Properly bright workshop lighting

[Snow and Rocks]

I've recently been building a new workshop and the time has come to consider the lighting.

The workshop is 10.8m x 4.8m with the ceiling open to the apex of the roof at around 4.5m and is lit at the moment with a couple of 50w LED portable floodlights. It's still dark enough in there to need a headtorch for detailed work so I want to do things properly.

Anything better than say 4 of these mounted along the apex of the roof with a couple of wall mounted anglepoise style directable lamps over the workbench. Completely in the dark as to how many lumens I actually need!

https://www.ledandpower.co.uk/product/high-bay-led...

[Snow and Rocks]

Thanks everyone - some useful info there.

There are already windows high up and painting everything white is next on the list but I still want it as bright as I sensibly can in there.

Currently thinking along the lines of ~10 of these with a couple of anglepoise lamps over the seated bench for detailed work. Seem very reasonably priced for a branded fitting and will add up to 60k lumens so should be bright and nicely spread out. Will order one first and give it a try.

https://ledsupplyandfit.co.uk/p/philips-tri-proof-...

[Snow and Rocks]

OutInTheShed said:

Good point.
I do have soem rotating machines, pillar drill, small lathe, bench grinder.
There may be some old and nasty LEDs that can strobe too!

I have halogen GU50 for some of the task lights over benches, I've big box of them swapped out of kitchens.
They don't do the hours in the shed to worry about the electricity cost, and the warmth is sometimes welcome!

LED replacement tubes for fluorescent fittings are down to very sensible money now. When the tubes fail, I'll swap them.

I don't do a lot with serious rotating machinery and working alone in an otherwise silent environment it's usually pretty obvious when something is spinning. There's also an old wood burner in there waiting to be connected up so shouldn't be too cold!

Have ordered one of those Phillips battens so will do some experimenting when I get a chance.

[Snow and Rocks]

Well just to add some sort of conclusion to this for anyone looking to do something similar.

I opted for 10 of these on 2 circuits with another couple set under shelves over my main workbench. Let's just say 84 000 lumens in a 9.6 x 4.8m shed definitely meets my "properly bright" specification. Nice even light too with absolutely no trace of a shadow anywhere. Being honest 4 would have probably been plenty!

The under counter lighting is definitely worth doing too, no need for an anglepoise for even very close work. Thanks for the advice everyone - photos don't really do the amount of light justice but the one below made me laugh. Great result for a fairly modest outlay.

https://www.tlc-direct.co.uk/Products/GLBATSCW6.ht...

[Snow and Rocks]

Haha, that's still my first thought every time I flick the switch!