garage lighting

sharpe · Nov 22, 2015

Hi, i would like to have lighting put in my garage, i currently have a consumer unit and 2 socket circuits in there. My garage roof is made up off steel roof trusses and there isn't really a way of fixing a light to them, so i was thinking about having wall lights instead, and more specifically bulkheads. I only really need lights at the back of the garage, where my fridge freezer and small storage cupboards are, as the rest of the garage is taken up by the car.

Can i fix bulkheads to the back wall?
Would the bulkheads be better off fixed to the side walls instead?
Would 2 bulkheads be sufficient?
Is there any sort of height requirements for fixing the bulkheads?

Thanks in advance

Simonslimline · Nov 22, 2015

Do you have a mentor thats training you?

amlu · Nov 23, 2015

3x 10watt little led floodlight, 2 on the sides and one at the back. job done, they are very bright.

if you really up for bulkhead route then there is common sense rule - dont install it anywhere where is likely to be knocked easily.
how bright they will be all depends what kind of bulbs you stick in there. 23watt spiral fluorescent and they will be very bright.

DPG · Nov 23, 2015

Are you sure you can't fix a couple of fluorescent fittings to the trusses? Maybe using hook bolts or something? It would give better illumination I think. Also, do you need 2 socket circuits? Daz

markc123 · Nov 23, 2015

As daze says ... whats the height like? Could suspend florrys from jack chain

sharpe · Nov 23, 2015

Hi thanks for the replies.

I have looked at hanging fluorescent fixings from either jack chain, or fixing directly to the trusses, but it just doesn't seem like a viable option really.

The height of the garage is only 2m, with a flat roof. The the roof trusses are L bar (90 degree), the roof panels sit right on top of the trusses on the horizontal section, leaving the vertical section facing down as the only possibility to fix to.

Its impossible to fix any girder clips etc to the steel trusses version of the wall plate, making it very difficult to run any cable/conduit. The trusses are also very widely spaced apart with diagonal supports running to the corners and wall, again making it hard to run any conduit/cables.

The only way i could fit fluorescent lights would be to fix girder clips on the trusses vertical face and hang the fluorescents, which would cause issues with head space. Then run conduit underneath the trusses fixed to girder clips, but surely the conduit wouldn't be supported properly because the trusses are spaced far apart.

Thats why i was exploring the possibility of wall lights, and the reason for bulkheads was because all the cables are run in conduit, which can be connected to bulkheads. I do like the idea of floodlights although I'm not sure if they are comparable with conduit or not.

Are bulkheads or floodlights the way to go here? Any other options?

Thanks

Marvo · Nov 23, 2015

Lights like bulkheads and floodlights originate from a small poit so they're not great for indoor task lighting because you get very pronounced shadows. Fluorescents are a much better option but it sounds like you've just got get creative with how you mount them and run the cabling. Maybe a length of unistrut would work, you can mount the fittings to it and use it as wiring containment as well.

Barrie Patrick · Nov 24, 2015

Wall mounted angle flourescents?

sharpe · Nov 24, 2015

I dont suppose you have got a link to those wall mounted angle fluorescents? Or any idea how many would be required?

Richard Burns · Nov 25, 2015

If you are fixing lighting to the wall to illuminate tasks then you would generally want to have them above eye height otherwise they will tend to glare at you and limit your vision of the task.
If you have shelving above the work area then wall mounted lights will be obscured by the shelving and make the work area dim.
At a 2m height I would try to aim for a flat light horizontally across the work area, perhaps a standard flourescent batten (or an IP65 batten for moisture protection and physical protection) mounted horizontally on the wall near the ceiling.
It may even be suitable to install LED strip lighting along the wall (s), you could also install LED strip (or wall light) pointing downward over the work area, however not really conduit compatible.

Consider the light source you wish to use, the direction the light will shine, the type of work you need to do in each area of the garage, the level of brightness required for each area and the distance and route the light has to travel to get to the area.

Barrie Patrick · Nov 25, 2015

Sorry I don't have a link but I would think any good wholesaler would be able to get hold of them and any technical information you'd need to determine how many you would need. LED lighting seems something worth looking at? Barrie

amlu · Nov 25, 2015

fixed around 10 bulkheads couple of years ago, in a storage warehouse with lots of dark corners. walked around, had a look where it would be needed, took feed from nearest light.
loaded them up with 23 watt sylvania compact fluorescents. been there recenly and all still works.
tlc sells eterna BC bulkheads. solid ones aluminium not plastic. they go well with conduit, 20mm punched holes.
for led floodlights and conduit you need to end it with a 2 way or adaptable box, conduit one side, flex to spotlight with a gland another side. they normally come with like 1 meter of 0.75mm flex preinstalled.