The best Commercial Bay Lighting: Reddit reviews

From 3.5 billion Reddit comments

Here's a great deal on shop lights if you decide you want more for cheap.

Looks great otherwise! I built one with just 21 sites and wish I had more for my strawberries now.

I agree with this as well. I ended up getting something similar and went back and bought another set. Extremely easy to install. General rule of thumb on lighting is you want to spread your wattage out to as many different light sources as possible. It's a game changer in the garage.

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https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07TM97LWY/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o03_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

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That's what I got. Easy to mount either via chain or clips

i bought these ones.. $60. They're only 40w each, I run them for about 10 hours a day, seven days a week, and have seen very minimal impact on my electricity bill. I installed them before winter, when our bill naturally runs a little higher, but in the late summer/fall months when I was running them I actually didn't see much of a difference at all. They also don't put off heat, which is nice. The color is a nice bright white. They're LED, so they'll last you forever.

You can mount them from the ceiling or the wall (I have mine wall-mounted on all four walls in my room). The other commenter is right, Amazon is undoubtedly unethical, and it's always best to try to find other businesses to support, but this is what I personally did.

Here's a picture of one of mine while it's off. Installation was super easy.

picture of light

The trays are what they are. A YouTube-er Justin out in s cal mentioned using 1 dollar trays until they broke . got me looking and found

cut kit trays

They are malleable to open up when watering, which I was really hoping for. Had cheap other ones that were just to ridgid and cracked easily.

As for the t5 vs t8. I have a bunch of old t5 (not led) use to use for our canna grows and they were fine for the clones and teens. So t5 led should be fine for microgreens. For the price and the electrical bill savings I would get instead of using my old t5s, we went the t8 led and just skipped over the 5. I am now, or soon going to be dimming the lights down maybe 20-30% and compare the grows. With that said , I'm thinking I could have went the t5 led and achieve the same results.

Lights

t8 leds

I got some led shop lights off Amazon that are unbelievably lightweight and would be totally fine on command strips, if the command strips are stuck to non-textured clean surface.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0868DVRL7/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_glc_fabc_E4RF0JBE0JY2P2PP1N6S?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1

Same as my setup (2 car garage). I left the garage door lights stock. Changed my two bare bulbs into two deformable LED lights (https://www.amazon.com/LED-Garage-Ceiling-Light-Deformable/dp/B07BQV1CMY/) and the switch is on an occupancy sensor. So walking in and out of the house you can at least have bright LEDs. If you're OCD about all lights being the same temp, then you can change the garage door lights to similar temp LED bulbs.

Lastly I have 5 Barrina 8ft lights in a box & center pattern connected to a Kasa smart switch + Amazon Echo. When I need to do real work, I tell Alexa to turn on lights and BAM. You may have to splice additional power cables to daisy chain the lights in the pattern you like.

You don't want the shop lights to turn on every time someone walks through the garage, waste of power and blindingly bright at night. So I love having two regular light fixtures for that.

Lastly make sure you decide what color temp is best for your eyes then get all matching bulbs. 4000k, 5000k, or 6000k. Feel free to PM me for specific questions.

They are 5000k leds. Here’s the link if you want more info.

Bbounder 4 Pack Linkable LED Utility Shop Light, 4 FT, 4000 LM, 48 Inch Integrated Fixture for Garage, 40W Equivalent 250W, 5000K Daylight, Surface + Suspension Mount, White https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0868DVRL7/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_fabc_RQMH6F6DKV56FEZFEYK2?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1

I have about 50 lumens/sqft in my garage. I installed something like these in the 7 lightbulb sockets in my garage/shop. They are crazy bright but Im still not sure they were the "best" way to go. I have 11' to joist with no actual ceiling so they were an easy and bright plug-n-play option for the sockets that were already there. I really hate working in my own shadow so I still use small lights when Im working under the hood or at my workbench.

Honestly for leds, I just go with whatever's cheap on Amazon. Something along these lines is what I tend to use. For uvb, I swear by Arcadia's fixtures and bulbs however.

