Just wondering what the best lighting is for above large doors on the exterior of a shop. Must be some energy efficient lights out there now. What does everyone have? Got T5's for the interior now looking for exterior ones. Thx in advance
Outdoor lighting for shop
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We have a few of these around the yard. Quite happy with them so far.
LED Parking Lot Lights 300W - Adjustable Arm Mount with Photocell 1000-1200W HID/HPS Replacement Waterproof IP65 36000LM 5000K Parking Lot LED Lighting (2 Pack)
LED Parking Lot Lights 300W - Adjustable Arm Mount with Photocell 1000-1200W HID/HPS Replacement Waterproof IP65 36000LM 5000K Parking Lot LED Lighting (2 Pack)
LED Parking Lot Lights 300W - Adjustable Arm Mount with Photocell 1000-1200W HID/HPS Replacement Waterproof IP65 36000LM 5000K Parking Lot LED Lighting (2 Pack) : Amazon.ca: Everything Else
LED Parking Lot Lights 300W - Adjustable Arm Mount with Photocell 1000-1200W HID/HPS Replacement Waterproof IP65 36000LM 5000K Parking Lot LED Lighting (2 Pack) : Amazon.ca: Everything Else
www.amazon.ca
I'm glad you're not my neighbor!
There are several big flood lights on buildings in my area and they are super annoying, even a couple of miles away.We're planning to put up a few wall packs on our shop to light up the bin yard but those will remain firmly turned off unless explicitly needed. Over the doors we're considering some directed lighting units that keep the light aimed down and not out, and are even dimmable. We'll probably set them up to come on at night for a few hours, then dim until motion is detected.
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3,684 Posts
Torriem, you brought up a topic that I've not really heard commented on before and that is insane light pollution I call it. One example is not far away where Nutrien has their NH3 bullets and they got the bright idea of setting up three or so extremely bright lights on towers which is all fine and dandy when they are needed during the spring and fall but nope, in some twisted logic they are running them 24/7 all winter and its totally distracting just to drive down the highway and see these bright lights and I can look across the fields between my place and those lights with trees in between and about 2 miles away and see the glow through the trees and into the sky. Another example is a specialty grass seed cleaning plant near a town I drive past to haul grain and they sit inline with a curve in the highway and all night every night they have these extreme bright lights they mounted up a couple of years ago and it looks like its a vehicle in the distance and one can just about fly off the highway curve as it blinds and messes up ones mind as to where the road actually is. The one light isn't even lighting up a doorway, its an unloading area into an auger far away from their office or a place where anyone would have anything to steal if that is why they insist on having them lit up all night. That unfortunately is the downside of these bright lights that use less power is using them in ways that are affecting others when they don't need to have them on.
Many LED lighting units now support dimming via a standardized 10v signal. The light will take AC power in, but also a 10v DC input, which controls the the brightness. I assume 0v or unconnected is on, 10v is max dim. There are proximity/motion detectors that can work with this. I haven't done much looking yet but as I mentioned I'm looking for a sensor that will turn the light on when it's dark, but only maintain full brightness for a couple of hours, after which it will dim to some comfortable, lower level until motion is detected. I think that will be a good compromise.
Yes it's ironic that with power-saving LED lights we seem to end up just putting up more lights.
Bright exterior LED lights have a strange quality to them. On some levels they actually are dimmer than than the older-style lights. But at the same time they often are more glaring from certain directions and distance.
I wonder if anyone has mentioned to these installations how annoying and unnecessary their lights are to their neighbors. Could be no one has brought it up and they don't think about it. But they may be willing to turn more of them off when not in season.
Yes it's ironic that with power-saving LED lights we seem to end up just putting up more lights.
Bright exterior LED lights have a strange quality to them. On some levels they actually are dimmer than than the older-style lights. But at the same time they often are more glaring from certain directions and distance.
I wonder if anyone has mentioned to these installations how annoying and unnecessary their lights are to their neighbors. Could be no one has brought it up and they don't think about it. But they may be willing to turn more of them off when not in season.
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5,168 Posts
I was shopping for a light and got the old "have a deal for you, clearing out this old stock" so took home a 400w metal halide wall pack for shop wall. I was looking for smaller but figured bigger must be better. It is ridiculous how bright that is. 1/4 mile away and casting shadows easily where you stand. I don't know what guys are trying to accomplish with their exterior lighting. Sure, it's great if you need to do open heart surgery outside in front of the door, but really doesn't add anything of value for me. Next one I put up was a 250w on a bin sidewall and that is getting more reasonable. Still plenty bright. Need a Led one some day for other side of shop. Maybe a 150w equivalent will do, or even less. I just need to see the ground and building by the door, I don't need to land a helicopter.
Here's a smart dimmer that works with any adjustable illumination LED light. MS180DIM - RAB Design Lighting Inc. . Not too expensive either. I think I'll buy a few and try them out. This one is very adjustable. Can set the on and off time, the standby level, how long it stays bright for, etc.
I had a 400w meta halide yard light style fixture that needed a new bulb. Ended up installing a 600w equivalent corn style LED bulb. The conversion was simple . Had to basically eliminate the ballast and wire power direct to the bulb socket. Still had it wired for the dusk to dawn switch to work. Works great. Lots of light, instant on, takes less power and cheap to do.
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