fluorescent tubes

Fluorescent T8 Bulbs

Fluorescent T8 Bulbs

T8 bulbs are available as either linear fluorescent or LED tubes. T8 fluorescent tubes are commonly rated for 20,000 life hours, but range from 7,500 hours to 46,000 hours for standard T8 tubes. More energy efficient fluorescent T8 lamps can have a rated lifespan of up to 84,000 hours. T8 tubes are typically purchased by the case for large construction projects, renovation projects, and businesses taking advantage of bulk savings.

Fluorescent Tube Size and Wattage Guide

The T stands for the tubular shape of the bulb and the number after it is the diameter of the tube in eighths of an inch. T8 bulbs are 8 eighths of an inch, or one inch in diameter. Other common sizes are T12 bulbs which are twelve eighths of an inch or 1.5 inches diameter, and the T5 lamps which are five eighths of an inch, or .625 inches in diameter. The easiest way to know the size and wattage of your current bulb is to check the label on the end, but measuring the diameter will work if the label is illegible. The F signifies that the tube is a fluorescent and the number after it represents the wattage. If youre looking for a 32-Watt fluorescent tube, click the F32T8 category.

T8 Fluorescent Tube Color Temperature

Color temperature is an important factor to understand to ensure you have consistent lighting across an area. Fluorescent tubes are available in a wide range of color temperatures, so its good to know what your application needs. The higher the Kelvin value, the bluer the bulbs light will appear. The lower the Kelvin value, the more yellow the light. For work spaces like offices, garages, and warehouses, we recommend lighting between 4000K and 5000K. Studies have shown these color temperatures can help reduce eye strain and increase productivity.

700, 800, and 900 Series Phosphors

The original fluorescent lamps were bright enough for general lighting, but the color rendering left much to be desired, with a color rendering index as low as 55 in some cases. The 700 series fluorescent light uses three different phosphors to provide red, green, and blue wavelengths, improving the color rendering index for these triphosphate tube lights. However, as technology has improved to offer more energy-efficient options, these fluorescent lamps failed to keep up with changing standards. In July 2014, all T8 700 series fluorescent lamps no longer met the new minimum allowable Lumen efficacy (lumens-per-watt) and minimum color rendering rating, so these T8 bulbs are no longer produced. Stock up while inventory is still available or upgrade to 800 and 900 series phosphors.

How to Fix T8 Bulb Flickering - Signs of Ballast Failure

If youve had your fluorescent fixtures for a while, it may be time to service of even replace your ballast. Thankfully there are a few common signs of ballast failure you can watch out for. A failing ballast can cause your lights to dim, buzz, change color, or flicker rapidly. Check over all parts of the fixture to be safe, but when looking at the ballast, a swollen casing or burn marks are clear signs of failure.

Choosing the Right Ballast

If you know your ballast needs replacing, there are a few factors to consider when selecting a new one. The best place to start your search is knowing the type of lamp your fixture uses. Ballast spec sheets typically list which bulbs and wattages they are compatible with. If possible, match the ANSI (American National Standards Institute) code of the lamp to that of the ballast. However, ballasts are often compatible with more than one type of lamp, and vice versa. The best ballast for your T8 tubes will most likely be based on design and start method. Fluorescent ballasts have four main types of starting methods: preheat start, rapid start, instant start, and programmed start. The latter two are the newest and most popular start methods.

Fluorescent FAQs

What is a T8 light bulb?

A T8 light bulb is a linear tube with 1 inch (2.54 cm) diameter. It can have a bi-pin or single pin base that plugs in to the sockets of a fixture. Fluorescent tube lights use low-pressure mercury-vapor gas and after a large amount of electricity is applied to the tube, it creates an electric arc of power that energizes the mercury vapor. The resulting ultraviolet (UV) frequencies stimulate the tubes inner phosphor coating, becoming visible light as it arcs across the tube and produces the familiar fluorescent glow. LED T8 light bulbs use an array of LED diodes in place of the gas and phosphor coating.

