Workshop lighting

[colinb4987]

Hi all,

Wanting to tap the hive mind for opinions on lighting options. Ideally I'd like colour-temperature adjustable LEDs, and lots of them, but no idea what the state of the marketplace is ATM. Not averse to a bit of crimping and soldering, but not interested in building circuit boards! WiFi and ZigBee network signals are nice and strong.

Workshop is 5x3m, with 2.4m headroom to the underside of rafters, maybe a smidge more. It's multipurpose, but primary use is machining (lathe, mill, eventually surface grinder). A bit of hand tool woodwork, and of course storing the usual shed/garden stuff.

Thanks in advance

 

[OJCar]

I'm blaming @Blobber !
but these
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/405319264112
are doing very nicely in my workshop

(If taking down old fittings, wash your hands before putting the new ones up.
(guess how I know that!))

 

[colinb4987]

Simultaneously, thanks @OJCar, and no thanks at all!

No old fittings, the building is currently a concrete slab and not much more!

 

[frank horton]

I have something similar to the above plus i brought with me quite a few strip lights 4's 5's and 6footers...
The local elec shop sell's LED replacement bulbs, 4' are less than 3 euro's so why go pay loads'a money for fancy lamps....
PS I only buy bright white....cant stand soft yellow even in the house...

 

[colinb4987]

We've put smart bulbs throughout the house, and I've found I actually really appreciate being able to control hue and intensity per time of day and use of room.

Granted, many fewer alternative uses of a workshop than a sitting room!

Good to know panels +/- strips give effective coverage though, makes life and planning much easier!

 

[zzr1200]

I'm blaming @Blobber !
but these
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/405319264112
are doing very nicely in my workshop

(If taking down old fittings, wash your hands before putting the new ones up.
(guess how I know that!))

@OJCar @Blobber

How thick are the light panels?

I understand they are supposed to be fitted to recessed cut outs in the ceiling, but just in case they need be fitted on the surface in a mounting frame.

 

[GRW]

Just as a "food for thought" option.
I have fitted outside yard-type led lights in my little workshed ceiling, and at top-of-wall height in an outbuilding at my folks place.
With a small loop of cable, & one centre screw in the "C" shaped mounting bracket - I have lighting that is fully directional.
I can focus extra light onto the area I need it by adjusting the lights. It's also useful when welding (sometimes the lighting is reflected off the steel, causing the mask to darken before strike-up, so I can "tweak" the lighting direction to maintain as much illumination as possible, without the glare setting off the mask.

 

[OJCar]

@OJCar @Blobber

How thick are the light panels?

I understand they are supposed to be fitted to recessed cut outs in the ceiling, but just in case they need be fitted on the surface in a mounting frame.

The panels are about 10mm top to bottom and have a captive fly lead that plugs into the controller box.
I mounted the panels onto open rafters with little homemade brackets.
With the controller box fitted to the side of the rafter,
so in my instal the fitted depth is about 15mm.

I'm in the process of mounting some of the panels onto the wall,
again with home made brackets so they send light to the sides and underneath the vehicle I working on.


You can get Surface Mounting Kits like
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/286493020337
That would give an installed depth of 45mm.

By the time you have them and the panel, cost wise, your better of with the LED strip lights.
In my case the slimness of the panels was important to gain working height from the old florescent strip instal.

 

[knighty]

slightly off topic... why colour changing?

 

[MetalMonkey]

slightly off topic... why colour changing?

Colour temperature, not colour.
Cool white, warm white.

Can be useful for paint matching or close work.

 

[brightspark]

buy the batton fittings with slider switches you can have them warm white cool white or daylight and option of 3 brightness's