Audog Posted February 13, 2016 Share Posted February 13, 2016 I need better light in my 3 car garage, what are people using in a ceiling mount type of fixture. I really don't want the 4 foot, noisy ballast old style fluorescents that hang on chains. Ideas? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
0 stripesace Posted March 10, 2016 Share Posted March 10, 2016 Those look nice, but wife is insistent about no lights on chains. Her comment was " we spent xxxxxxxx to build this house and we aren't having workshop looking lights" got to admit, flush mounts look nicer, but those SAMs lights are priced right, and wouldn't upset me I looked hard at these as well. I'm not so sure you couldn't flush mount them.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
0 dabellg Posted March 10, 2016 Share Posted March 10, 2016 I was an apprentice electrician for about 3 years and installed a lot of light. I think you made a great choice on the LED's. t-5's are great lights but LED's are very comparable for in price. LED's use a lot less power and are supposed to last longer, so they will save you a few dollars in the long run. You really get what you pay for in lights! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
0 marquez93 Posted March 10, 2016 Share Posted March 10, 2016 I looked hard at these as well. I'm not so sure you couldn't flush mount them.... I have the Sam's lights as well but haven't put them up yet. I'm going to do the basement first. I intend to try to flushmount them and I'm going to put a switched outlet at each spot and then leave them on and control them with the switch instead of the chain. Hopefully it works out that way. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
0 sahls01gmc Posted March 10, 2016 Share Posted March 10, 2016 You can wire those directly no problem. And flush mount is not a problem either. They just take a lil dis-assembly to take out the chain, then just wire it up just like a normal light. I've been an electrician going on 12 years now, so I'm positive they will work flush mounted without the chains. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
0 marquez93 Posted March 10, 2016 Share Posted March 10, 2016 You can wire those directly no problem. And flush mount is not a problem either. They just take a lil dis-assembly to take out the chain, then just wire it up just like a normal light. I've been an electrician going on 12 years now, so I'm positive they will work flush mounted without the chains. Sounds like Audog will have to remove his chains. I'll leave mine on but just leave it switched on and use the wall switch. I might shorten them though and still leave something to where I can easily turn certain ones off or on. Thanks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
0 SJC96GT Posted March 10, 2016 Share Posted March 10, 2016 You can wire those directly no problem. And flush mount is not a problem either. They just take a lil dis-assembly to take out the chain, then just wire it up just like a normal light. I've been an electrician going on 12 years now, so I'm positive they will work flush mounted without the chains. You are correct, when I was mounting them all the hardware for the chains was in a separate bag. So all anyone would have to do is disassemble in order to wire it for flush mounting. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
0 sahls01gmc Posted March 10, 2016 Share Posted March 10, 2016 Sounds like Audog will have to remove his chains. I'll leave mine on but just leave it switched on and use the wall switch. I might shorten them though and still leave something to where I can easily turn certain ones off or on. Thanks. Yes, you would just run your screws or anchors where the chains would go. You can take out the switch and just wire it together....cleaner look. But I get it, it's a garage! You are correct, when I was mounting them all the hardware for the chains was in a separate bag. So all anyone would have to do is disassemble in order to wire it for flush mounting. Yup, simple enough that way! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
0 CMDChase Posted March 14, 2016 Share Posted March 14, 2016 I will add that I've only had these installed for a few months now, so I cannot comment on reliability with long-term use. So far so good though! You're garage is nicer than my house. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
0 Ace22 Posted March 14, 2016 Share Posted March 14, 2016 I had the same dilemma and recently added these for a quick fix: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00JF0Q0M8?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o06_s00 I have 4 60 Watt equivalent LED bulbs that are plenty bright and allows enough light to detail, smoke cigars, or whatever Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
0 bosco1 Posted March 15, 2016 Share Posted March 15, 2016 (edited) I have a 3 car garage setup with 12ft ceilings. I knew I wanted the majority of my lighting on the walls because of the ceiling height and detailing purposes. No LED's for me. I put two 4ft 4 banks in the very center of the garage on the ceiling but the rest 4ft 2 banks on the walls. I also put a 6 light spot light in the center on the ceiling of 16ft door with a dimmer. If I just want to hang out and watch TV I can just put the mood lighting on the girls without all the Fluorescents on. My shop desk also has a 2 bank task light built in. The lamp light at my desk is handy if I'm just reading etc....If you need a paint correction come over you'll find out real quick Edited March 15, 2016 by bosco1 mc2hill, Shinbone, therealphillypapi and 2 others 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
