Recommendations for barn lighting

[McGurk]

We’re in the middle of a long project at our little farmette, the end result of which will be water and power to all the outbuildings. We’re at the phase of the project where I need to give serious thought to lighting in the barn.

It’s a small barn, 24’ x 36"; three stalls, a tack room and tiny feed room. I’ve attached the layout if anyone’s interested.

I have very specific ideas about where electric outlets should go (though please weigh in on that as well) but am struggling about lighting.

I know I want an overhead light in every stall and the feed room, lots of light in the tack room to see to clean tack, and really good bright lights in the aisle for grooming and clipping, but that’s as far as I’ve gotten.

What would the COTH hive mind recommend? Or avoid like the plague?

[Simkie]

We just redid the lighting in the barn.

Used two rows of 8’ LED vapor proof fixtures over the aisle and a single 4’ LED vapor proof fixture in each stall. Also added a fixture to illuminate outside behind the barn and replaced the one in front. Do wish we’d added light to the runs outside the barn, but didn’t think of it until we were mostly done.

It’s amazing. Such a massive upgrade from the single row of fluorescents down the aisle and the single incandescent jelly jar in each stall. Highly recommend!

[McGurk]

How many of the 8’ fixtures would you use in an 18’ long aisle?

[Simkie]

We have … 3 in a 48’ aisle. Three sets, that is. Six total fixtures. Two runs, off set to either side of center, so the light isn’t directly above the horse when cross tied in the aisle & casting shadows.

[Bluey]

Whatever you do, put the lights not overhead, that creates shadows under the horse, but coming from the side, so you can see horse’s legs.
That means, not in the middle of the stall or aisle, but on the sides.

We are putting in now those 8’ LEDs also, our stalls are in a 32’ wide and 150’ long space.
Electrician is putting two rows of 6 of those, one pair every 25’, 16’ apart, each line it’s own switch.
Hope he is right, but I expect it will be ok.

Here are some barns with lights:

[SLW]

I have these over the stalls and in the aisle. You could do surgery under them. My farrier says they are the best lights he works under.

https://www.amazon.com/Ceiling-12000LM-Deformable-Lighting-Basement/dp/B08FHX5SJM/ref=mp_s_a_1_4?dchild=1&keywords=led+garage+light&qid=1624750997&sprefix=led&sr=8-4

[frugalannie]

Wow @Simkie. Sounds like you can get a tan while doing stalls!

If you’re in an area where fans are used in the summer, I suggest putting GFI plugs in each stall, up high where a fan would be mounted, all controlled by one switch. The GFI will trip if any one fan has an issue and it’s so nice being able to turn them all in or off at once.

Also consider some “guide” lighting in case you need to check the barn at night without waking up all the residents. Foaling is one example, or having one low light in the barn if you’ll be coming back after dark. You can always turn more lights on, but having that one easily accessible switch by the door is a boon.

Think where your vets and farriers will need plugs! Farriers outdoors by the main door, vets at several places in the aisle.

And while you’re at it hard wire rate-of-change heat detectors. Smoke detectors don’t work under 32degrees.

[Bluey]

Yes, we get one similar to this right over the stocks, so the vet can plug in extra light for floating and ultrasound and monitors and endoscopes, etc.

https://www.uline.com/Product/Detail/H-5642/Extension-Cords-and-Power-Strips/Retractable-Cord-Reel-All-Purpose-25?pricode=WA9901&gadtype=pla&id=H-5642&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIzbzzk8u28QIVPXNvBB31ogRUEAQYAiABEgKcKPD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

[Simkie]

@frugalannie

Wow @Simkie. Sounds like you can get a tan while doing stalls!

Haha not quite, but there’s certainly no shortage of light. The vet can easily suture at 10 pm and we can close the barn doors when the weather is grim and turn on the lights for the farrier. The previous set up was three 4’ fluorescent fixtures and that wasn’t enough light for either of those tasks.

@frugalannie

If you’re in an area where fans are used in the summer, I suggest putting GFI plugs in each stall, up high where a fan would be mounted, all controlled by one switch. The GFI will trip if any one fan has an issue and it’s so nice being able to turn them all in or off at once.

