Lighting my new home workshop.

[awemawson]

Plus one on insulation. I have a 'lean to' shed 40' x 20' that's uninsulated and at times the ceiling drips masses of condensation (Its corrugated fibre cement, I suspect that your box profile steel will be even worse) I have the same roof in my main workshop, and that has been spray foamed 100 mm and I get absolutely no condensation in that part.

Andrew

 

[anjum]

Definitely agree about the insulation, especially the roof! Much easier to do before putting it up.

 

[Sgoaty]

I paid just under £7000 for the building including a 2.9 x 3M electric roller door. If I wanted insulated panels it was going to add another £5000 to the building cost which was seemed a bit mental.

The roof panels which arent skylights have no con drop fitted which might help a little bit.

Norlander what kind of insulation were you talking about that could be attatched with carpet tape?

Oh and the lights. Is it worth getting light fittings with reflectors or will bog standard ones do? also is suspending them the best way to fit them?

Thanks for all the input its much appreciated.
Scott

 

[brightspark]

I paid just under £7000 for the building including a 2.9 x 3M electric roller door. If I wanted insulated panels it was going to add another £5000 to the building cost which was seemed a bit mental.

The roof panels which arent skylights have no con drop fitted which might help a little bit.

Norlander what kind of insulation were you talking about that could be attatched with carpet tape?

Oh and the lights. Is it worth getting light fittings with reflectors or will bog standard ones do? also is suspending them the best way to fit them?

if the building is tall suspend lights with jack chains with hookplates and use metal reflectors . if not just bolt them to the purlins

 

[Sgoaty]

What would you consider tall?

 

[brightspark]

What would you consider tall?

anything above 6 m. if your using flourescent just put them high enough not to get damaged

 

[Cyberprog]

If buying fluorescent lights, then I'd recommend going for high frequency units - they don't need starters and use less energy than standard units.

 

[Sgoaty]

Thanks for that I seen a set of 6 twin 5ft ones on ebay for about £130. I think i might just go for them.

 

[Cyberprog]

They're not that expensive new, http://www.tlc-direct.co.uk/Products/HF258.html - £130 seems a little dear IMHO for secondhand. And those are HF on that link,

 

[Sgoaty]

They are new HF units.

I managed to get the seller to do them with daylight bulbs and delivery for £150 inc.

Is it worth trying to get reflectors?

And since you have all been so helpful with the lighting side of things ive got some questions about the power now.

I plan to put 15 double sockets in (better too much than too little right?)

What spec of consumer unit will i need?

I will be getting it professionally wired but i plan to supply the parts myself and do as much of the donkey work as possible because the sparkie quoted me £2100 plus VAT for the job!
Thanks
Scott

 

[Cyberprog]

I've put 6 single HF 6-ft units in my double garage, and have plenty of light. Doubles may be overkill btw, depending on your space.

I have 10 double sockets at present round my workshop, 2x 16A ceeforms, and 1x32A ceeform. I'm toying with another 16A ceeform, and I think I need some more double sockets where my workbench is, but I can add those in later. If you get the sockets roughly where you need them, it's usually simple enough to add more nearby.

As for consumer unit, well, I have a 16 way Metal Contactum unit in mine. I like their kit, it's pretty sturdy and well priced. Even with 16 ways, I think I'm upto about 12 atm, and will probably use a few more, but I do have individual breakers for some circuits.

 

[Sgoaty]

So I suppose bigger is better theres no harm in having unused breakers. I plan to fit 15 double sockets. I won an auction for 15 metal clad MK sockets for £52 + Postage

Im hoping to have the lights switched in pairs but i dont know how much of a hassle that will be and if it will require more wiring.
Thanks
Scott

 

[Cyberprog]

Bloody hell, that's good going. MK is a top notch brand, mine are Telco IIRC.

Mine are all switched as one, and switch the attic lights too (so you can't leave em on, tho you can over-ride them off when you don't need them).

I also got funky with it, there's an occupancy sensor (PIR) that you trigger as you walk in which turns the lights on and it's set to keep them on for about a minute and a half. The light switch allows you to over-ride them on for longer stays, but is dead handy if you're just popping in, and avoids fumbling in the dark for the switch when carrying stuff in!

 

[Robotstar5]

Im hoping to have the lights switched in pairs but i dont know how much of a hassle that will be and if it will require more wiring.

Use a grid switch system, very versatile - link - other makes available

 

[Cyberprog]

Grid switches are very cool. I'm using grid switches for my shutter switches, and the main light switch (as it will have On - Off - Auto when I wire it up) currently just has On-Auto on a standard switch, but I re-considered this plan...

 

[Sgoaty]

I was thinking of getting one of these is there any benifit to getting a grid switch rather than a traditional 3 gang switch?

http://www.screwfix.com/p/mk-3-gang-2-way-10ax-light-switch-metal-clad/56798

Heres a photo of my of the progress so far

 

[Wendelspanswick]

Where are you? I was working on a site in Taunton yesterday where they were changing out all the twin 1500mm fluorescents for new.
They must have had close to 50 light fittings and reflectors piled up ready for the scrap.
I took about 10 tubes for spares.

 

[Sgoaty]

Im in Aberdeenshire. These things are never getting thrown out when im looking for them!

 

[brightspark]

I was thinking of getting one of these is there any benifit to getting a grid switch rather than a traditional 3 gang switch?

http://www.screwfix.com/p/mk-3-gang-2-way-10ax-light-switch-metal-clad/56798

none whatsoever unless u need to mix and match intermediate and 20 amp double pole switches and 10 amp 1gang 2 way switches ect on the same plate

 

[Cyberprog]

And emergency light test key's, and neons so you can find the switch in the dark... etc I've used combinations of these over the years, and my favourite are the rockers for shutters