Potentially stupid shop lighting plan

Re: Potentially stupid shop lighting plan

Paul Waddle

>Well, I did what you contemplate as I had not much choice in the basement. I believe indirect lightning could be a option elsewhere.

I've had no problems in over 30yrs, but the lightning is comforable but not too bright.

Re: Potentially stupid shop lighting plan

Dan Donaldson

>You might be able to recess the 4 foot fixtures above the joists if it is open. Recessed cans would probably work fairly well, but for a lot of them, it could get quite expensive. It might be better from both an expense and a lighting standpoint to recess 4 foot flourescent fixtures.

Re: Potentially stupid shop lighting plan

Ted Wong

>sounds like a solution to me. I'd make sure the bottom of the fixture is even with the bottom of the joists you'll get better light distribution that way. As a forethought you may want to paint the joists and the subflooring white to help reflect light better

Re: Potentially stupid shop lighting plan

Kent in Emmaus, PA

>Wilbur, my basement situation is similar (well, OK, I have a whopping 87" to the joists). I've experimented with a few different lighting approaches, and I found that with low ceilings, downward-reflecting lights create a "cavelike" effect that's shadowy and makes the room feel even smaller.

I just finished installing a bunch of 48" two-tube T-8 fluorescent wraparound fixtures. They create a dispersed, even light, the bulbs are well protected, and they only cost 2.5" below the joists.

Re: Potentially stupid shop lighting plan

wilbur

>I thought about putting 4 foot fixtures between the floor joists, but because of the way my plumbing and electricity is running, many places that I would want a 4 foot fixture can't be placed there, but I would be able to shoehorn in, say, 2 or 3 recessed lighting cans.

Basically, someone had the bright idea to run a pipe diagonally across the room, notching out some of the floor joists in the process.

Re: Potentially stupid shop lighting plan

David Sparks

>I agree. I think you would get a lot more light if you can mount the type of fixtures where the tubes extend below the joists. The tubes put out quite a bit of their light from the sides. Recessed lights are okay but don't put out nearly as much light as standard flourescents.

Re: Potentially stupid shop lighting plan

NickB

>Have you considered a hybrid plan? I can understand the constraints (the previous owner of my house retrofitted central air, and I'm going to have to do something really awful with 5" flex to get a drop to my table saw), but I suspect you're not going to be very happy with cans in a low ceiling (the cave-like atmosphere previously mentioned). I'd think about putting 4' tubes where you are able, and resorting to cans where you have to have the light but can't get a tube fixture in.

If you do put some 4' fixtures in, do protect the tubes (I use chicken wire stretched from the sides of the reflector (it's saved the tubes over my bench a number of times).

Hope this helps,

Nick