Recessed Garage Lighting?

My new 3-car garage has three 100 W bulbs. Insufficient for anything but avoiding tripping.

我过去做过一些照明具有良好的效果lts but am thinking about using modern, recessed, canless LED lighting. They draw very little power and generate almost no heat for the light they produce. Being flush you get a nice distribution of light. Being recessed they don't collect dust or spider webs. Like many of us I use my garage as a moto/car repair shop when necessary and need a lot of light.

I've done fluorescent but I don't just love the flicker and they perform poorly when it's cold. Plus, it always seems like the ballast is going out giving you that 'Resident Evil' flicker.

Anybody have experience with lighting a garage using recessed lights? Am I going to have to put in so many lights that it is impractical? Our home has recessed LED in some of the rooms and it lights them up really well.

I have just put 15 of that type of LED into the ceilings of our micro-brewery. The floor is 9 metres square, ceiling 3 metres above the floor over 2/3rds, then it is raised to 4m above floor height. The lighting level has proven to be fine, so far.
Were I working on a bike or car I would use a mobile light as well to illuminate any bits in shade.

Led is most definitely the way to go... if you want the best outcome, hit up the garage journal. There is even a member there that will put together a lighting plan for you at no cost if you ask nicely. He will calculate everything using your measurements and the light specifications. He will let you know if you will be happy with the lighting level, circuit requirements and possible shading. His plan will tell you the most efficient layout of the lights you chose for your space, etc... good luck and post pics when done!

I have a combination of standard LED pairs, 4', and singles that are also 4'. I have plenty of light for under $100. Small space for the workshop.






My main garage is mostly LED, with two leftover fluorescents.

If you haven't checked out the LED 5k lights, they are super. I'm long past 100w incandescent bulbs and florescent bulbs with their flicker.

Install them on multiple switches if possible, then you can turn on or off as more or less light is needed. I installed 4" Fluorescent lights that plug in (changed the bulb fixtures to outlets) on 3 switches. You can now buy LED tubes for those fixtures, or just buy the LED fixtures & way more light than anything recessed will put out

I prefer the look of the recessed. For a shop I’d definitely get the tubes. For my garage... going to explore recessed a bit more before tubing it.

I'll add a few points here ( 35 yr electrician & electrical contractor ). The flush recessed LED lights are nice and very popular now. You can find the in 2" to over 8" with varying lumen outputs. I find that you need to space them 5 - 6' on center both directions depending on the output. I recently did a window showroom this way with 6" lights and it was a nice bright and even lighting.
Many of the newest versions of these fixtures have a color temperature switch 3K 4K 5K sometimes more. My preference is 4K. I loved 5K flourescent but can't stand 5K LED, it's very harsh and most of my customers agree.

If you buy from a dedicated electrical supplier they can do a layout and accurately predict the outcome, but you'll be buying brand name product to get that support.

One more thought though, your garage is sealed from the house to keep exhaust gas ect out of the house. If you cut all those holes in the ceiling you will loose that seal as well as any fire rating. The fixtures do usually have a gasket but it's not good enough in my opinion. In new construction we install a poly bag caulked to the vapor barrier to stop air flow.

Scott

Great advice given. I just installed 30 of the 6" 900 lumen in a 20x30 garage. I prefer 3000k.

Check out LED troffer lights. They are extremely thin, maybe 1/2" with a small jct box at one spot for wiring. They are extremely bright and give a really good spread of light.

Some are approved for surface mounting. Might just have to just cut a small hole for the JCT box. Then attach it to the ceiling.

i have installed the LED flush mount fixtures, and would never consider using a conventional can light again. a little heads up, when you select the LED you want to use, try fit it to the junction box you would typically use. not all LED fixtures of this type fit all manufacturer's junction boxes, so make no assumptions. surprisingly, many people don't know that this type of fixture even exists. also, what may seem like plenty of lighting today might not seem adequate tomorrow, so plan accordingly.

i've also used the LED fixtures designed to retrofit existing recessed cans, like the Halo H-7 which normally used a PAR38 lamp. these are also a good choice, and can be found for as little as $5/ea.

Three of thesethreaded in your bases. Cheap and easy. I have one among some LED T4 and a fluorescent T8 and this is easily the best light of the bunch.

These LED lights come with a JCT box. Just cut a 6" hole in the drywall, wire it up. stuff the included jct box and everything into the ceiling space. Toss a couple screws into a joist to mount the box. Clip the light into place. It is the easiest light install. The color temp of the light can be selected. Output is equal to a 75 watt bulb.

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Halo-HL...-5000K-No-Can-Needed-HLB6099FS1EMWR/306051064

that one does, but others don't. new or existing junction box, don't assume a fit.

You are talking about a round light ceiling junction box? If so, not much will fit in those. Just remove wiring and the box. Reinstall the wiring in the box of the light kit that I linked. You are correct, there is not much space in those round boxes.

I have a fundamental dislike for recessed lighting. Most houses you see with recessed lights have more lights than those that don't, because they need it. Have a look at the wall of a room with them, from half way up to the ceiling is in shade. Recessed lighting is very directional which causes shadows easily. Exposed lighting enables more reflected light off the ceiling and walls, much betterer in a garage when you drop the 10mm socket.

the recessed LED lights i've been using fit a conventional octagonal junction box...but not every octagonal box.

I have a 30x30’ shop with 8’ high ceilings
I installed 6 8’ long led surface mount lights the output is huge
Over the welding table and mill I have 3’ led task lights for specific work.
Having a long light offers good coverage I would prefer this over cans and surface mount means no webs etc so far

What is this mythical 10mm socket you speak of

Heading out today to see what local stores have in stock. I prefer the look of the recessed lighting but it seems like they are going to be significantly more expensive and much more time consuming to install. Each one needs a hole, not a problem, but each one also needs wiring, and that's a lot of wire stripping, twisting, and wirenuts. None of that's terribly expensive but my timeis. I'll 'report back' with what I find...

jb