Understanding Garage Lighting Solutions
For many would-be home mechanics, the first thing on their shopping list is usually tools. So too is the second, third and fourth - in fact, it's pretty easy to overlook the importance of good garage or workshop lighting and many people don't think of it as a priority purchase. Hopefully, this article will shed some light on why you should perhaps consider good lighting as an integral part of your workshop, and maybe bump it up a few places on the priority list. First let's get some of the jargon (and the puns) out of the way:
What are watts?
If you've had to change a light bulb, chances are you've seen that they usually denote their watt rating. A watt (W) is a measure of the rate at which an electrical device uses or generates energy - one watt is equal to one joule per second. Generally, a bulb with a higher watt rating will consume more power, and consequently it will output brighter light, but there can be exceptions to this rule since lighting technology has evolved. Certain types of light, such as LED lighting, will almost always output more brightness than traditional bulbs for any given wattage, so in order to determine how bright a light will actually be, we need to look at an entirely different unit of measurement - the lumen.
What does a lumen rating mean?
The other rating that is usually advertised where lighting is concerned is the lumen rating, or simply lumens. This is the measure of how much visible (to the human eye) light is generated by a given light source, and it is a far more effective way to gauge whether a particular lamp or bulb is what you are after than the watts are. This is because energy saving, halogen or LED bulbs can output far more lumens than standard bulbs do at specific watt ratings, and each type of light will differ in the amount of power required to generate its light. This leads us to the next bit of jargon you'll likely encounter when you are shopping for lighting solutions - all of the different types of bulbs.
LED vs fluoro vs incandescent lighting & halogen - What's the difference?
Aside from some marketing names, most lighting options can be broadly categorised by what type of bulb they utilise.
- Incandescent (and Halogen) - By far the most common used to be lighting that used incandescent bulbs. These are your standard household light bulbs, and the category includes halogen, xenon and energy-saving bulbs - of a variety of shapes and sizes. Each different type of gas used in an incandescent bulb will allow it to output a different level of brightness (and usually a slightly different colour) - and this is pretty much always reflected in the price of the bulb. Although traditionally the least efficient option, there has been a general shift towards longer lasting energy-saving bulbs, and they have even become mandatory in some places, which means that there are still quite a few lighting options that make use of incandescent bulbs. One of the major advantages of lighting that uses household bulbs is that those bulbs are readily available and generally fairly cheap to replace. Depending upon the type of bulb used, incandescent lighting can take a little while to reach maximum light output, though this is generally quicker than with fluoro lights – and they also won't flicker on and off as they warm up. Speaking of warming up, a lamp that utilises a standard incandescent bulb or a halogen bulb will tend to heat up over time so they aren't the best type of light to use in close proximity to where you are working, due to the risk of burns.
- Fluorescent - The other traditional staple in garages and workshops are the tubular fluorescent lights. These lights tend to be used overhead and cast a bright, white light once they reach operating temperature. Traditionally, due to their size and fragility, fluoro lights weren't really suitable for use as torches or hanging work lights – despite posing no real risk of burns to someone working near them. Now however, they can be protected from impacts and damage with strong plastics, so they can be used right in the thick of it.
- LED - Light Emitting Diodes do exactly what they say on the tin, and emit light. They are efficient and bright as well as posing no real risk of injury, since they don't usually heat up in any noticeable way. For all intents and purposes, LED lighting is the industry standard when it comes to lamps, work lights and torches. It is also the most energy efficient type of light, so whilst a LED torch might cost more than other types, in the long run it'll usually save you money. And just in case you weren't already sold on the idea, LED lighting is usually far more resilient to knocks and bumps, since there's no large and incredibly fragile glass bulb to worry about.
Which type of lighting is best for which job?
When it comes to everyday workshop lighting, you might find that your overhead lights aren't really that useful when you are lying underneath your car - elbow deep in its running gear and trying to locate a single bolt in an awkwardly positioned hole. Obviously you need a light so you can see what you're doing. But how are you supposed to juggle a torch, your ratchet, and the bits that you're bolting up? And what about when you are trying to disassemble some doodad or other at your work bench – can you use the same light?
The solution to these sorts of problems is specialised lighting – and there are more than a few options that are more or less suitable for different tasks.
- Hand Held Torches - The most obvious type of worklight that you might need when working in darker places is a simple torch. There are many different types, but they all have a similar function – to project a beam of light and illuminate dark spots. Most torches are designed to be held in one hand, so they aren't really suitable for use when you need both hands free. (Please don't hold torches in your mouth – it's unhygienic!). Handheld torches will usually be battery powered, although some haven't got removable batteries, and are instead plugged into 240v mains to be charged between uses. Higher-end torches will also tend to be workshop safe which means that they are impact-resistant and usually water (and other fluids) proof. They are great for quick inspections, and checks - work that doesn't require any other tools.
- Mountable Worklights - These lights solve the issue of requiring free hands to work on your vehicle by providing a method for securing your light source to your workspace. Traditionally, hands-free worklights will consist of a lamp that has a vertical handle and a hook at the top for hanging the light above engine bays or under the subframe etc. They often have multiple brightness settings and can be powered by batteries, plug into 240v wall sockets or usb, or even feature clamps for use with your vehicle's battery. That said, there are many other styles and methods for mounting a worklight in a useful place, such as clips, movable bases, and magnets - so there should be something available to suit any task.
- Floodlights & Lamps - If you are after lighting that provides illumination in a large area, but that can be moved around to suit where you are working, then a set of lamps or floodlights may be just what you need. These floor standing worklights are often used in temporary workshop spaces or when lighting is required outside, though they are also useful for brightening up areas of a workshop where the overhead lights cast too much shadow.
- Inspection Lights - Inspection lights are, as the name implies, worklights that are designed for close inspection of dark and hard to reach spots such as the crevices and depths of your engine bay. They usually consist of a light on the end of a long, often flexible shaft and they may or may not feature a movable mirror that allows you to see around or behind components that would otherwise block light and visibility. Some versatile worklights come with inspection light attachments, that transform a hand-held or mounted torch into a flexible and specialised inspection light.
- Headlamps - Finally, headlights or headlamps are a great tool if you need to take light with you that shines where you look. These worklights can make working underneath vehicles far easier, and usually offer a few different brightness settings to avoid blinding you due to reflected light in close confines. Headlamps are also great for use when camping, hiking, hunting or doing anything outside or in the dark - and are pretty handy to keep in your glovebox or toolkit, along with a few spare batteries, in case of emergencies.
Lighting Safety
As you can now see, there are a few different options available when considering lighting and it is definitely an integral part of any good home-mechanic's toolkit; but as with everything, safety should also be a priority. Obviously don't look directly at torches - it's never a bright idea - but sometimes, when working in close confines, the amount of light that can be reflected off a work surface can be unsafe, so be sure to think about getting lighting that can be run on a lower setting. Another thing to be aware of is the heat output of some lighting. Avoid touching the glass on incandescent lighting, and be aware that even LED lighting can sometimes heat up - particularly the metal heat sinks on the back of floodlights and the like. Like all electrical tools, lighting can be shockingly dangerous if exposed to water, so be sure to only use waterproof lights in wet environments or when working around things like water pumps or radiators - that could leak a bunch of fluids onto your worklight. Also be aware that spraying paint or other highly flammable fluids around floodlights and other lighting can have explosive results. Be sure to only use appropriate types of lights when painting in a spray booth etc.
There we have it. Hopefully this article has shed some light on lights, and will assist you in brightening up your garage or workshop.
*Important information* - Click here to read more about our How-To terms and conditions.