Lighting suggestion

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goldstar

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Location
New Jersey
Occupation
Electrical Contractor
I was lucky enough to land a project in a repair garage (tires and brakes only). This is a remodel of a facility that was originally the same type of set up just new owners, new lifts, new tire equipment, etc.. The luminaires they currently have are hanging 8' fluorescents with a canopy top. They are hanging down about at the 8' level between bays. They're old, they look like crap and barely put out enough light. Any suggestion for new lighting would be appreciated. I'd hate to put the same types back in. Thanks.
 
I was lucky enough to land a project in a repair garage (tires and brakes only). This is a remodel of a facility that was originally the same type of set up just new owners, new lifts, new tire equipment, etc.. The luminaires they currently have are hanging 8' fluorescents with a canopy top. They are hanging down about at the 8' level between bays. They're old, they look like crap and barely put out enough light. Any suggestion for new lighting would be appreciated. I'd hate to put the same types back in. Thanks.
I like the LED's that you hang that resemble a 2X4 troffer

Sent from my Coolpad 3622A using Tapatalk
 
Have done a few maintenance shops recently using these luminaires and they turned out great:

http://www.cooperindustries.com/con...s/highbay_lowbay_industrials/led/_891984.html
http://www.cooperindustries.com/con...s/highbay_lowbay_industrials/led/_891933.html (for higher bay applications)


Not an endorsement for Cooper, but check with your local supply houses for something comparable. Make sure you're not in any sort of Hazardous Classification areas though as well as I'm not familiar with your site.
 
Have done a few maintenance shops recently using these luminaires and they turned out great:

http://www.cooperindustries.com/con...s/highbay_lowbay_industrials/led/_891984.html
http://www.cooperindustries.com/con...s/highbay_lowbay_industrials/led/_891933.html (for higher bay applications)


Not an endorsement for Cooper, but check with your local supply houses for something comparable. Make sure you're not in any sort of Hazardous Classification areas though as well as I'm not familiar with your site.

511.3(D) states that the areas are unclassified per the OP's description of work.
 
Unless you have fuel dispensing or paint applications, hazardous locations are generally just in pits and up to 18 inches above the floor.
 
There is no fuel dispensing in this shop. Only tires and oil changes. Thanks for the suggestions.
 
We've been using RAB LED's as of late. Can be ordered with integral motion detectors. You can have them give you design options for free:

https://www.rabweb.com/lightingdesign.php?source=ad&adType=largeAd&sourcePage=productLine.php

https://www.rabweb.com/product.php?product=RAIL400NW/D10/WS4

rail_400w_highbay_multi_level_motion_sensor_white.png
 
Thanks. Not sure I can use these in the auto bay areas but they might be good for the warehouse.
 
Thanks. Not sure I can use these in the auto bay areas but they might be good for the warehouse.

I just threw those in as a reference. If you contact them they will make fixture suggestions along with design for the particular location of your installation.
 
We've been using RAB LED's as of late. Can be ordered with integral motion detectors. You can have them give you design options for free:

https://www.rabweb.com/lightingdesign.php?source=ad&adType=largeAd&sourcePage=productLine.php

https://www.rabweb.com/product.php?product=RAIL400NW/D10/WS4

rail_400w_highbay_multi_level_motion_sensor_white.png

I rarely comment on fixtures and such because I am usually indifferent to what they look like, whatever the customer likes is okay by me, but I will say those are pretty slick looking.:thumbsup:
 
I rarely comment on fixtures and such because I am usually indifferent to what they look like, whatever the customer likes is okay by me, but I will say those are pretty slick looking.:thumbsup:
They are pretty slick looking but also pretty expensive. I'm having trouble figuring out the mindset of these new occupants. They've invested tens of thousands of $$$ maybe even hundreds of thousands of $$$ remodeling this facility. There are seven new auto lifts installed, tire installation machines, balancing machines, etc. They're concerned about the outward look of the facility. Yet, one of the suits suggested we take the old fluorescent light fixtures down, clean them up, re-paint them and re-install them. I have trouble dealing with this line of thinking. That's why I'm looking for some suggestions. I'm guessing installing new fixtures will cost a lot less than revamping the old.
 
