LED Flood lights for the garage

Lo dudes

A while ago we were debating the type of lights for a garage/workshop in two threads
https://forums.hexus.net/home-garden...-workshop.html
amd
https://forums.hexus.net/home-garden...ip-lights.html

Well I purchased a batch of 10w LED mains powered flood lights as an experiement as they were VERY CHEAP, and this weekend I put them in the rafters of the garage and they work very well.

http://cpc.farnell.com/pro-elec/pel0...00k/dp/LP10251

When I ordered them they were on sale and they were under £2:50 inc vat each (even now they're only £3.54 if you buy 5 or more, which I did). They have a bracket, which with a single large screw fits beautifully to the narrow top edge of each rafter in the garage and then they pivot round and pivot up and down for angle. If you have a flat garage roof, so long as the rafters are high enough, you could put them under each beam if required. In theory they're be fine on the side, but that does restrict direction of movment and I like to keep the options open.

And to move them is key....it's important as they are BRIGHT! and you don't want a retina full of those bad boys when you walk in!

At 10w each, they're cheap to run and ultra bright. They are small, the size of a smart phone, and oddly, they diffuse well... you can see the shadow edge as you pivot them and it's very easy to get coverage. A full garage length wall needed onlt 3 for good zero shadow and one other near the back for the rear shelves did the job.

With junction boxes for each, it was 3 very enjoyable hours up and down a ladder and no you dont' get a photo. But you gotta trust me. For that money, they're great.

If you're worried by the chance of a dazzling LED eyeball glare, it's worth knowing that I angled them all UP to bounce of the (very high cob webbed) ceiling and they diffused very well for a softer lit look

Gah, on back order already...

I still need to get me some LEDs fitted.
I assume I can get one of those T8 batten luminairey things and wire them to a mains plug, so I can test positioning and see how well they light, where I want them, etc?

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Originally Posted by Ttaskmaster

Gah, on back order already...

I still need to get me some LEDs fitted.
I assume I can get one of those T8 batten luminairey things and wire them to a mains plug, so I can test positioning and see how well they light, where I want them, etc?

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dunno about them but i did exactly that.. wired a mains plug.. checked it... ran an extension lead to the place I thought was ideal... pluged in...it was.

Wired all lamps in with junction boxes as normal and took out the old 3 bulb crap light that was a temp install from day one.

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Originally Posted by Zak33

Wired all lamps in with junction boxes as normal and took out the old 3 bulb crap light that was a temp install from day one.

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Do junction boxes (ie the coupl'a quid ones) usually come with terminals, screws and all that included, or are they literally just empty boxes to house the connection blocks?
Silly question I know, but the photos and descriptions on Screwfix/BandQ/etc aren't really very explanatory...

same place as I got the lights I got junction boxes.

4 terminal ones.. lovely to use but soft brass screws, so use the right sized flat head
Packet of 5 £2.71 inc vat

http://cpc.farnell.com/marbo/gb6-hb5...P=TREML007-003

unscrew the round front with a philips. Screw the junction box to the beam through two of the holes in the back. There are 4 terminals with screw threaded brass heads, and four directions for cable to come in from.

For my own mental benefit I put the cable from the lamp into each terminal from one direction on the terminal, & into the other direction I push the two power cables - one from the light circuit, and one going to the next box. Obviously each of the junction boxes has 4 terminals on those above and you only need to use 3 - Live, Neutral and Earth. That gives you a spare if you mess one up and burr over the head (which i did once)

then lid back on

here, they look like this
http://thumb1.zeppy.io/d/l400/pict/2...l-wire-connect

Each of those brass fittings has a grub screw and the cables go ito below from both sides.

The fourth terminal is usually used for the switch connection in a normal lighting circuit, but as you say can be used as a spare! It is easy to cross the threads too. If you have a couple of wires to put in, it can be easier to remove the screw and punch the wires down to the bottom of the terminal post with a flat bladed screwdriver.

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Originally Posted by peterb

If you have a couple of wires to put in, it can be easier to remove the screw and punch the wires down to the bottom of the terminal post with a flat bladed screwdriver.

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didn't thnik of that.. should have called you while I was arsing about on the first two.

Incidentally.. if you're ordering from there, also get magnetic trays to hold screws and stuff to anything metal (ie ladder)
http://cpc.farnell.com/duratool/d031...P=TREML007-003

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Originally Posted by Zak33

didn't thnik of that.. should have called you while I was arsing about on the first two.

Incidentally.. if you're ordering from there, also get magnetic trays to hold screws and stuff to anything metal (ie ladder)
http://cpc.farnell.com/duratool/d031...P=TREML007-003

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A lot of ladders are aluminium though :(

mine is... BUT the rivets and clips that unlock it are steel and it worked really well :)

I also have steel shelving and the hooks are awesome... very strong. So they are all over the place holding saws and ables etc

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Originally Posted by peterb

A lot of ladders are aluminium though :(

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And some are still made of wood.... not that I completely trust my own handiwork just yet!

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Originally Posted by peterb

The forth terminal

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<grammar_police_mode>
Fourth
</grammar_police_mode>
Sorry! :p

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Originally Posted by peterb

is usually used for the switch connection in a normal lighting circuit

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I'll have to Google how that's done, as I'll want the lights wired to the switch...
Do you just wire the switch to the first junction box in the circuit?

if there's a light already there (as I had) then I took it down and placed a box there and took the feed from it. I didn't want a light in the middle of the garage. That way you have everything you need.

