 garage. I'm installing 8- 8' LED light sets. I'll see if that's bright enough.

[SRR]

I haven't had to replace any LED's since I installed them. Since I have my lift behind the garage I installed four 4' fixtures under the eave on the back of the garage. It's like daylight back there. Most of my fixtures were converted from florescent to LED. Pretty simple.

[Firedup6975]

Originally Posted by TAKerry

Im in the finishing stages of a new 24 x 40 shop. Mostly for woodworking but with a car bay on the end. I put in 10 - 4' leds. Plenty of light. I may add some task lighting as I get set up and actually start using it though. I had flourescents and halogen in the old shop, they dont compare to the led. I got mine from amazon for about $14. each in a ten pack. I got the same light in my house garage from lowes for about $40. You may want to add some lights on the side walls as well switched separately for your detailing work, similar to what you see in a paint booth. Also, a ceiling hung pull down light would be nice and handy for engine detailing.

Yep we discussed this side wall lighting thing this weekend, so will be re thinking lighting placement plan.

[dataway]

Originally Posted by SRR

I haven't had to replace any LED's since I installed them. Since I have my lift behind the garage I installed four 4' fixtures under the eave on the back of the garage. It's like daylight back there. Most of my fixtures were converted from florescent to LED. Pretty simple.

I like the lights under the eaves ... looks nice.

[Firedup6975]

Originally Posted by SRR

I haven't had to replace any LED's since I installed them. Since I have my lift behind the garage I installed four 4' fixtures under the eave on the back of the garage. It's like daylight back there. Most of my fixtures were converted from florescent to LED. Pretty simple.

That’s different, 4 security LED’s tied into the security system, covers the entire shop area front, sides, and back.


BTW if I had those steering wheels, they’d be hanging in my Lady cave on the walls in my house.

[lemansboy70]

If you have a Rural King in your area they have a pretty good deal on L.E.D's. I reserved mine online and picked up in store and saved some good money.

[Firedup6975]

Originally Posted by lemansboy70

If you have a Rural King in your area they have a pretty good deal on L.E.D's. I reserved mine online and picked up in store and saved some good money.

Nope do not have that here in my state.

[geeteeohguy]

Yet another vote for LED's. I converted a friend's faulty fluorescent lamp to a ballast-eliminating LED 'Daylight' lamp (4 foot tubes) and it's like the sun shining in the room. Uses 30% less energy than ballast-type fluorescent tubes, and is more than twice as bright. No heat generated, either. Be sure to get the ballast-eliminating (bypass) tubes. The ones that advertise 'plug and play' with the original ballast suck....and have all the problems that ballast systems have. LED tubes have gotten downright cheap, too.