Like many of you, I’ve been anxiously awaiting the arrival of the Cree Lighting System and especially these LS Series linear light fixtures. They’re not available in the store just yet, but we have full access to them and can get them ordered - lead times are 8-12 weeks at the moment. That timeframe also includes the Lutron dimmer switches.
If you’re asking me what the OG spec lighting solution is for the garage, it’s no question these are the ones. You’re getting a higher quality light with better dispersion and dimming capabilities. I’ll still be carrying our four and 6-bulb for those who want a lower-cost lighting option, but I’m telling you, if you can swing it, you want these in your garage.
Since , people have been messaging us, wanting them, and understandably. They’re freaking legit. We’ve spec’d out several garages now with these 90-CRI fixtures and have installed them in our facilities to have plenty of hands-on time. We now know what it takes and what you need to have a proper setup in your garage.
For a standard surface mount set up in the garage, here’s what you’ll need:
- CREE LS8 or LS4 linear fixtures. These will get installed nice and tight to create a long linear light out of multiple fixtures. This allows for power only needed at one light and then the other fixtures daisy chain together.
- Lutron 8A PowPak Dimming Module. If you want zone control and dimming the easiest way, you will do this with a PowPak. You will need one per zone of up to 8-10 fixtures. This will connect the incoming power and the fixture.
- Lutron Pico Wireless Dimmer Switch. This will be what you interact with to control the lights. It allows for full brightness, a secondary preset, and complete range dimming control. You can have these just be wireless and sit on a desk, put them in a wall mount, or stick them wherever you want. These connect via an RF signal to the Lutron PowPak.
There are some other accessories like wall plates and alignment plates we may need, depending on your setup.
Our first step will be to use your garage's dimensions and ceiling height to build out a lighting layout. Then we can run our lighting calculation based on our testing for foot-candles needed (120-150) to fine-tune the design. We can work up an invoice for the fixtures and parts you need based on these results.
I need you to understand that you can’t get quality lighting over the counter or on Amazon. You just can’t, and please don’t try to. You’ve got to go custom. You have to understand how your garage space needs to be lit. Generally, some calculations need to be done to set things up the proper way.
If you want to do lighting in the garage correctly, you want to do it with CREE.