300W isn't overkill for a 2'x4' imo, but get these instead of what you linked..

Or if you can find a used 240W Quantum Board, then you can dim it too fit your plants needs.

I started with CFLs years back, then bought a 300 actual watt burple, then build my own with quality led strips, then bought this Quantum Board. I'll be buying another when I need more light/ have more space.

If you want to be professional check out garage journal forums. They go serious with blueprint layouts and lighting heat maps and what not.

I'm happy with these and recommended them to a friend and he enjoys it as well.

The bars connect to each other or they have a wire you plug in to one another. They're really light so you can mount them to the ceiling with the clip and don't need a stud.

To power them you just connect one end of it to the existing wiring you have with wire nuts. Then it'll chain off each other so no other wiring is needed.

We have these in our garage and pole barn and they are nice.

https://www.amazon.com/Deformable-Fixtures-Lighting-Warehouse-Activated/dp/B083HY4KKG/ref=asc_df_B083HY4KKG/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=416811141592&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=5924406177166712168&hvpone=&hvptwo=&...

Are you interested in thinking outside the box? I wanted to replace the single bulb with some fluorescent fixtures, and then decided that was just old tech. I found these adjustable LED petal bulbs that just go into a standard bulb socket and the garage is like the surface of the sun it's so bright. OK, not really, but it's bright as hell and the easiest thing you'll ever do.

https://www.amazon.com/Deformable-Fixtures-Lighting-Warehouse-Activated/dp/B083HY4KKG/ref=asc_df_B083HY4KKG

I use These and my plants are doing very well. You want to know how many watts the light is (not the best way to measure light) the more the merrier.

Barrina LED Shop Light, 4FT 40W 5000LM 5000K, Daylight White, V Shape, Clear Cover, Hight Output, Linkable Shop Lights, T8 LED Tube Lights

Same ones OnTheGrow use.

I've condensed my setup but this is what I do for my plants over the winter. Top row is succulents, bottom row are herbs that I'm growing in a jar, some rosemary, and various other things. The lights are strong enough that I can water my succulents over the winter without them stretching out, and I can grow just about any herb.

These are the lights if you want to do something similar. Each rack has 3 of those lights. Your bonsi will want to be fairly close to the lights, other plants will probably be fine further away.

I also have a pothos and a larger jade plant that I just leave next to my windows. If yours are regular indoor plants they'll probably be fine with normal indirect sun close to a south facing window. Maybe some added humidity too.

Linkable LED Shop Light for... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07TM97LWY?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share

I used these in my garage they're cheap, linkable, and brighter than they have any business being. I love them. Paired it with a gosund controller so I can have Alexa turn the lights on or do from my phone

I've been using a 7 gallon tote for 6 heads of romaine. I only put 6 gallons of water in so they have some air space. When they run that about dry I sometimes add about a gallon to a gallon and a half to keep them going. Often tho, I don't even refill it. I just harvest those ones because I have 4 totes on a rotation so I have more than I need without adding water. At the end the tote is about 1/3-1/2 full of roots.

I've had no success with spinach in this setup tho. I haven't researched the possible reasons why though.

Lighting requirements for lettuce are going to be lower than for fruiting plants. Fruiting plants also like to have a warmer color temp when fruiting, but it's not 100% necessary. With that said, I use 3 of these per shelf in my tent. My shelves are 2'x4'. That's 120W ea shelf. They make 2' versions that only use 20W/light as well.

You ain't wrong. I got these (seen in the background) they were a big help.

I'm thinking about getting some for my attic.

Never thought that I would be so excited for lights, but it makes a world of a difference.

I ended up getting these: BBOUNDER 4 Pack Linkable LED Utility Shop Light, 4 FT, 4000 LM, 48 Inch Integrated Fixture for Garage, 40W Equivalent 250W, 5000K Daylight, Surface + Suspension Mount, Black https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07LGTJQ2S/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_SAR12ZSNSMS81YC70HHM?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1

My only complaint is that the screws they come with are extremely cheap and flimsy but that can be corrected with a quick run to the hardware store.

