Pole barn electrical rewire/lighting.

[1Gary]

As in my old shop-it was such a great deal,it was hard to ask the landlord to invest anything into it.Seems every tenant who rented the pole barn before me had a hand in the wiring.Frankly it was pretty scarily.The build isn't any older than 15yrs too and whoever destroyed any sense of what it was like when built.

At first I was just going to improve the lighting that was very much lacking.As I looked further into it I found more and more wrong.So I took the bull by the horns and I am in the process of replacing and adding to about 2/3's of it.

Over the two work benches-I hung and screwed the following:The main bench,2 florescence fixtures.They are kind of a odd ball that for me I have never seen before.They are 8' long,but are two sections of two 4' bulbs.That gave me 8 bulbs over the main bench on a it's own switch.The second bench as the same kind of fixture,but only one of them again on it's own switch.It's the second bench the I plan on working on the V8 harness,so I have two single bulb hooded type florescence bulbs for that second bench where I plan on spreading out the harness on nails with the diagrams on the wall in the back.Each bench is about 10' long with storage shelving above them that is 10' x 4' deep.I am running them off 14/2 on a 15amp breaker.Next wk I am running 12/2 for two gang plugs which is run off on 20 amp breaker.Got to get a 10' step ladder to go over the installation that is in the ceiling.

On the opposite wall,it is open.The barn's beams are 8' apart so what I did is I took the idea the body shops have.The first span on the wall I have turned sideways a 3 bulb 4' florescence fixture and the three after that more toward the center of the shop 4 bulb 4' fixtures all center between each 8' span and each on it's own switch.Also I have two gang boxes one on each 8' span on one 20 amp breaker and on addition gang box on the 3th span on it's own 20 amp breaker.All of the switches and gang boxes are mounted on the side of the beams so no damage can happen to them.

It's taken me longer to get this project done doing it all myself.Zam.Lifted,well everyone has said,"hey Gary you going to get this project done??.You'er not getting any younger".Honestly,climbing up and down the ladder,I do come home tired and sore.But it is a good tired seeing this come together and oddly enough,I don't have some of the chest pain like I have just setting around here.

The whole purpose of this post is I feel given the body mods I want to do,the extra lighting will be a big help.You can find used florescence light cheap everywhere and if you have the wall space,might be a good idea for you too.It will put the lighting where you want it where the work that is being done.

I want to post a special shout out to Dean for suggesting breakers and wiring to me.Dean,that was a big help.Thank You.

Still don't have a puter to post pixs,but I promise the camera is taking the pixs.Right now the money is going toward equipment and the shop.After that,I will catch up on the pixs.

The landlord has offer the other side of the pole barn which is 24' x 78' at a really cheap price.That would leave the shop for Ole Yellar and maybe the vendor trailer exclusively and I am seriously concerting it for the RV,12' trailer and shop van to store them in.

So the old guy here is working to set up for Ole Yellar project.I thought I would explain what is currently going on.

Btw-It is a open door policy-if your going to be in the area of Hamlin,NY-pm me and maybe we can meet.Hamlin state park/beach is one mile away.

[MountainManJoe]

Working in dim light is my #1 pet peeve.

[1Gary]

Major advancements made today.12/2 fished over head to gang plug on main bench.Didn't have a ladder tall enough.Was a real PITA.All the opposing wall lighting done with junction boxes closed up and switch plates screwed in place.(four-four bulb florescent fixtures per 8' span on the wall each on it's own switch on one 15 amp breaker)All that is left is 3 gang boxes and one light fixture over what I would consider the "clean" bench for TBI mods,wire harness mods which is on the same wall as the main bench.Again guys,I'm sorry for the lack of pixs.The puter I had for that went down and it has gotten to first things first.The shop and equip first.I have photos to share once I have a puter again that has a program to do so.

[MountainManJoe]

What are you using to get on the forum right now Gary? Any computer with USB should manage retrieving your photos. Just plug and play your camera and then "upload attachment" using the built in forum buttons.

Unless you're trying to build suspense ...

[1Gary]

Thank You for your concerns about me being able to post pixs.We traveled this road once before when I got my XP.Actually is was the reason why I bought the XP which is non-repairable.The cannon program will not upload on this 98.Well it's early.Let me try to explain this better.A do-over.


The members here where telling me I needed a digital camera.I being suborn and held off.Didn't want to spend $200.So I broke down to buy my cannon and showed up at a NECO with it.Got home to this 98 to find the camera program wouldn't work on this old computer.

I am limping along on this 98 trying to nurse until I get a replacement.Please guys.Please don't let this thread slip into a discussion about computers.I know the direction I am going to take to correct this situation.Just now honestly the funds are being directed to the shop and equipment.As soon as I am able-I will post the pics.

