I am moving into a new Woodworking shop in the next few months and am looking for lighting suggestions. The space is about 20′ x 30′ and does have three largish windows that will let in a reasonable amount of light, but I am looking for specific suggestions of ceiling lights – brands, sizes, etc…
Thanks in advance for your input!
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I strongly recommend 48" direct wire T-8 bulbs. I replaced 26 fluorescent bulbs in the shop two years ago and three days ago four in the storage area. I do not know exactly how to place them in your shop because your projects may be different than mine. No more buzz, failed ballasts, or bulbs. Very low power consumption.
I got rid of the tube fixtures and bought LED flat panels. Some are in drop-ceiling trays and a few are surface mounted. The quality of the light is as near to shadowless as you can get because the light sources are so wide. The drop ceiling units are 2x2 and the surface mounts are 1x4. I split them to 2 circuits so in case one trips I won't be in the dark waiting for a machine to stop spinning. I can't name the brand... I bought at a supply house, not a box store.
I don't remember if I got "bright white" or daylight color balance, but without windows I don't have any color contrast to deal with. You might want to match what the windows are bringing in.
Good suggestion, not available when I did my shop. Lots of good new things out there.
LED is the way to go, and since they draw little power it will leave more for the equipment. Just be carefull choosing the right température, that is how White you want it to be. At the bottom of the Kelvin color range there is a yellow hue, between 3000 amd 5000 its White as daylight, above its blue and gray that is too bright to be sustainable, I stay in the 3200 to 4000 K range.
agree with gulfstar: led, 4000k (for me color temp is key, and 4000k is a good balanced/warmish light) - I would add get max lumens if you have old eyes like me. I have shop slightly larger than yours, and went with 5 led fixtures, 26,000 lumens each, from 1000bulbs.com, product # plt-11078-4k, approx $200 each.
I have been very happy with some fairly inexpensive LED shop lights I bought at Costco. Koda brand, 48 watts, 4600 lumens, 400K natural white color temp. They have motion sensors (which I have turned off) and remote switches (though mine are hooked to a wall switch). They can hang or be surface mounted to the ceiling. Cost ~$30 each. Have them in my wood shop and in wife's quilting studio. Have used them for almost two years with no problems.
I recently upgraded from 4ft flourescent to 4ft LED 5000K (temp) linkable fixtures. You can find many brands on Amazon. I used the following Q&A from Wood Magazine to help with the placement. In the end I replaced 4 fixtures at their existing locations and added 3 more. The linkable feature meant I didn't have to add any more receptacles. I'm supper happy with the results.
https://www.woodmagazine.com/workshop/lighting-wiring/whats-the-best-spacing-for-shop-light-fixtures
Lots of good suggestions already. All that I can add is, I also have one of those bright head band lamps. Comes in hand from time to time even with good lighting or if you are working elsewhere in the home or at a friends house. Plenty to choose from. I'd go 500 lumens or more.
A little more information about direct wire LED T-8 bulbs. These do not use a ballast and are not like those that are drop in replacements for your existing fluorescent bulbs. You need end caps that have two connections at one end, a hot or black wire, and the other is the white. No connections at the other end as done with fluorescent bulbs, they are just place holders. The power number comparisons I have seen are 12.5w for direct wire, 32w for fluorescent bulbs. I don't know how solid those numbers are but the LED's use a lot less.