Garage Lighting

[gkomo]

What are people doing for garage lighting if you park and work on your car in the garage?

Due to my schedule 99.9% of my time to work on my mustang is at night. My current lighting configuration is, 1. my garage door opener light (very dim, not very good), 2. One 'shop light' with two long fluorescent tubes kinda off to the side of where i park my car, so it will light up one side, but not the other side and where its at if my hood is open, my hood blocks all the light, and 3. a portable LED light i plug in and direct at whatever i'm working on at the moment. Its bright, but somewhat inconvenient as i have to keep moving it around to point where i need it. Not a huge deal, but if i'm on my back under the car its a pain to crawl out, move the light, and crawl back under.

I've seen the hexagonal LED garage light systems that look nice and bright. Waste of money? They seem easy to set up and just plug into an outlet in the rafters (which i have), and cover a larger area than a single shop light does.

OR, i could just move my current shop light to a more desirable area, and even maybe add another?

Just curious what other people have done.

 

[nickyb]

I got three cheapo led lights from Wal-Mart or harbour freight( can't remember) they are four footers and super light.
I used bailing wire to hang them from screws I put into the garage ceiling. They plug into the outlets on the ceiling.
Super cheap,easy as to do ,and best of all it lights up my garage like Luna park.

 

[DadLife0724]

Nickyb nailed it. Those cheap LEDs are ti**ysprinkles. I got mine from Rural King, but they are all essentially the same.

 

[Rdub6]

I got four cheap two-tube 4ft led fixtures that light up the garage pretty good. But you’re right, once you’re under the hood, or under the car, the light is gone. I have a plug in two light LED that I can maneuver around that is real bright and helps a lot.

For the winter, I actually bought these winter hats, with a built in LED headlamp that work pretty well. Light is always shining right where you’re looking.

 

[Noobz347]

Wut dey sed

 

[Ronin38]

^ Wut he sed dey sed.

 

[Blackhawkxx]

In my two car garage, I have 16 four foot lights (some LED and some fluorescent) and most can be turned off individually. One lines up at the front edge of the hood when it is opened. Also have three pull out reel trouble lights and hand held battery lights. Can you tell I like to see what I am working on?

 

[OX1]

I have tons of lighting in my pole barn (and 4 foot high plastic panels, down both
Eave sidewalls, to let light in), but it's always seems "dark".
I bought these to wear during power failures, until gen is hooked up.

Ozark Trail 500 Lumen LED Headlamp – Multi-Color, Lightweight, Water Resistant, 4 Modes, 3 AAA Batteries Included – Gray/Orange - Walmart.com

Buy Ozark Trail 500 Lumen LED Headlamp – Multi-Color, Lightweight, Water Resistant, 4 Modes, 3 AAA Batteries Included – Gray/Orange at Walmart.com

www.walmart.com

Ended up using one a couple years ago on a vehicle, and now I just wear it
every time I'm working on something.

 

[Mcmahst]

I have a three car garage, a two and single door “stall.” Each of those have an 8’ LED length-wise, cheated at the end of each stall. Then I have two more 8’ LED’s by the doors, longways. And, I have portable LEDs with magnetic basis, etc. More light is good. But something to consider, especially with the cheap LEDs; many times the frequency the light operate on, is the same/simular to the frequency of the garage door opener. Mine is, and I just deal with it.

 

[Cheapskate207]

24x32 garage with 11’ ceilings. I have 6 8’ barrina led fixtures from Amazon. They’re cheap and it’s equivalent to a hospital in there. Very bright

 

[gkomo]

Sweet, thanks for the replies. Sounds like buying some LED 'shop lights' is the cheaper, and just as effective way to go. I'll try to find some that can be 'linked' together. I'm only worried about lighting up the side of my 2 car garage that the car is actually on, but would like maybe 6 4' LED shop lights chained together running down the length of the stang.

Just planning ahead on electrical outlets. With our home remodel and needing to move out in 3 months this will be more for when that project is completed near the end of next year.

 

[Blackhawkxx]

but would like maybe 6 4' LED shop lights chained together running down the length of the stang.

Make sure you read for the light that you are buying how many lights can be linked together. There is a limit.

 

[gkomo]

Good point!

 

[Noobz347]

 

[Clutchfork]

I just went redneck style, got some of these clamp fixtures, stuffed them with LED bulbs, and clamped them where I need them. I do have a dual-bulb, 4-foot flourescent fixture over the work bench. The garage is wired for outlets to run all the lights so I can plug in whatever I wish and I have a three switches controlling them (work bench, back door, and house door). Mustang is in for the winter as salt has hit the roads around here.