If you want to KEEP the light that's there, then take your three feeds from it. Either way, use what you've already got.

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Originally Posted by Ttaskmaster

....

<grammar_police_mode>
Fourth
</grammar_police_mode>
Sorry! :p

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Hey, grammar_police. You're out of your jurisdiction. That was a job for spelling_police.

Sorry! :p

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Originally Posted by Ttaskmaster

And some are still made of wood.... not that I completely trust my own handiwork just yet!


<grammar_police_mode>
Fourth
</grammar_police_mode>

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Grrrr - predictive spellers - need a good kicking! :)
Sorry! :p. Corrected!

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Originally Posted by Ttaskmaster

I'll have to Google how that's done, as I'll want the lights wired to the switch...
Do you just wire the switch to the first junction box in the circuit?

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Line neutral and earth go to three terminals (use sleeve on the earth wire) and then on to the next light if it is part of a lighting ring main.

Line goes to the switch, the other wire from the switch goes to the fourth post. (It is usual to put a bit of red or brown tape on the wire to show it is a switched line)

One wire from the lampholder goes to neutral, the other goes to the fourth post.

Earth also goes to the switch and lampholder - the earth post is generally the one that has the most wires.

Alternatively you can use a ceiling rose which has one connector per wire for each connection needed (lighting ring in (and out) switch and lampholder).

Observe colour codes (Brown line, Blue neutral and use yellow/green sleeving on exposed earth connections) and ensure connections are tight. Turn off power before you start.

hey, if you're not sure at alll.. it's not for you .

These things aren't for fiddling about with. The moment you don't know what you're doing, is the moment to pay a sparky to do it.

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Originally Posted by Zak33

These things aren't for fiddling about with. The moment you don't know what you're doing, is the moment to pay a sparky to do it.

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You also need to check the law regarding this as well. IIRC, replacing a light fixture is fine but adding a new one needs to signed off by someone Part-P qualified (peterb will no doubt clarify this).

Part P guidance here

https://electrical.theiet.org/buildi...art-p/faqs.cfm

Basically anything other than 'minor work' needs to be reported to planning control unless you use an electrician registered to do part P work.

'Minor work' is defined in the link. Regardless of the reporting requirement, the work must be done in a competently.

Adding an additional light to an existing cct seems to me to be to be a minor work to quote from the reference above:

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Examples include adding a lighting or power point to an existing circuit, adding a spur to an existing circuit or replacing a light fitting.

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- however this is my opinion based on the above quote, and I am neither a lawyer nor a person registered to do Part P work.

If you are in any doubt, seek qualified advice.

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Originally Posted by Zak33

If you want to KEEP the light that's there, then take your three feeds from it. Either way, use what you've already got.

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I was thinking of keeping the layout and the switch cabling, but replacing the actual fittings with LED ones (because the old ones are pretty knackered anyway).

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Originally Posted by Saracen

Hey, grammar_police. You're out of your jurisdiction. That was a job for spelling_police.

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We have to cover both jurisdictions, now. Government cutbacks, y'know...

Heck, we have mere SPSOs and GPSOs covering all the Inappropriate Avatar turf, and we've had to give Signature Sizes to the Specials!

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Originally Posted by Zak33

hey, if you're not sure at alll.. it's not for you.

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I'm learning... More importantly, I'm learning before I'm doing.

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Originally Posted by Gerrard

You also need to check the law regarding this as well. IIRC, replacing a light fixture is fine but adding a new one needs to signed off by someone Part-P qualified (peterb will no doubt clarify this).

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I'm mostly just replacing old with new and possibly replacing old cables with new.
Looking at the construction of this garage... and the barbican, for that matter... I doubt either of them have Part-P certification anyway. The delivery guys refused to wire in our new electric cooker because the fuse boxes were all too old.

The joys of renting old countryside properties!

£3 for a floodlight :eek:

I have 4 LED Bulbs (normal 60w replacements) in my garage, which whilst adequate 2 are covered by the garage door when it is up & over.

Tempted to try ordering half a dozen of these (because...why not!!) and testing out different arrangement to get full light coverage!

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Originally Posted by Andehh

£3 for a floodlight :eek:

I have 4 LED Bulbs (normal 60w replacements) in my garage, which whilst adequate 2 are covered by the garage door when it is up & over.

Tempted to try ordering half a dozen of these (because...why not!!) and testing out different arrangement to get full light coverage!

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the more I use my garage the more I realise I need a few more :)

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Originally Posted by Zak33

the more I use my garage the more I realise I need a few more :)

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Would tube lights not have been better, then?

I had tubes in my last garage and the good ones were expensive.

I had 3 pairs in there, with white board ceiling reflections, and it worked well but it was money and I still had shadows in places.

these are quite easy to move...and besides.....it was a "thought" that devloped into a "sod it... lets try"

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Originally Posted by Ttaskmaster

Would tube lights not have been better, then?

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having said that i WILL likely fit tubes along the lower walls later

......and I have purchased a single LED 40w tube strip light style and will fit it on the ceiling this weekend.