I’d love this, excellent idea. If you have runs off the stalls, do the same for fans out there.

@frugalannie

Also consider some “guide” lighting in case you need to check the barn at night without waking up all the residents. Foaling is one example, or having one low light in the barn if you’ll be coming back after dark. You can always turn more lights on, but having that one easily accessible switch by the door is a boon.

Totally agree, great option to have. In my barn, each stall can be turned on independently, so it’s easy enough to flip on the first stall (hay storage) and that’s enough light to get around without waking everyone up.

Speaking of, definitely think about how you’ll want to split up your lights. I thought a switch for every stall was a little silly when we bought this place, but it has come in handy at times!

[McGurk]

SLW, how did you position these lights in the aisle? And how many would you put in the aisle?

[SLW]

@McGurk

SLW, how did you position these lights in the aisle? And how many would you put in the aisle?

My 40 long “aisle” is L shaped. On the “I” part of the aisle I have those 2 LED’s and 2 “old fashioned pig tails” LEDs that I have not replaced. In the short part of the aisle, the smaller work area, I have 2 of the new LED’s and 3 of the old fashioned ones. It easily illuminates a 12’-14’ square foot area. The rafters these are on are 14’ tall.

We have these two but at a lesser wattage, I think 600, in the garage and in a traditional 10’ ceiling they are even better.

[Pico_Banana]

These look amazing.

Do you have them going down the center of the aisle? Or did you offset them?

Also, what do you use as a protective screen?

[Simkie]

@SLW

I have these over the stalls and in the aisle. You could do surgery under them. My farrier says they are the best lights he works under.

These don’t look to be vapor proof? That was something important to both me and my electrician for barn lighting!

[McGurk]

@Simkie,

Can you explain the purpose of vapor proof for me?

[Simkie]

Makes the fixture “waterproof.” Lets you power wash your barn without having to worry about your fixtures. Means the fixture won’t fail if rain blows into your barn, or fail because of humidity or condensation.

Pretty important in a barn!

[trubandloki]

Do lots of people really power wash inside their barn?

Just curious. I store hay inside my barn so there is like no chance I would be power washing in there.

[Bluey]

Many here power wash barns, especially the MDBarnmaster, that are made from aluminum covered wood panels.
There are some that do that, a service that power wash barns and farm machinery, some times they do it for farm store dealers, to clean their trade tractors and implements.

[clanter]

@Simkie

Makes the fixture “waterproof.” Lets you power wash your barn without having to worry about your fixtures. Means the fixture won’t fail if rain blows into your barn, or fail because of humidity or condensation.

the UL rating would be NEMA 3R (IP54 for European) for blowing rain water restricted, NEMA 4 (IP66) is water tight whereas a directed stream from a hose can be endured… water tight noncorrosive is NEMA 4X (also IP66)… the 4X would be better to use if power washing is commonly done

(ETL or CSA testing nomenclature would be same as UL Labeling)

[SLW]

@Simkie

@SLW

I have these over the stalls and in the aisle. You could do surgery under them. My farrier says they are the best lights he works under.

These don’t look to be vapor proof? That was something important to both me and my electrician for barn lighting!

Hey, good catch, COTH can be the best. Thank you for the information!! I don’t power wash that high up in my barn and they are not near the entrance/exits.

[McGurk]

I will likely not be powerwashing inside the barn. My horses pretty much live out 24/7, they use two of the stalls and the aisle as a run in where they’re turned out in that paddock. They are only every up in stalls prior to the vet or farrier. Occassionally I put the tiny pony on stall rest bc of founder risk but that’s it. So the lights also won’t take a lot of use - just grooming, tacking up, farrier appointments. These lights also won’t be exposed to a lot of weather. If we do add lights outside the barn, we’ll go with standard floods, not these.

I have ordered two of the deformable lights SLW recommended to look at and try. The cost difference between them and the 4’ and 8’ LED vapor proofs is…significant. The fact that the deformable LEDs fit into a standard ceramic light socket is also a plus. If the deformable ones won’t work in the barn, we’ll put them in a different out building and investigate other options.

Still would love to hear about other options!