[mdmead]

I'm with timeless... why do you need to upload a Cannon program?

Just about any low-medium priced digital camera is saving the pics to a jpg file. (If not, it will be some other eaily recognized, convertible file.)

If you have a cord that connects the camera to a USB port, plug it in, turn on the camera, and your XP computer should recognize the camera as a computer drive. double-clicking on any pic file on the camera should open it up into Picture Manager, XP's included photo software. (If you don't have a cord to connect the camera, you should be able to pull the memory card [SD I assume] and use a memory card reader you can pick up at Best Buy for $15 tops.)

I find Picture Manager to be a great little program that lets me quickly edit pics. It's no Photo Shop, but on the other hand, it is much quicker and doesn't take a degree to figure out how it works. (Yes, I have Photo Shop too!)

So Gary... what are you waiting for?

[MountainManJoe]

memory card reader you can pick up at Best Buy for $15 tops.)

Ebay $5

I think Gary is saying his current computer has Windows 98. If I remember correctly, Win98 can do USB 1.0 but it needs an update (free from Microsoft) to be able to connect USB 2.0. Regardless, either will work, 1.0 is just slower. Once you have access to the camera/memory card it's a simple matter of attaching the JPG files to your forum post. No special software necessary.

We have to hassle you a little bit Gary.

[mdmead]

memory card reader you can pick up at Best Buy for $15 tops.)

Ebay $5

I think Gary is saying his current computer has Windows 98. If I remember correctly, Win98 can do USB 1.0 but it needs an update (free from Microsoft) to be able to connect USB 2.0. Regardless, either will work, 1.0 is just slower. Once you have access to the camera/memory card it's a simple matter of attaching the JPG files to your forum post. No special software necessary.

We have to hassle you a little bit Gary.

My bad on the Win 98 vs XP. I reread and see it now. But it sounds like you have the solution.

[1Gary]

Windows 98 is no longer supported by Microsoft.Guys-the last time we talked about this basic computer it ended badly.I know you are trying to help,but I am asking for this thread to stay on topic please.

I assumed wrongly that the home improvement stores sold electrical stuff cheaper than the electric stores did.Now towards the end of this project I went to one of the electric stores and got what I have bought from Lowes/Home Depot for about haft.Real kick in the butt. ](*,)

[1Gary]

Well one more switch/box to wire in for a overhead light and I am finally done.Over all I am happy with the end result.Just not sure if I had it to do all over again I would have.

[1Gary]

So hope these pixs will help explain:



That is the front of the shop where I rented the left side of it.



The side of it and where you see the man door is a back office.So I don't have use of the complete depth of the building.



The back office as I said.I am going to talk the landlord into turning that into a bathroom.He owns a plumbing company.




Really not much around the shop.



Those are the apartments in front that once opens up,I hope to move into it.








These benches and above storage shelving was there when I moved in.

But really lacked lighting:



That is what I started with.Only three overhead lights.

[MountainManJoe]

=D> Thanks for the photos, Gary.

All you need is a couple babe calendars and you're set.

[1Gary]

So I started with the lighting over the benches first:







There is a switch for each bench light(really one for the twin lights over the main bench
and one for the other light over the what I will make into "the clean" bench.
All main wire feeds run into a junction box and then into either a switch or plug.The lighting is run off 14/2 and the plug boxes are run off 12/2 wire.This is my attempt to create zone lighting and to use only as needed to save money.



Additional lighting over the clean bench.Yeah,I know it doesn't look too clean right now. #-o



The first span of lighting on the opposite wall



And the three other lights on that wall.







I am pretty happy with the results.

And again each light on it's own switch and a pair of gang plug boxes on 12/2 wire on one 20 amp breaker and a single gang plug on it's own 20 amp breaker all mounted to each span of of lights.Also there is a gang plug by the main bench and one by the end of the clean bench both rum off one 20 amp breaker.All plugs got 20 amp plugs too.



The over head lights are all on switches to.These two are for the first two and there is one on the wall near the rear to the back one.I have always felt the shorter the extension cords used.The easier it was to use the workspace.



This is the area that I am going to develop into a metal fab space.Welding,my welding table,grinding,cabinet sand blasting,etc,keep the mess all over there for the most part.

Well that's it for the shop for now.

[1Gary]

Almost forgot.Got some interesting people near by the shop.





1962 nice,nice,Chevy.Don't think it's a 409,but the badges can fool you.I haven't talked to the owner of this hot rod yet."She's so fine my 409".






Yeah,it's cool to see hot rodders near by.

[Smiliesafari]

Gary, when time and money permit swap the old ballasts over to the new electronic type. I changed over in my shop and it cut my electric bill in half. These will pay for themselves in short order.