0 Dan@Adams Posted March 15, 2016 Share Posted March 15, 2016 You're garage is nicer than my house. Ha, thank you. I've spent 80% of my house upgrades and decoration on the garage, and the other 20% on the house in the last 3.5 years. I guess that is what happens when you're single I also spend more time in the garage and the computer than any other part of the house. I have a 3 car garage setup with 12ft ceilings. I knew I wanted the majority of my lighting on the walls because of the ceiling height and detailing purposes. No LED's for me. I put two 4ft 4 banks in the very center of the garage on the ceiling but the rest 4ft 2 banks on the walls. I also put a 6 light spot light in the center on the ceiling of 16ft door with a dimmer. If I just want to hang out and watch TV I can just put the mood lighting on the girls without all the Fluorescents on. My shop desk also has a 2 bank task light built in. The lamp light at my desk is handy if I'm just reading etc....If you need a paint correction come over you'll find out real quick You garage is unreal. Bravo good sir! I've since added the three 4 foot chain mounted LED's to the center section of the garage, hanging just below the garage door tracks so as to create less shadows. I have them linked together on a Wemo wifi switch so that I can turn them on and off by my phone. I want to hook up a motion sensor to the Wemo switch so that they come on each time a garage door opens or I walk out into the garage, so that there is at least some lighting in there to see things without having to turn on the ceiling or wall LED's. I'll have to get those pictures posted here tomorrow. bosco1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
0 therealphillypapi Posted March 15, 2016 Share Posted March 15, 2016 To everyone that installed the 4' lights to the ceiling, how difficult was the install? I'm always concerned I'm not going to mount it properly and i'm going to wake up to a 4' dent on the hood of my truck! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
0 pirahnah3 Posted March 15, 2016 Share Posted March 15, 2016 Lol I cant wait until I can spend the money on the garage. I opted to do the house first and well s things always go, it didnt go to plan and is a larger job than expected but the garage is ever so slowly coming to the top of the list. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
0 Ricky Bobby Posted March 15, 2016 Share Posted March 15, 2016 To everyone that installed the 4' lights to the ceiling, how difficult was the install? I'm always concerned I'm not going to mount it properly and i'm going to wake up to a 4' dent on the hood of my truck! The mounting holes are almost always spaced 16" apart so you can mount onto studs. Look for faint nail holes in your ceiling to find the studs. Or use an old fashioned stud finder, a hammer As long as mounting on studs no worries Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
0 Audog Posted March 15, 2016 Author Share Posted March 15, 2016 The mounting holes are almost always spaced 16" apart so you can mount onto studs. Look for faint nail holes in your ceiling to find the studs. Or use an old fashioned stud finder, a hammer As long as mounting on studs no worries The LED strips I installed were not 16 " apart, but some odd 23.5 number, a little drill action solved that problem. One could use Molly anchors, but I wouldn't if lights have a pull chain. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
0 sahls01gmc Posted March 15, 2016 Share Posted March 15, 2016 You can also use toggle bolts if you don't hit studs. I've installed hundreds of 4' lights with these, are they are a breeze to use. They make perfect alignment easier. 4' lights don't really weight that much. Even if the anchors do come loose, you've still got the wires that would hold it up.....assuming you did that part right! Audog 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
0 therealphillypapi Posted March 16, 2016 Share Posted March 16, 2016 Awesome thanks fellas! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
0 fixojulu Posted March 26, 2018 Share Posted March 26, 2018 (edited) On 2016/3/15 at 11:12 AM, Dan@Adams said: Ha, thank you. I've spent 80% of my house upgrades and decoration on the garage, and the other 20% on the house in the last 3.5 years. I guess that is what happens when you're single I also spend more time in the garage and the computer than any other part of the house. You garage is unreal. Bravo good sir! I've since added the three 4 foot chain mounted garage ceiling lights, hanging just below the garage door tracks so as to create less shadows. I have them linked together on a Wemo wifi switch so that I can turn them on and off by my phone. I want to hook up a motion sensor to the Wemo switch so that they come on each time a garage door opens or I walk out into the garage, so that there is at least some lighting in there to see things without having to turn on the ceiling or wall LED's. I'll have to get those pictures posted here tomorrow. yes, i have the same feeling with you that the glare and shadow are reduced after switching to led lighting inside garage. but i am quite confused about the power selection. my previous setting is using about 500 watt metal halide lamps. now i am using 300W led. it's brighter Edited March 29, 2018 by fixojulu Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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Audog
I need better light in my 3 car garage, what are people using in a ceiling mount type of fixture. I really don't want the 4 foot, noisy ballast old style fluorescents that hang on chains. Ideas?
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