Are T8 bulbs good for growing?

Yes, T8 fluorescent lamps are preferred over T12 lamps by many growers because they produce more light more efficiently and have a longer lifespan. T8 bulbs are good for general or supplemental lighting for your indoor garden. Depending on what youre trying to grow, one lamp may not be enough. Some vegetables do best under four lamp fixtures while other plants thrive under a single lamp. Reflectors can also be used to increase the amount of light directed at the plants and you can plug the fixture into a timer to create the optimal day-night cycle for your specific crop.

What is the difference between T8 and T5?

T8 tubes are 1 inch in diameter and T5 bulbs have a 5/8 inch diameter. Unlike T8 and T12 bulbs, the two are not interchangeable as T5 bulbs require special T5 ballasts and fixtures with sockets for the smaller pin spacing on the base ends of the bulbs; a G5 base versus the larger, G13 base of T8 and T12 bulbs. Color rendering, color temperature, life hours, and Lumen output varies across both sizes; both have high output options which many growers choose for indoor gardens. For help deciding which is the right lamp setup for you, please call an account manager at 1-800-624-4488.

Do T8 LED bulbs need a ballast?

Plug-and-play T8 LED bulbs are designed to immediately replace fluorescent bulbs in a fixture with no change to the wiring, including running off the fluorescent ballast. Direct wire LED tubes require that the ballast be bypassed or removed from the fixture. After rewiring for non-shunted sockets, direct wire T8 tubes can still be used in fluorescent fixtures. Hybrid tubes offer the best of both worlds. Install directly into a fluorescent fixture until the ballast fails, then rewire the fixture for direct wire installation. This saves you from having to rewire or replace all of your fixtures at the same time. For any plug and play or hybrid installations, make sure the fluorescent ballast is listed on the ballast compatibility PDF available on each product page. For further assistance, call 1-800-624-4488 to speak with a product specialist.

Can LED lights replace fluorescent tubes?

Yes, LED lights can replace fluorescent tubes. You have three options depending on whether you want to rewire the fixture or not. Plug-and-play LED tubes are the fastest to install, running off the compatible fluorescent ballast with no rewiring to the fixture. Direct wire LED lamps take longer to install and require non-shunted sockets, but are more energy efficient. Removing the ballast also removes a point of failure, keeping the lights on longer. Hybrid tubes can be used in both plug-and-play or direct wire installations, allowing you to replace the fluorescent tubes quickly up-front, then direct wire the tubes as the ballasts fail over time.

Can T8 and T12 bulbs be interchanged?

Yes, T8 and T12 bulbs can be used interchangeably as long as the lengths, wattages, and ballasts are compatible.

How many watts are in a T8 bulb?

Both fluorescent and LED T8 bulbs come in a range of wattages depending on how much light output you desire. For fluorescent bulbs, the number after F tells you how many Watts; a F17T8 is a 17 Watt fluorescent T8 lamp. A common T8 bulb is the F32T8 which uses 32 Watts of power. The wattage for LED tube lights varies depending on light output as well. Tube lights under 1800 Lumens require fewer Watts than T8 lamps that product over 2000 Lumens.

Can you put LED bulbs in fluorescent fixtures?

Yes, there are three types of LED tube lamps that can used in fluorescent fixtures.

Can a T8 replace a T12?

Yes, a T8 can replace a T12 bulb of the same length and wattage as long as the ballasts are compatible.

Need assistance selecting the right fluorescent tubes for your commercial application? Dont hesitate to contact us at 1-800-624-4488 to speak to our team of lighting experts.

Linear Fluorescent Tubes

Fluorescent Tubes

Fluorescent Tubes are commonly used in a range of troffers and wraparound fixtures to light offices and warehouses. They are known for their reliability to provide an even distribution of light wherever its needed. Fluorescent tubes are offered in a range of sizes and color temperatures for nearly any application.

