I didn't get anything done in the shop last night but I worked on something I've wanted to get done for a few years now on the outside of the house. The lack of lighting outside has bugged me about this house so I finally got around to it last night with the help of a friend.
On the west side of the double deep (50') third bay on the house garage, there is absolutely NO lights. I don't know what the original owners were thinking (well, like everything else, they weren't thinking) but if I were building this house I would have installed lights along the third bay of the house garage to light up the side yard.
In the summer months with the longer days it isn't too awfully bad but with these short winter days and by the time I get home from work to clear snow the daylight is gone, I've needed some extra light alongside the approach back to the shop from the gate. Also when we either get home late from vacation with the coach or we have friends arrive later in the evening to stay with us having some extra light to use when backing the coach into the back yard would be very beneficial. I've wanted to add these lights for the past couple of winters but haven't had the time and then summer rolls around and it becomes less important. Since my neighbor put up his detached garage and added the roof I've noticed it gets darker on the side of my place sooner with his shop somewhat blocking some sunset light. Now was as good a time as any to address this once and for all.
Last night a friend and I added 2 LED wall packs to the west side of my third bay and one LED wall pack to the south wall just above the man door aimed at the shop. The LED flood lights on the shop reach about halfway to the house and now these LED wall packs will fill in the void for full light between the house and the shop as well as from the house nearly all the way to the fence and onto the lawn in the side yard. This was the final piece of the puzzle that makes the place feel like it's perfect now. One thing I always loved about my last place was how much light I had outside when needed and now I have that here as well.
Installing the LED wall packs to the exterior.
Installation completed and picked up the mess from installation.
Trying them out just as the sun was about to go down.
We surface mounted the EMT inside the garage plus added an electrical outlet so I can plug in the timer for my rear sprinkler system and no longer need an extension cord to reach the next outlet.
Lights on at dusk.
From the front looking into the back yard.
Showing the wife how well they work after complete darkness.
Thanks for looking.
Mike
