I was gazing at my old vehicle a couple nights ago when I realized I'm going to be parking a $100k car under a florescent light (2 tubes) that looks like its suspended by two coat hangers.

It's actually fine and the fixture has been in place forever, but I'd like an upgrade. What do folks use overhead these days?

I've been really digging those hexagon garage lights lately.

Just an example, theres many places to get them.
https://getlitledlighting.com/

Lakeside wrote

I was gazing at my old vehicle a couple nights ago when I realized I'm going to be parking a $100k car under a florescent light (2 tubes) that looks like its suspended by two coat hangers.

It's actually fine and the fixture has been in place forever, but I'd like an upgrade. What do folks use overhead these days?

I park a $400k car and a $300k car under a single 60 watt light bulb.

///d wrote

I've been really digging those hexagon garage lights lately.

Just an example, theres many places to get them.
https://getlitledlighting.com/

These are great, not as expensive as I'd have thought...may need to get some

I hung multiple LED shop lights I picked up at Menards. Cost around $300 total. Provides all the light I need where I need it.

///d wrote

I've been really digging those hexagon garage lights lately.

Just an example, theres many places to get them.
https://getlitledlighting.com/

Those Hex lights look awesome. I seen a few shops with them and they look great.

I flush mounted 4 4' LED overheads in series, so I can turn them on as needed. Two over each slot in the garage. Excellent work lighting and even works for the limited detailing I do.

Still use fluorescent lights in my garage. Recently switched the bulbs to a more whiter light. Since I'm too lazy to cut open the dry wall in the ceiling to mount more light fixtures, I've stuck with the 4 tube fluorescent flush mounted fixture. It for the most part provides decent lighting in most of the garage without casting harsh shadows which forces me to use spot lighting on whatever I'm working on.

Just picked up these three panel LED garage lights that I happened to see walking around in Costco. Came in a 2 pack that cost me less than $40. They screw directly into existing lightbulb sockets.

Massive improvement - I've been super impressed and happy with them. About as easy and plug and play as it gets. I'll try to remember to get a pic when I'm home

///d wrote

I've been really digging those hexagon garage lights lately.

Just an example, theres many places to get them.
https://getlitledlighting.com/

Hmmmm... I never considered these. Until now.

TXSTYLE wrote

Hmmmm... I never considered these. Until now.

I really want them, but I have too much stuff stored suspended from my ceiling. 4 kayaks, cargo boxes, left over wood from projects, etc.

///d wrote

I really want them, but I have too much stuff stored suspended from my ceiling. 4 kayaks, cargo boxes, left over wood from projects, etc.

It's true. So do I, *sigh. I may try to somehow make it work.

I've replaced all my old lighting in my shop/garage with these: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07V7FM786/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_image?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Thet are absolutely amazing. They put out 35,000 lumens each (250W version), so you can likely get by with one or two for a typical garage.

I installed 2 of these to replace my fluorescents and they are a much better brighter light.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07N6871HN

I still have the remaining two that I need to install now that the weather is cooling off in AZ (I need to run new wiring and will probably add a second switch for the back pair).

The housings could be nicer but for a garage rather than inside the house they look good. I did have one lead arrive with a bad solder connection. I contacted the company and they gave me a choice of either half off for that light or a replacement. I took the discount and just re-soldered it.

I like these because they are hard wired unlike most that I saw at costco that were setup to have a cord on them.

-Rich

dscabra wrote

I've replaced all my old lighting in my shop/garage with these: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07V7FM786/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_image?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Thet are absolutely amazing. They put out 35,000 lumens each (250W version), so you can likely get by with one or two for a typical garage.

Might get one for overhead above my work bench. Thanks for posting.

I tried the high bay lights like posted above. Super bright but not for my low ceiling garage, figured that after the fact.

I did these all around the perimeter of the bays. Just 8 foot LEF strips that can be daisy chained. They provides good light for the space. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07RKZFD5Z/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1
I should also say, I have 8 lights per bay. 2 on each side and one front and rear.

I want to do something more permanent, the hex lights look cool. Maybe on the next same permanent project.

Back in 2019 I put up 6 of these in my 1.5 car garage. Made a HUGE difference! Came with everything I needed except for conduit, and they have standard plugs with on/off switches so the spares have been great for temporary lighting/photography tasks Coming up on 2023 and none have failed yet.

Guys…

I made this post so I could gather suggestions and I have a guy coming over 11/10 to help me hang whatever I buy. I won’t see my car for a bit, as it just landed at the German port.

