[ACR_SCOUT]

Hello all

I have a two-car (20'x20') attached garage with an attic above (no living space) and a single 16' garage door. It is fully dry walled and the ceiling will be flat white and the walls will be white (sheen to be determined later). I live in Northern Virginia so the average winter temperatures are not too cold but something to be considered.

Questions:
(1) Recessed or florescent lights? I never thought of recessed lighting until I did a search on in the forums here. What are the pro's and con's for each?

(2) My original plan was to put two four-foot dual tube T8 florescent in each bay (above the garage door) and three fixture perpendicular to the ones in each bay (see image below). There are already two incandescent hanging fixtures along with the lights from the garage door opener. The current lights are completely inadequate to have a workable workshop. Do you think the incandescent fixtures should stay for lighting on extremely cold days?

(3) Is there an "easy" way to have the garage door opener light a four foot florescent light? The current incandescent lights in the garage door opener are almost useless.

(4) Can the florescent layout be hooked to the existing incandescent 15amp (#14 AWG) circuit and not overload it? The current lights are wired to a three-way circuit.

Thank you,
Fred

 

[frenchelectrican]

Hello all

I have a two-car (20'x20') attached garage with an attic above (no living space) and a single 16' garage door. It is fully dry walled and the ceiling will be flat white and the walls will be white (sheen to be determined later). I live in Northern Virginia so the average winter temperatures are not too cold but something to be considered.

Questions:
(1) Recessed or florescent lights? I never thought of recessed lighting until I did a search on in the forums here. What are the pro's and con's for each?

There will be one issue with recessed cans if you do go that route it must be sealtite verison to prevent any airflowage going thru the cans and I do not know how strict your local codes related to the recessed luminaires unless you have a firewall blocked up in attic space between the garage and living quarter attic space if so then you can do it.

Most recessed cans are limited by wattage and trim types. Most open trim verison can go up to the max rated wattage as it labeled inside the luminaire if non IC verison or IC verison so watch the rating carefull.

My personal option I rather not use the recessed cans in the garage but few can use and the other issue it may come up is the amout of wattage per circuit when you use all the recessed cans.


(2) My original plan was to put two four-foot dual tube T8 florescent in each bay (above the garage door) and three fixture perpendicular to the ones in each bay (see image below). There are already two incandescent hanging fixtures along with the lights from the garage door opener. The current lights are completely inadequate to have a workable workshop. Do you think the incandescent fixtures should stay for lighting on extremely cold days?
It is common to use the T-8 flourscent luminaire and make sure you get one with cold weather rated and they useally come in electronic ballast but do not get cheap stuff so normally I use good commercal grade luminaire they useally more brighter than resdentail verison.

Yeah leave couple indentscent lamp in there because there is pretty good percentage of time you will just turn on for a couple minuites to get something then go back in the house.

(3) Is there an "easy" way to have the garage door opener light a four foot florescent light? The current incandescent lights in the garage door opener are almost useless.

Try to use the CFL bulb(s) to see if that work but if flicker or blinking after X number of minuites just reverted back to indentscent bulbs due the electronic circuit board controller are useally not CFL frendily at all. I know few peoples do install a extra flourscent luminaire but IMO it not worth the time and cost due they only be on for few minuites and that it unless you have stay on function on your remote or wall controller.

(4) Can the florescent layout be hooked to the existing incandescent 15amp (#14 AWG) circuit and not overload it? The current lights are wired to a three-way circuit.

As long you do not have the receptales on the lighting circuit it is not a issue with loading them up but with receptale on the same circuit it will be wise to wired them seperated and use single pole switch where you will be using the most location. Yeah you can set them up with three way as well.

Thank you,
Fred

My answer is in bleu so it will cover the most common question and I rather keep the flourscent luminaires on seperated switch if you want to.

Just remember the flourscent lamps do not like short starting cycle they will shorten their life pretty good chunk off from the listed running time.

Bon Chance.

Merci,
Marc

 

[ACR_SCOUT]

I had not thought about short cycling the lights. I can set the lights up on their own circuit although there will be added cost and installation time.

 

[Missouri Bound]

Most electronic ballasts are rated for low temperature, often 0 degrees. I installed two four lamp fixtures, T8 in my 28 X 28 garage and couldn't be happier. How much light do you want, or need? Task lighting will always be needed, and the incandescent light on a seperate circuit is a must.....why turn on everything just to get in the car? Does your opener have lamps built in? Those can become CFL's and that will increase the light quite a bit.:whistling2:

 

[gregzoll]

Take a look at the use of LED that Scott used for his garage, in http://www.diychatroom.com/f49/german-house-rebuild-23424/index153/

 

[Missouri Bound]

Take a look at the use of LED that Scott used for his garage, in http://www.diychatroom.com/f49/german-house-rebuild-23424/index153/

...and LED's don't have the warmup lag that flourescents do.

 

[frenchelectrican]

...and LED's don't have the warmup lag that flourescents do.

That is true but only major quirk is the cost of LED lamp.

I know they are not cheap but they can be justifed if used right and most of the LED lamps over in USA / Canada side useally are screw in type but few are hardwired types.

Merci,
Marc

 

[Missouri Bound]

That is true but only major quirk is the cost of LED lamp.

And that is the reason I do not use them....(except for the cheap flashlights that are gifted to me)