Magnetic Modular Hex Garage Lights: Layout for a Two-Bay Detailing Shop
- 2026-10-28 10:04
- /
- Arraystar LED
Magnetic hex panels snap to a steel ceiling fast, but the spacing decides whether the shop feels bright or glary. I laid out a two-bay detailing shop last year and learned that over-clustering hexagons creates hot spots on the paint. Spacing matters more than wattage.
Why magnetic hex panels suit a detailing shop
A detailing shop needs high CRI light that lets the technician see swirl marks, orange peel and dust on the paint. A magnetic hex panel snaps to a steel ceiling grid with no drilling, runs at 130 lumens per watt, and comes in 3CCT so you can match the booth temperature. The modular shape also lets you build a layout that follows the work bay rather than a rectangular grid.
The magnetic fix is the real selling point for a rented workshop. When the lease ends, the panels pull off the steel deck with no holes, no patch-up, and no landlord argument. That alone makes them worth the premium over a fixed panel for a shop that may move.
The two-bay layout I use
For a two-bay shop, each bay roughly 6 metres by 4 metres, I put one cluster of hex panels over the vehicle centre line and a smaller pair over the work bench. The cluster is not a solid block; I space the panels on a 1.2 metre pitch so the light overlaps without pooling. A solid block of hexagons reads as a bright hole on the paintwork.
Overlap is good; a solid block creates hot spots on the paint.
| Bay zone | Panel count | Spacing | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vehicle centre | 4 panels in a 2x2 | 1.2 m pitch | paint inspection |
| Vehicle edge | 2 panels offset | 1.5 m from centre | wheel and trim |
| Work bench | 2 panels in line | 0.8 m pitch | detail hand tools |
I started one job with a solid 3x3 block over the car. The technician complained the roof of the car was too bright and the door sills were dim. We pulled two panels out to the side and the whole car read even. The layout, not the wattage, fixed it.
Height, spacing and glare
A typical workshop ceiling is 3 to 3.5 metres high. At that height, a panel on a 1.2 metre pitch gives about 800 lux on the paint, which is where a detailer wants to work. Below 600 lux they miss swirl marks; above 1000 lux the glare is so strong they cannot see the surface without squinting.
- Ceiling height 3 m: 1.2 m panel pitch for even coverage.
- Ceiling height 3.5 m: 1.5 m pitch, higher wattage panels.
- Keep panels out of the direct line of sight from the door; visitors should not be blinded.
- Use a 4000K setting for paint inspection; 5000K reads too cold on dark cars.
I walk the shop at eye level once the panels are up. If I can see the LED dots directly from the door, the panels are too low or too dense. A diffuser or a slight tilt fixes it.
Power, drivers and controls
Each magnetic panel runs on 24V or mains through its own integrated driver. For a two-bay shop, I put one central circuit per bay, with the panels on a dimmer so the technician can turn the bay down when they are not actively inspecting paint. Running both bays on one switch is too coarse.
I also wire in a timer for the wash bay. The detailing lights run 4000K and the wash bay runs 5000K, so the two zones are on separate circuits. That lets the technician switch between paint inspection and cleaning without changing panels.
The walk-through handover
After the panels are up, I test the shop the way a detailer will use it.
- Park a dark car in the bay and check the paint is even door to door.
- Walk the shop from the door; no panel should glare in the eye line.
- Set the dimmer high for inspection, low for general work.
- Confirm the magnetic panels are seated; a loose panel buzzes.
- Label the circuit switches so the technician can isolate a bay.
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many magnetic hex panels do I need for a two-bay shop?
For two bays of about 6 by 4 metres each, I fit four panels in a 2x2 cluster over the vehicle centre line, two offset panels over the wheel and trim area, and two more over the work bench. That is eight panels per bay. Over 12 panels creates hot spots on the paint and wastes wattage.
What spacing should hex panels have on a workshop ceiling?
On a 3 metre ceiling, a 1.2 metre pitch gives about 800 lux on the paint, which is where a detailer wants to work. On a 3.5 metre ceiling, use a 1.5 metre pitch and higher wattage panels. A solid block of panels creates hot spots on the roof of the car; spacing the panels lets the light overlap evenly.
What colour temperature is best for paint inspection?
4000K. It renders paint, swirl marks and orange peel accurately without the cold, harsh cast of 5000K. Use 5000K only for the wash bay, where you want to see dirt and contamination. CRI should be at least 90; below that, reds and blues shift and the technician misreads the paint.
How do magnetic panels attach to a steel ceiling?
The panel has a magnetic back that snaps directly to a steel deck or steel grid. No drilling, no screw fixings. For a rented workshop that is the big advantage; when the lease ends, the panels pull off cleanly with no patch-up. On a non-steel ceiling, you need a separate steel mounting plate, which defeats the quick-fit benefit.
Should I put the bays on separate circuits?
Yes. Run each bay on its own dimmer circuit. That lets the technician turn one bay down when they are not actively inspecting paint, or isolate a bay for maintenance. Running both bays on one switch is too coarse; you end up lighting the whole shop when only one car is in. Label the switches clearly so the technician can find them.
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