I bought these cheap led 4ft fixtures and I can’t say enough great things about them. I have 8 of them in my garage and it’s is extremely bright. They’re super light and east to mount, and I even had one fall off the ladder and hit the concrete floor while installing them with no damage. Highly recommend them.

Interesting to hear that, I wish literally just about to order a few more from them.

If you don't mind me asking what were the specific lights that you had problems with?

I have 20 of thesethese in my garage right now (end linked in 4 sets of 5 lights) with zero issues for a year now

My only complaint is that they make noise in the clips when they are first turn on as I'm assuming they are expanding a bit and moving.

BBOUNDER 4 Pack Linkable LED Utility Shop Light, 4 FT, 4000 LM, 48 Inch Integrated Fixture for Garage, 40W Equivalent 250W, 5000K Daylight, Surface + Suspension Mount, Black https://smile.amazon.com/dp/B07LGTJQ2S/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_BZ1JH2DDMH4GNG1EYW0E

White ceiling with more lights, you never have enough lights.

I have 20 of these, Barrina LED Shop Light, 4FT 40W 5000LM 5000K, Daylight White, V Shape, Clear Cover, Hight Output, Linkable Shop Lights, T8 LED Tube Lights, LED Garage Light 4 Foot with Plug (Pack of 10) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07Q49DNGS/ref=cm_sw_r_apan_i_31EPYZR234ESZZPRF55T?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1

And 6 twin tube led lights in my 2 car and I'm mostly happy with the amount of light now

I have the same size shelf, my lights are on chains that I make shorter or longer as seedlings grow. It’s a lot easier than moving the shelf.

I’ve linked the ones I’ve used. I like them bc they’re lightweight, can link up with each other (I have multiple multiple shelves), and come with a chain (I use needle nose pliers to adjust the chain length). Two lights per shelf seem to do the trick. Lights

And if you don’t have a timer yet, I suggest using one, they’re super helpful. I use one like this.

Recently installed 12 of these lights: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08B4MH679?psc=1&ref=ppx_yo2_dt_b_product_details in garage that measures aboot 14'x21'. The garage is very bright. Note these are two sided projecting down at an angle with a reflector on the top.

I just installed these LED lights: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07PG3RLH7. I used a light socket/outlet adapter to connect it to the ceiling light, which is connected to a motion sensor light switch. My happened asked me today if I thought the utility room was too bright. Obviously that's impossible, so I think they're working well.

My other recommendation is to be replace the pull chains with as motion sensor light switch. Not needing to fumble to turn on a light while holding a basket of laundry is great.

You could do something like this. They come with brackets to mount directly to the ceiling and they're linkable so they work off one switch. Limited-time deal: hykolity Linkable LED Shop Light for Garage, 4400lm, 4FT 42W Utility Light Fixture, 5000K Daylight LED Workbench Light W/ Plug [250W Equivalent]hanging or Surface Mount, Black - 4 Pack ETL https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07TM97LWY/ref=cm_sw_r_apan_glt_i_dl_JG61B47CNXW4PZ630KPK

I think something more like this: https://www.amazon.com/Hykolity-Linkable-Workshop-Workbench-Equivalent/dp/B07TM97LWY/ref=mp_s_a_1_11?crid=1VVHJS2J64O7U&keywords=5000+lumen+shop+light&qid=1646970807&sprefix=5000+lumen+%2Caps%2C374&sr=8-11

Those lights you linked to don't seem like they would be easy to hang over your seedlings and seem way too pricey per light.

I had something like these lights in mind. They have reflectors to help limit light spill however they are 4ft long.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08B4MH679

As for floodlights... I'm thinking 4 or 5 lights that are 30 watts each. I remember some years back there was a person using 50 watt floodlights for a large and tall tank, it was a bit overkill.