Fluorescent Tube Color Temperatures

Color temperature refers to the assigned value of the color light a light bulb produces. Fluorescent tubes, which start at 2700 Kelvin, exhibit a yellow color typically found in residences. The more commonly used 4000 Kelvin fluorescent tubes emit a cool white light recommended for offices and work-spaces. A color temperature of 6500 Kelvin is considered full spectrum daylight and is comparable to natural daylight with diffused clouds. A full spectrum light is recommended for display areas, high security areas, and spaces which look best in natural light.

Fluorescent Tube Sizes

Fluorescent tubes come in a range of sizes. You can tell the size and maximum wattage rating for a fluorescent tube by the code detailing its dimensions. T8 for example, means tubular (T) followed by the size/diameter (8). There may also be an abbreviated HO which indicates a high-output and VHO for very-high-output.

In order to identify which size you need, the easiest way to tell is to read the label near the base of the tube. If this information is no longer legible, you can measure the bulbs diameter. Fluorescent tubes are measured in eighths of an inch. A T8 has a one inch (8/8 inch) diameter, a T5 has a 5/8 inch diameter, and a T12 is a 12/8 inch (1.5 inch) in diameter. If a T12 and a T8 use the same bi-pin base, you can use them interchangeably with the same lighting fixture as long as you double check the milliamp (mA) requirements of the ballast.

Fluorescent Tube Bases

1000Bulbs.com not only offers a wide selection of fluorescent tubes, but with also an assortment of bases to fit nearly any lighting fixture. The most widely used are Medium Bi-Pin, Miniature Bi-Pin, and Recessed Double Contact. Unsure about what base type you might need? Contact us and well be happy to help!

Black Lights

What is a Black Light?

A black light is a bulb that emits ultra-violet (UV-A) light and not much visible light. A bulb can either use a filter to block most visible light and only allow ultraviolet light through or it can produce ultraviolet light and limited light in the visible spectrum. When you think of black lights, youre probably thinking of the first kind. Black lights with the blue filter coating are called blacklight blue or BLB by manufacturers. The filter causes these bulbs to look purple or dark blue even when turned off. The second kind can look like a standard fluorescent tube. These black lights are labeled blacklight or BL since they lack the blue filter that gives the first type the name. BL black light bulbs tend to skew more towards a blue light than purple and are made for use in bug zapper insect traps.

What Glows Under Black Light?

Ultra-violet light causes some materials to glow or fluoresce, which is brought out by blocking most of the light in the visible spectrum. Youve probably been to a bowling alley or college party that used black lights to make clothing glow. White and neon colors react the best, especially orange, yellow, pink, and green.

Black light bulbs are used to authenticate oil paintings, some antiques, and catch counterfeit currency. There are also inks and dyes that contain fluorescent ink that can invisibly mark items, which can be used for anything from passing secret notes to marking items to be recognizable if stolen. Invisible ink is also used by some childrens party centers to stamp a parents hand to a matching number on their childs to prevent adults from leaving with a child they did not bring to the event. There are also some plants and animals that glow under UV light including some species of scorpions and fungi.

Shapes and Types of Black Light Bulbs

Black lights can be fluorescent tubes, CFLs, mercury-vapor lamps, incandescent, or LED. The first black light was created by using a UV filter called Woods glass over the bulb. Since then more efficient sources have come to light. Incandescent bulbs do not produce much light in the ultraviolet spectrum, but they remain the most economic option. Fluorescent black lights, whether as a spiral CFL or a black light tube light typically use a special phosphor that emits UV-A light instead of visible white light. The dark blue outer coating filters out much of the remaining visible light so that the fluorescence effects of the bulbs can be better observed. Black lights come in many different shapes and sizes, like the spiral shape of CFL bulbs and the A-shape or tubular shape of incandescents. Black tube lights have the same sizing designation as linear fluorescent or LED tubes, with the number after the T signifying the tubes diameter in eighths of an inch. So, a T8 tube has the same 1-inch diameter as a standard T8.