Barn Lighting Layout

Organicfarmer1972 · Jul 14, 2012

I've just completed adding onto my orginal barn and would like to run all flourescent lighting (T-8).

On part is 30 foot by 60 foot and the other is 25 foot by 80 foot.

My questions is how close to the outside walls should the light rows be?

How far apart should the rows of lights be away from each other?

Lastly, in the row, should their be space between each fixture or butt them up to each other?

How many fixtures will it take?

Any thoughts?

Thanks guys

just another old geezer · Jul 14, 2012

What type of barn and what are you lighting. If it's a dairy barn the state inspectors will have a minimum lighting requirements. For other animals, the county extention agent has recomendations.

paul · Jul 15, 2012

In addition to Geezer's good ideas we are assuming a barn is for livestock, not a shed for working on machinery and stuff?

And it will depend on how high the ceiling is, again for a barn we would kinda assume a low 8 foot or maybe 10 foot ceiling, which needs different fixtures than a tall 16 foot shed or a really tall 25 foot hay mow where you need 'high-bay' fixtures.

I was thinking I heard T-8 will be phased out in favor of T-5, seems any more we can't replace just bulbs, the govt mandates we replace the fixtures as often as we replace bulbs in some sort of 'energy saving' scheme...... Be a shame you get something installed and can't use it for long?

--->Paul

Anonymous-0 · Jul 15, 2012

These things are pretty simple and make plenty of light... Guess it depends on what you need it for...

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004DDQK0O/ref=oh_details_o02_s00_i00

FBH44 · Jul 15, 2012

light up all the corners and dark places, and light up all around the edges. that"ll light up the entire barn.

Organicfarmer1972 · Jul 15, 2012

Thanks Geezer,

It is a machinary barn. The walls are 14 foot and the peak is about 20 foot.

Kenneth R Ohnstad · Jul 15, 2012

The smallest candle flame overcomes the greatest darkness.

Brad Buchanan · Jul 15, 2012

I have a 40 x 60 shop with 18' ceilings and I have one 400 watt high pressure sodium (low bay) fixture.

That provides light for general use and I have spot lighting for woodworking and mechanical. The one drawback is that the light is kinda yellow.

I would guess that you will need 50 or so 4' fixtures of the t-8 or half the amount for 8' fixtures.

Good luck,

Brad

SDE · Jul 15, 2012

Management noticed that some other business's seem brighter by having lighter colored walls and ceilings. We painted the interior of our building and what a difference it makes. I am in the process of putting white interior panels in my garage work area. It appears to be helping already and I only have one wall finished.
SDE

fixerupper · Jul 15, 2012

I'm impressed with the kind of light a T5 puts out for being a skinny little tube the size of your finger. Neighbor put five-tube (I think) T5 fixtures with miror reflective backs in his shop (read expensive!) and it's very bright. It bothers my eyes to look at the lights for long.

In the long narrow truck shop I'm rigging up out in the cattle shed I bought four cheap household T5 two tube fixtures and temporarily hung them in the ceiling just to see if I would like them. They are impressively bright, so whenever this damn knee decides to get better I plan to put permanent T5's in there. Jim

Walt Davies · Jul 15, 2012

Lights in barns get broken a lot I wouldn't use any light that has hazarddess materials in them. Look into lights that work well but won't hurt you in the long run.
Walt

David G · Jul 15, 2012

I looked at my shop. It is a 40x60x16 with finished ceiling. I have single light 8' T8 fixtures mounted end to end. They are spaced 8' on center.

I would go closer, shop is not overly bright.

MarkB_MI · Jul 15, 2012

In my 30x40 shop, I have two rows of T8 fixtures 7.5 feet from the long walls. Six fixtures, for a total of 24 T8 bulbs. Light is reasonably good, although extra lighting is needed over the workbenches. I have the four corner lights on a different circuit than the middle two so I can vary the amount of lighting. The fixtures are spaced about two feet apart.

Anonymous-0 · Jul 15, 2012

could it be there is a big difference in a 120 volt florescent light fixture and a 230 volt fixture)
I have a basement that is 14 x 30 ft (7ft ceiling) that is lit daylight bright with 1 4ft florescent single tube (36 watt) fixture.. Don't know which bulb, but it's nothing fancy (fixture including tube was 4 bucks at the BB store).

2 of those light the barn that is 20x30 and 16 or so ft ceiling and bleeds over enough to keep the 20x30 hay part lit pretty decent.

Earl Gray · Jul 15, 2012

Machinery goes in a shed, barns are for livestock!

johndeere720GA · Jul 18, 2012

If you haven"t wired it already my suggestion is to wire outlets at each light location and put them on a switch or two. Then wire the fixtures with cord and plug them into the outlets. Saves time when you have to replace a fixture in the future.

Barn Lighting Layout

Organicfarmer1972

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just another old geezer

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paul

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Anonymous-0

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FBH44

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Organicfarmer1972

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Kenneth R Ohnstad

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Brad Buchanan

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SDE

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fixerupper

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Walt Davies

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David G

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MarkB_MI

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Anonymous-0

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Earl Gray

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johndeere720GA

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