T-Hangar Overhead Lighting Suggestions

P51P28

P51P28

Pre-takeoff checklist
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Hi there everyone. Recently lucked out and scored a t-hangar at the local airport and I'm looking for some suggestions on how to light the thing up. The previous tenant had the brilliant idea of using the hangar as a paint booth, I'm in the process of removing all of the fixtures (2 of which are broken) and starting from scratch. The amount of dust and grime I had to clean was mindboggling.

There is one 110v outlet in the middle of the ceiling so I may be limited to what I can use. The light fixtures that were hanging were all hardwired and plugs in to the outlet. It was quite a clunky set up.

Appreciate the help!

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They make a bunch of nice LED replacements for florescent fixtures. Just search LED Shop Light at your favorite home center or whatever.

If you really want to go overboard, Big Ass Fans makes some real nice LED strip lights.
 
I just lit up my garage/shop with the 4' LED shop lights from Costco and those things are nuclear and decent price.

They make daisy chain kits for them to string all off one outlet if needed.
 
String of lights like you'd use on a patio, Gypsy style. EZ PZ.
100w LED "Daylight" floods.
 
Robert Gee said:
String of lights like you'd use on a patio, Gypsy style. EZ PZ.
100w LED "Daylight" floods.
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Probably not a bad idea. I have a couple of 4-Lamp suspended ceiling fixtures in my garage - and one of the ballasts went out. I decided that it was time to go LED, so bought
what I thought were direct replacement tubes. They are - except the type I bought require a functional ballast. Instead of returning them I looked around for a ballast and found
some exact replacements on Craigslist. Working fine now, but more of a chore to bring about than I expected.

Dave
 
P51P28 said:
Hi there everyone. Recently lucked out and scored a t-hangar at the local airport and I'm looking for some suggestions on how to light the thing up. The previous tenant had the brilliant idea of using the hangar as a paint booth, I'm in the process of removing all of the fixtures (2 of which are broken) and starting from scratch. The amount of dust and grime I had to clean was mindboggling.

There is one 110v outlet in the middle of the ceiling so I may be limited to what I can use. The light fixtures that were hanging were all hardwired and plugs in to the outlet. It was quite a clunky set up.

Appreciate the help!

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Does that conduit just continue through to adjacent hangars? Or are there some vertical pieces that run down the walls?
 
Sam's Club and Costco (and a ton of others) sell ~$25 LED shop lights that are perfect for the application. You need "walk around" level lighting in most of the hangar (IMO) and "strong illumination" lighting over the cockpit and engine, better so you can do maintenance and the like. Space fixtures to make this happen.
 
I have 4 LED 100W incandescent equivalents in my hangar. Provides plenty of light. Just need a trouble light for looking in the engine compartment.
 
luvflyin said:
Does that conduit just continue through to adjacent hangars? Or are there some vertical pieces that run down the walls?
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There is a run of vertical conduit that runs down to a switch on the wall.

I figured out a solution last night that will work just dandy. Thanks a lot everyone!
 
Whats with all that wood overhead? Certainly isn't part of the structure.
 
midwestpa24 said:
Whats with all that wood overhead? Certainly isn't part of the structure.
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Absolutely not. I finally broke down the mess that the previous tenant decided not to bother with before leaving. Slightly annoying but I figured it would be bad mojo to start complaining to the airport before moving in. I'm over it. Let's move forward and forget. :cool:

SoonerAviator said:
I would imagine that wooden structure was holding up the plastic sheeting/paint booth material.
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Correct sir!

Buying some lights from a local Wisconsin outfit: https://www.omniraylighting.com/

Customer service is awesome. Answered all of my nit picky emails and all. Already impressed.
 
RudyP said:
These things are SUPER bright and would be pretty easy to install with your overhead structure. The only downside I found is that they aren't shielded well and emit a lot of RF that can mess with your garage door opener frequencies. That was an issue in my garage but presumably would be fine in a hangar.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07Q49DNGS/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1
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Thanks for the suggestion. The Omni Ray lighting guys claim that the drivers in their lights create little to no RF. Who knows. I think 6, 4 footers will be just fine for my needs. :)
 
I got a 5 lamp utility chandelier and put 100w or more equivalent led in them- less draw than an old single incandescent and it lights the place up like noon! I have two of them. Get cold light not warm for crisper light

Menards carry some garage lights that are all in one and have 4 “wings” of lights and they too are insanely bright.

with LEDs don’t undercut yourself on light!
 
Harbor Freight sells some bright daisy-chainable LED lights that I'm actually looking at for my t-hangar. Looks like $200 gets a pretty good set of them. Then I just need the scissor lift to put them up.
 
EdFred said:
Illegal? Where?
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Maybe where Gypsys are outlawed and unsafe when at neck level, or wired by a Gypsy.

I just can't see going full electrician, scissor lift, MC/BX cable or even Romex inside a space I don't own. (Though I am qualified)
Benefits: single connection point, self supporting over distance, can be strung to a corner to light a workbench or desk, can be held high with zip ties or allowed to droop or hang as low as you need from wires at any height, easy to rearrange to eliminate shadows, Less liability from ladder work, trying to mount a fixture high atop a ladder and can ultimately be removed with a firm yank
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A few years ago I tried my hand at car painting in my garage. Over head lights made too many shadows on the lower sides, didn't want floor clutter from standing lights so I strung some of these closer to the walls, used a 100w bulb every other socket, some places skipped several sockets and liked the amount of light they put out and now use them and don't bother with the overhead fluorescents.
 
