So what would you have done different with your new shop?

[flingwing1969]

Personally, I like switches at all of my doors where I come and go. I have three in my big shop that is undergoing a transformation and will (soon hopefully) be much better illuminated than it is now with only 4-150w drop lights. There was only one light in the shop when I bought it because the original owner experienced a personal tragedy as he was in the process of commissioning it and he lost interest in the project and soon moved away.

Anyway, I rented the place for a year and a month and the renters needed lights to I slapped in four gang outlets onto the trusses and installed the four drop lights plugged into them. I installed three wireless switches - one at each man-door and one at the front and they work well enough for now. When I get the mezzanine build over a third of the shop, and the ceiling installed in the remainder, I will install proper lighting with proper switches at each point of likely need. I suggest breaking up the lighting and installing three-way and four-way switches for each lighting zone. My shop is divided into purpose built zones and one need not light the whole shop when only using the welding area, for example.

 

[Budweiser John]

Boy a 3phase would be very nice. I don't think we can get it in our rural area. But there is so much heavy duty shop equipment for dirt cheap because of 3phase..

I also looked into a 4 wire 3ph service and our local power co op wanted 40K to run the third wire about 3 miles. Needless to say my response was screw that.
Purchased an Arco Rotary Converter for around $2500 scanvaged up some used disconnects and have been making dust and chips for the last 30 years. My biggest motor is 20hp on my 36 Timesaver Sander.
No issues whatsoever.
B. John

 

[Budweiser John]

Wiring (conduits) in the concrete floor are essential for shop equipment located away from side walls or to service walk around island work stations as is piping for compressed air.
Pre planning of equipment layout in the design stage and stubbing up electrical and air will save tripping over cords and hoses for ever.
B. John

 

[bcp]

Or bring it down to islands from above.

Bruce

 

[Budweiser John]

Or bring it down to islands from above.

Bruce

Yes, that works too sorta...
My shop is mainly dedicated to wood working and the less clutter dangling around the better when wrestling plywood panels and long ripping’s. Plus, it’s a much cleaner look overalll.

B. John

 

[woodlandfarms]

So I am continuing to pencil designs, lets talk lighting.

I am in a 45X45 shop, 18 to the eaves. I was thinking of 6 200watt LED Warehouse lights. I am a big believer in that you never have too much light but working with LED lights of this size (20K lumens I beleive) I am unsure if I am headed for happiness or depression. Not cheap, basically 1K to just put lights in this one area....

 

[bdog]

6 lights is no where near enough to eliminate shadows. My 50x50 with 14’ sidewalls has 24 13,000 lumen led fixtures. It is just about perfect and wouldn’t want much less.

 

[TMGT]

6 lights is no where near enough to eliminate shadows. My 50x50 with 14’ sidewalls has 24 13,000 lumen led fixtures. It is just about perfect and wouldn’t want much less.

What type of fixtures do you have? I've found the ufo type led high bays seem to do a much better job at eliminating shadows compared to tube type fixture.

 

[flingwing1969]

6 lights is no where near enough to eliminate shadows. My 50x50 with 14’ sidewalls has 24 13,000 lumen led fixtures. It is just about perfect and wouldn’t want much less.

What bdog said.

 

[bdog]

These are what I have http://www.cooperindustries.com/con...s/highbay_lowbay_industrials/led/_889189.html

There are about a million different options mine are the 2x2 high bays with 13,009 lumens and 100 watts.