How Many Garage Lights Do I need?

[Madmiles442]

You definitely want to go with strip fluorescent. Be it T12, T8 or T5 lamps. T12 size bulbs are the standard ones you see at Home Depot. The T8's are 3/4" dia and the T5's are even smaller. The standard T12 fixtures are cheapest, but the least effecient in lumen output. HO T5 are most effecient, but initial cost is higher.
The color of the light is measured in Temperature. A real yellow light will be 2800K and a really blue-ish light will be 5000K. Get ones at least 3500K.
You'll want the fixture to be bare-lamped, no plastic diffuser over the bulbs. They block too much light. You might want a cage if you think you'll hit the lamps.
The fixtures come in 2 lamp or 4 lamp. 4 lamp basically puts out twice the light, although not exactly, more like 150% more light, but you get the idea.
Spacing should be no less than 6 feet apart.
A neat trick is to put some strips along the wall at the engine bay end of the garage, like the picture below. This gives you side directional into the engine compartment.
Another cool trick is to put a couple of strips on each side of the car, down low on the wall at the floor, aiming up and out at 45 degrees. This way, when the car is up on the lift or jack, you have general undercar lighting. Someone here has a photo of that, but I can't find it right off.
Sounds like a great project - enjoy the Garage Majal!!