Shop Lights

Shop Lights

Shop lights have come to be a crucial feature to the traditional workshop aesthetic. A single light bar fixture hanging from a chain assembly. The majority of shop lights are easy-to-install and just plug right into a regular outlet. You can select from LED shop lights or the traditional fluorescent type, all are quick, and inexpensive ways to light a workshop.  Outlets in a shop are at a premium so look for shop lights that can plug into each other to free up electrical wall outlets. Some LED shop lights are designed to be hard-wired, these allow for specializations like motion detection. You’ll need very strong bright lighting in your workshop if you work with details or color-coded products. Keep in mind that extreme weather can affect certain lighting styles as well.

Shop Lighting Tips:

• You should have at least 1- 8 ft. fixture per vehicle bay.
• 300 lumens/sq. ft. of workshop area that requires detail work lighting. For general lighting have 50 to 75 lumens/sq. ft.
 
• If you live where temperatures frequently drop below freezing, choose a fixture based on the lowest temperature in your shop.  Fixtures with electronic ballasts are more reliable in cold weather.
• Color temperature is measured in Kelvins (K). Light bulbs over 5000K, are considered daylight, these are best for workshops and areas where you will be performing detailed work. Use lighting with the same color temperatures for uniformity.
• For high humidity, choose damp-rated, water and moisture-certified lighting fixtures.
• If you work with wood or auto paints, check the color rendering index (CRI) rating of the bulbs you plan to use. A rating of at least 85 is needed to render true color.