I'm surprised the airport handed it over to you like that. Seems like they would have at least done a basic clean-up to get that junk out of there!
 
Brad W said:
I'm surprised the airport handed it over to you like that. Seems like they would have at least done a basic clean-up to get that junk out of there!
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You're funny. Most people who've been on the hangar list long enough would take whatever is available, even if it meant they had to do a Three Mile Island like cleanup.

Airport management knows this.
 
I know this isn't what you asked, but I'll post it anyway.

My hangar has one light socket up in the center. At some point someone put one of those big corn cob looking led bulbs in it, but it's still not particularly bright. I had big plans to get some led strips and wire them in, but after being in there a year, the number of times I've even turned the light on can be counted on one hand. About the only time I use them is when we get back after dark and I'm pushing the plane in. Don't need much light for that. I salute your effort to improve the place, but I eventually decided it's not worth the time and effort for me.
 
Brad W said:
I'm surprised the airport handed it over to you like that. Seems like they would have at least done a basic clean-up to get that junk out of there!
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It was bad for sure but the hangar is cleaned up and ready for the airplane. No looking back. Could have complained to the airport but you get much further with sugar instead of salt.

kyleb said:
You're funny. Most people who've been on the hangar list long enough would take whatever is available, even if it meant they had to do a Three Mile Island like cleanup.

Airport management knows this.
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Yup.

Jim K said:
I know this isn't what you asked, but I'll post it anyway.

My hangar has one light socket up in the center. At some point someone put one of those big corn cob looking led bulbs in it, but it's still not particularly bright. I had big plans to get some led strips and wire them in, but after being in there a year, the number of times I've even turned the light on can be counted on one hand. About the only time I use them is when we get back after dark and I'm pushing the plane in. Don't need much light for that. I salute your effort to improve the place, but I eventually decided it's not worth the time and effort for me.
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Funny you wrote this. I twisted in one of those three leaf LED lights for $30. Boom. Done. See how it rolls for now. If I need something more substantial, I can always upgrade. Came to the conclusion there’s no need to spend the extra money when it can be spent on 100ll. :)
 
I'm sorry, the festoon lighting is NOT legal in aircraft hangars. As cute as you find it in your backyard, it doesn't belong nor is it safe to use inside.
 
flyingron said:
I'm sorry, the festoon lighting is NOT legal in aircraft hangars. As cute as you find it in your backyard, it doesn't belong nor is it safe to use insid
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That’s for the local fire Marshall to determine.
 
kyleb said:
That’s for the local fire Marshall to determine.
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In any place that follows the National Electrical Code, which is most of the US, it's not permitted.
It's usually the building department (electrical inspectors) rather than the fire department that is the authority having jurisdiction.
 
For my “pole barn”, I got mine from Amazon - pretty sure the ones on the left here:

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Took 6 to light up my 60x40 space. I can switch them on in pairs - with them all on it’s quite bright in there. They’re dimmable, but didn’t see the need to run the extra wiring required.

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After 3 years, no failures or issues to date.
 
P51P28 said:
Hi there everyone. Recently lucked out and scored a t-hangar at the local airport and I'm looking for some suggestions on how to light the thing up. The previous tenant had the brilliant idea of using the hangar as a paint booth, I'm in the process of removing all of the fixtures (2 of which are broken) and starting from scratch. The amount of dust and grime I had to clean was mindboggling.

There is one 110v outlet in the middle of the ceiling so I may be limited to what I can use. The light fixtures that were hanging were all hardwired and plugs in to the outlet. It was quite a clunky set up.

Appreciate the help!

View attachment 99843

View attachment 99844

View attachment 99845
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The first older T hangar I rented had 2 8' florescent fixtures in it. It was OK. Then I moved to a newer T hangar in a better location at the same airport. Newer hangar but it only had 2 100 watt light bulbs in it... nuts! It was not even enough light to check the oil.
I asked the airport manager if I could update the lighting, he said yes just as long as the fire inspector who comes once a year was OK with it.

I used 4' LED fixtures from home depot that I have used in other shops I have. They have proven to last many years so far. It is all plug in and I did not modify the electrical conduit at all. It easily can be put back when I move out if need be. But I doubt anyone would want me to remove now since I have the best lit hangar at my airport. Neighbors ask me about it all the time. Want to know how they can get the same lighting. I usually say very little about it and can not volunteer to do the same to their hangar since it really is not up to code. The fire inspector apparently is ok with it because nothing has ever been said about it for 3 years now.
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Since this picture I did hang another fixture right above the motor. It is all plug in and works off the original wall switch. I used beam clamps, chains and zip ties to fasten the wiring to the existing conduit up on top so the wiring is not seen from the ground.
Before...
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After...
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This made it possible to reach the ceiling.
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Nice! but gotta wait a long time for the eyes to adjust after pulling your plane out for a night flight, I'll bet ;)
 
Brad W said:
Nice! but gotta wait a long time for the eyes to adjust after pulling your plane out for a night flight, I'll bet ;)
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Thanks, for sure.
Notice anything out of order? lol
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We have a little "man cave" lighting when not working on the plane.
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