Over the weekend my son flipped on the existing fluorescent lights and one of the bulbs fell out and landed on my E46 hood. Somehow the bulb did not explode, and it only left the smallest of dents (no scratch). It should roll out fine.

I cannot believe I made this thread while trying to be proactive and this happened a couple days later. I’ve been parking that car under those lights for 20 years.

Really appreciate all the suggestions. I think I’m going to throw a couple Sams Club LED fixtures up for now. We are remodeling the house in the spring and I’m going to tack a garage remodel on, as soon as I have some breathing room with cash flow. Need to get the remodel done, along with cars for myself and my daughter first.

for fun I googled art work and lighting and they talk about the ideal 'kelvin' for art display.

https://www.wetcanvas.com/forums/topic/a-question-about-lighting-the-right-temperature-for-paintings-vs-viewing/

Lakeside wrote

Guys…

I made this post so I could gather suggestions and I have a guy coming over 11/10 to help me hang whatever I buy. I won’t see my car for a bit, as it just landed at the German port.

Over the weekend my son flipped on the existing fluorescent lights and one of the bulbs fell out and landed on my E46 hood. Somehow the bulb did not explode, and it only left the smallest of dents (no scratch). It should roll out fine.

I cannot believe I made this thread while trying to be proactive and this happened a couple days later. I’ve been parking that car under those lights for 20 years.

Really appreciate all the suggestions. I think I’m going to throw a couple Sams Club LED fixtures up for now. We are remodeling the house in the spring and I’m going to tack a garage remodel on, as soon as I have some breathing room with cash flow. Need to get the remodel done, along with cars for myself and my daughter first.

Ouch! That’s some crazy timing… Any LED fixtures will be a nice improvement. Good luck with the remodel, you’ll have to share photos of the garage when it’s done

I'm sure you are looking for more classy lights, but in my stand alone garage/shed that I park in - I had some gaps in the florescent lights I put in there years ago to replace the bulbs the old owner had in there. I just wanted 3-4 to put down the center and I found these and the motion activation appealed to me as when I pull in with a car - the garage door opener is the only light. These were at least triple as good as I hoped. I rarely even turn on the main lights anymore as these pop on when I walk/pull in and are plenty of light for when I am just doing something in there real quick. But when I am doing a project like working on a car or something and I kick them all on - these feel the old gaps perfectly and give me tons of light. They daisy chain together so no wiring was required and took me like an hour to hang. Also super cheap. I've had them in since 2019 with zero issues.

https://smile.amazon.com/dp/B0728P14FR/ref=sspa_dk_detail_0?pd_rd_i=B0728P14FR&pd_rd_w=iZgfa&content-id=amzn1.sym.88097cb9-5064-44ef-891b-abfacbc1c44b&pf_rd_p=88097cb9-5064-44ef-891b-abfacbc1c44b&pf_rd_r=98PPAK283M4SY76B7B2R&pd_rd_wg=cll4y&pd_rd_r=3bf9984c-8b5f-4168-8f08-a8e97e75b42a&s=hi&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9kZXRhaWw&th=1

I have 7 8 foot 2 light fluorescent lights direct mounted to the ceiling. Works great.

unluky wrote

I'm sure you are looking for more classy lights, but in my stand alone garage/shed that I park in - I had some gaps in the florescent lights I put in there years ago to replace the bulbs the old owner had in there. I just wanted 3-4 to put down the center and I found these and the motion activation appealed to me as when I pull in with a car - the garage door opener is the only light. These were at least triple as good as I hoped. I rarely even turn on the main lights anymore as these pop on when I walk/pull in and are plenty of light for when I am just doing something in there real quick. But when I am doing a project like working on a car or something and I kick them all on - these feel the old gaps perfectly and give me tons of light. They daisy chain together so no wiring was required and took me like an hour to hang. Also super cheap. I've had them in since 2019 with zero issues.

https://smile.amazon.com/dp/B0728P14FR/ref=sspa_dk_detail_0?pd_rd_i=B0728P14FR&pd_rd_w=iZgfa&content-id=amzn1.sym.88097cb9-5064-44ef-891b-abfacbc1c44b&pf_rd_p=88097cb9-5064-44ef-891b-abfacbc1c44b&pf_rd_r=98PPAK283M4SY76B7B2R&pd_rd_wg=cll4y&pd_rd_r=3bf9984c-8b5f-4168-8f08-a8e97e75b42a&s=hi&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9kZXRhaWw&th=1

I have 2 of these in my 2 car garage and they are great! Mine are not motion activated though. I put 2 of them down the middle thinking I would need more but they put out plenty of light.