My M3 with my new 28' Airstream...

[Farbin Kaiber]

There are 6 3'x10' skylights which make it very light inside during the day. I ordered some custom T5 light fixtures with motion sensors intrgrated into them. They utilize four 4' T5 54w 5000k bulbs stacked 2+2 to create an 8' fixture, 2 bulbs wide. I am lighting the rear of the shop a lot more than the front due to the majority of work being performed back there.
The rear area by the lifts will have roughly 75-100 foot-candles of light, so it will be very bright back there. I was going to do metal halide's but they are very expensive, enery consuming and require long warm-up times. With these fixtures you get light instantly and they last 20,000hrs. Bulbs are $5 ea and take a lot less energy to run. With the motion sensors being adjustble from 0-30min I will be able to keep energy costs at a minimum.

I can't wait to see the goodies installed, lifts, rollaways, assorted niftyness. This looks to be a "Top 5 e30 Owner Garage" by the time your pair roll inside along with everything else. Worth the drive to see in person.

[Ben Carufel]

Cool. Should be neat.

I think in a few years you'll be able to upgrade to LED lighting at a reasonable cost. I'm looking forward to it -- both as an architectural photographer and as a "Greenie", I like the idea of using LED vs. Fluorescent.

[george graves]

I think the outside of the shop is going to look great. I bet your neighbors are glad to see you are doing things right. That and some landscaping, and it will look like the shop has always been there.

Nice work man!

[Farbin Kaiber]

mild OT

Cool. Should be neat.

I think in a few years you'll be able to upgrade to LED lighting at a reasonable cost. I'm looking forward to it -- both as an architectural photographer and as a "Greenie", I like the idea of using LED vs. Fluorescent.

Has it come to the point where color is better? From my time with LED lighting I found it to have a "lifeless" glow to it. Has that been solved and a more natural hue when used for indoor illumination?

[RedStar240]

This makes me what to drive down to Mexico..... starting from New Hampshire in a camper.

[Ben Carufel]

mild OT




Has it come to the point where color is better? From my time with LED lighting I found it to have a "lifeless" glow to it. Has that been solved and a more natural hue when used for indoor illumination?

Every month they're making big advances in getting the color of LED light to be not nearly as ugly and white as it started.

The biggest problem as I understand is the directional light that LEDs project -- very different than the overall "glow" that an incandescent bulb gives off.

Once they figure out how to refract/reflect/modify the light to "glow" more, they'll have commercially available screw-in LED bulbs for home use within a few months, I'd guess.

[Mtriple]

Every month they're making big advances in getting the color of LED light to be not nearly as ugly and white as it started.

The biggest problem as I understand is the directional light that LEDs project -- very different than the overall "glow" that an incandescent bulb gives off.

Once they figure out how to refract/reflect/modify the light to "glow" more, they'll have commercially available screw-in LED bulbs for home use within a few months, I'd guess.

Shut it Greenie.

[Ben Carufel]

Shut it Greenie.

LOL.

Asshole!

[SR20Fastback]

Wow Ryan, my first time to see this thread. Good luck with everything!! I'm not sure how far Auburn is, but it seems to be within a couple hours, I'd definitely be game to come check out the grand opening (sans work).

[M3 Ryan]

Wow Ryan, my first time to see this thread. Good luck with everything!! I'm not sure how far Auburn is, but it seems to be within a couple hours, I'd definitely be game to come check out the grand opening (sans work).

Auburn is about 2 hours from SF, give or take depending on how you drive. I will probably have the BBQ party here in about 2-3 months. It will take me that long to get this bad boy up and running how I want it. I have some other stuff in the cards right now so this shop project has taken a slight backseat, for now. Don't worry though, you will all be stoked when I tell you what I have done as its even better than I ever imagined it could be.

[SR20Fastback]

haha well good luck either way man! i had to make a similar life change about 2 years ago to this month, but it didn't involve me moving to a baller ass trailier on 2 acres, more like moving back home and away from the psycho ex/san diego/dealer life as well.


oh well, at least i finally found a job i love haha

[Longboardmtk]

any updates? how's progress?

[cbouchez]

I like this Airtsream..

[SamE30e]

I demand updates!!!

It's looking good!

[Justin B]

What the fuck is that? ^ Looks like it belongs on the moon. Ugly