Shop/barn light suggestions

About to run power to our pole barn and want some light suggestions. Pole barn is 40x60x13. Trusses set on 4ft centers with a 2/12 bottom pitch. At some point one side will be closed in but it's not at the moment. Any suggestions on lights? Brand, number, size, placement, etc?

I put up a string of construction lights with 100w CFL’s for “temporary use” some 15 years ago. Plugged in to a switched outlet. Great for most things unless you need some really good lighting on a shop project. Your building size is same as mine. Will need two sets for best coverage but mine is cold storage on one end. There is enough light to get by if needed at that end

4' LED lights are GREAT!

I like the old screw in sockets because its CHEAP and EASY.... and you can put the NEW LED bulbs in the sockets..  Started out with 60 watt equivilant ( about 8 watts) in each socket. Needed a little more light in the back corner so i got one of the screw in splitters and put two 100 watt ( 12 watts) bulbs into one socket... LEDs take very little power... and i get the  DAYLIGHT bulbs... works better than the "cool" or "warm" bulbs.

I recommend putting in a few screw-in type motion detector LED "bulbs". I have them in a shed and absolutely love them. No more tripping over things getting to the light switch. As we get older, they could prevent an injury. It's hard to put a price on that.

rafters on 4 ft centers so bulb every 3 beam... 12 ft apart.... 3 per rafter sounds good also... should make a nice setup..

Add Wall Mounted, ALL Sides as will also aid for those dreary days or late nights and drop that One Special, CANNOT BE BOUGHT, Screw.  I am also looking to improve my Shop Lighting, have six 8' fluorescents currently, was a nightmare when painting as to shadows and dark areas.  Wall Lighting will be added to shine toward all projects off three sides.  Mine is 30x30 inside.

steve(ill) wrote: YEP...it all depends if your in a STORAGE are or a WORK AREA..

It's mostly a storage area. It's where everything gets parked. But when it's time to work on stuff I don't have a better place that's not full of chicken litter

I have the same lights as TAdams put two row  10 feet apart the length of my shop. 12 4 ft lights mounted on a white steel ceiling it’s bright as daylight. Since installing 7 years ago I haven’t needed a trouble light unless working inside a vehicular under the dash. They don’t use and more power than a single 100 watt build all together. 1 switch 1 circuit two outlets 10 feet apart at one end all connected together with the 6” jumpers they came with. I have the same in my barn only a lot fewer just 1 plugged into where each light used to be. I do have one cfl int the barn that haven’t been turned off in 12 years. My barn doorway is 20 feet from the switch so 1 light stays on all the time. Outside I put a LED dusk to dawn on the shop and the barn.

Edited by Dakota Dave - 17 Aug 2024 at 6:27pm

In our shed/shop, 30x40 with 10’w x 12’h doors, the previous owner installed 3 rows of florescent ‘shop lights’ suspended from the trusses. Had to remove the center row as they were too low when backing in the RV. On humid days, the lights won’t, or barely illuminate until I wiggle the tubes. Once on, I’ll leave them on all day. Have considered replacing them, but not sure if it’s worth it. Not really a fan of the type of lite ELD’s emit is some applications.

son took thin aluminum foil pie plates and cut a 2 inch hole in the center and they hang on the bulb... directs light downward.... not a bad idea in a pole barn..

There's no ceiling to paint but I'll definitely look into the pie plate/mixing bowl idea

Google LED shop lights.  Look at the 10 pack of 8' lights for $140.  That is what I have in my shop.  You can switch them all together or individually.  A lot of light for not much money. KY D-17