Lighting Small Garage, looking for ideas

[AndrewBird]

I did this:


Two screws in each, so not much damage to the ceiling. The cords are extension cord cut to length and stapled up. Everything cost me $18 from the local re-store. I used an adapter like Luke posted and they switch on and off with the light switch.

[Earendil]

Update and conclusion!
Setup:

• 4 fluorescent fixtures (8 tubes) on the ceiling - plugged into ceiling socket.
• Two female plugs draped down each side wall - connected to ceiling socket.
• 2 fluorescent fixtures 4 tubes) on each side wall with 10feet of flexible cable - can be plugged into new side wall female plugs
• Ceiling socket is on a light switch.
• Total of 8 screws sunk into the ceiling, most of them even hit studs ;-)
• $80 worth of wiring and misc electrical hardware.

Empty garage (back ceiling aren't up yet)




Lit up car!!




Example of flexible side lights being placed under the car. I've immediately started the winter work, changing the oil pan gasket :weak:




Thanks to everyone for the combination of advice and encouragement. I didn't think fluorescents were easy enough or in the budget. Turns out the wiring was more than the lights! My GFI issue cleared up on its own. Do be safe I went ahead and made sure I retired the three I was using just so they would suddenly un-fix themselves.

Cheers!

[Simon S]

Awesome. Looks like you've found your solution.

Fwiw, I did most all the work on my car in four different, small, dark-ish garages using 3-4 lights like this one



plus a trouble light - all with compact fluorescent bulbs.
2 of the four garages I used - I painted walls/ceiling white with landlord's blessing. Made a world of difference.
Did the trick on the cheap..

[Farbin Kaiber]

^Yeah, white high gloss enamel will quadruple the light you have to work with in that small space.

[Earendil]

Awesome. Looks like you've found your solution.

Fwiw, I did most all the work on my car in four different, small, dark-ish garages using 3-4 lights like this one.

That would have worked or been my plan. I really lucked out getting 8 fixtures with bulbs includedfor free*, even if one fixture and one bulb doesn't work. Still, it's over 100$ worth of lighting!

Feel free to keep suggesting ideas and discussing the subject. Hopefully someone else will find it some day and think its helpful.

*nothing being truly free, I realize had to drive 45 minutes to get it, which probably cost me $15 in gas and 90 minutes of my life.