They are pretty slick looking but also pretty expensive. I'm having trouble figuring out the mindset of these new occupants. They've invested tens of thousands of $$$ maybe even hundreds of thousands of $$$ remodeling this facility. There are seven new auto lifts installed, tire installation machines, balancing machines, etc. They're concerned about the outward look of the facility. Yet, one of the suits suggested we take the old fluorescent light fixtures down, clean them up, re-paint them and re-install them. I have trouble dealing with this line of thinking. That's why I'm looking for some suggestions. I'm guessing installing new fixtures will cost a lot less than revamping the old.

I have a few clients like that. Boggles the brain.
 
They are pretty slick looking but also pretty expensive. I'm having trouble figuring out the mindset of these new occupants. They've invested tens of thousands of $$$ maybe even hundreds of thousands of $$$ remodeling this facility. There are seven new auto lifts installed, tire installation machines, balancing machines, etc. They're concerned about the outward look of the facility. Yet, one of the suits suggested we take the old fluorescent light fixtures down, clean them up, re-paint them and re-install them. I have trouble dealing with this line of thinking. That's why I'm looking for some suggestions. I'm guessing installing new fixtures will cost a lot less than revamping the old.

Replacing the old fixtures with new more energy efficient ones will save them money.
 
You should be looking at required lumen levels.

First search the internet for a guide to how many lumens per square foot are proper for that type of environment. Multiple that number by the square footage of the shop and you have the total lumens required. Then look at the fixtures you are considering a see how many lumens they emit. Divide into the total lumens to arrive at the number of fixtures needed.

Note that the higher you mount the fixtures, the more spread out the light from an individual fixture will be, but the total number of lumens does not change.
 
You should be looking at required lumen levels.

First search the internet for a guide to how many lumens per square foot are proper for that type of environment. Multiple that number by the square footage of the shop and you have the total lumens required. Then look at the fixtures you are considering a see how many lumens they emit. Divide into the total lumens to arrive at the number of fixtures needed.

Note that the higher you mount the fixtures, the more spread out the light from an individual fixture will be, but the total number of lumens does not change.
That sounds like a good plan on the surface but I'm no lighting expert. The lumens per foot might start out looking good but if there are 3 cars up on lifts in the 3-bay area suddenly the lumens per foot may not end up to be so great. I'm going to go with the earlier suggestion and have a lighting professional come in and give me an estimate and suggestions. If they end up being way out in left field I may just go with my gut instincts or maybe some of the suggestions posted here.

Thanks.
 
They are pretty slick looking but also pretty expensive. I'm having trouble figuring out the mindset of these new occupants. They've invested tens of thousands of $$$ maybe even hundreds of thousands of $$$ remodeling this facility. There are seven new auto lifts installed, tire installation machines, balancing machines, etc. They're concerned about the outward look of the facility. Yet, one of the suits suggested we take the old fluorescent light fixtures down, clean them up, re-paint them and re-install them. I have trouble dealing with this line of thinking. That's why I'm looking for some suggestions. I'm guessing installing new fixtures will cost a lot less than revamping the old.

put up the rab lights. rab makes pretty good stuff. i've used a fair bit of it.

i'd think twice about motion sensors in a vehicle repair area. you are under a vehicle, doing
something, and the lights time out and go off....? better to put them on a timer, with an
after hours override. you can move them up higher than 8' from the floor. that would be
pretty harsh that close.

or, you can use 4 tube T5 HO high bay lights. 2'x4'. i've got three 6 tube lights in my shop,
with A-B switching. all three of them on, is like the noonday sun. i usually just turn on one
of them. and they are 15' off the floor.

the LED's will probably draw less power. you'd have to look at the cut sheets. you also aren't
having to change lamps.
 
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