What size do fluorescent tubes come in?

Fluorescent circline tubes are typically 1 and 1/8 of an inch in diameter. Their outside diameter (which is measuring the circle from one end to the other) comes in four options – 6, 8, 12, and 16 inches.

How do I know what size fluorescent tube I need?

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.

What lengths do fluorescent bulbs come in?

While there are multiple types of LED and fluorescent tube lights, the three most common are T12, T8 and T5. The terminology comes from “T” for “tubular” and the diameter of the bulb in eighths of an inch, so “T8” represents a tube of 8/8ths of an inch, or 1 inch.

Are fluorescent tubes Standard lengths?

The Nominal Length may not exactly match any measured dimension of the tube.

Common tube ratings.

Tube diameter in 1⁄8 in (3.175 mm) Nominal length Nominal power (W)
T8 6 ft (1,829 mm) 70
T12 14–14.5 in (356–368 mm) 14,15
T12 16.5 in (419 mm) 15
T12 2 ft (610 mm) 20

How do I know if I have T8 or T12?

If no markings are available, the size in diameter of the tube is the easiest way to determine the type you have installed. T8 tubes are 1-inch in diameter and T12 tubes are 1 1/2 -inch.

Does T8 fit in T12?

T8 tubes are simply 1 inch in diameter versus the 1.5 inch diameter of T12 tubes. In an effort to make LED tube lights compatible with the internal dimensions of most fixtures, you will find that most LED tube lights feature a T8 or 1 inch diameter. They can indeed be used in T12 fixtures.


What size is a T5 tube?

T5 Fluorescent Tubes (15mm Diameter)

What is T5 fluorescent tubes?

A T5 is a type of fluorescent tube. It differs from a T12 and a T8 in its diameter. All T5s are 5/8ths of an inch (T8s are exactly 1inch thick and T12s are 12/8ths or 1.5 inches thick). T5s are 16mm in diameter making them the thinnest fluorescent tube out of the three.

Which is brighter T12 or T8?

The Standard T12 lamp produces 2,650 initial lumens per lamp. The standard T8 produces 2,800 initial lumens per lamp, 6% brighter. But the standard T12 lamp produces 2,300 design lumens and the T8 produces 2,660 design lumens.

What is the difference between T8 T10 and T12 fluorescent tubes?

Basically, T8 = 1 inch diameter, T10 = 1.25″, and T12 = 1.5″ diameter. Measure across one of the ends of the bulb you are replacing to see what yours is. In almost all cases, unless you have an extremely tight space, any size will work in any application. 4 of 4 found this helpful.

What’s better T5 or T8?

Bulb Quality &amp, Intensity

The T5 has a better lumen-to-watt ratio than the T8, implying that its output is more efficient and brighter per watt of energy used.

Can I replace fluorescent tubes with LED?

Yes, you can replace fluorescent tubes with LED tubes or LED-integrated fixtures. If you just want to replace the bulbs, you can use plug-and-play, direct-wire, or hybrid LED tubes. Plug-and-play tubes are the easiest to install as they do not require any rewiring to the fixture.

Are fluorescent tubes being phased out?

Legislation being brought forward this month will also include the removal of fluorescent lights from shelves from September 2023. Currently, around 2 thirds of bulbs sold in Britain are LED lights, making a considerable impact in improving the energy efficiency of the country’s buildings.

Is my ballast T8 or T12?

Replace Current Lamp

You will see either T8 or T12 stamped on one side near the end with the prongs. You also will see the lamp’s rated wattage, usually 32 watts for T8 and 40 watts for T12. Measure the diameter of the lamp. T12 lamps are larger than T8 lamps, with a 1 ½-inch diameter.

Can I replace a T12 ballast with a T8?

The easiest and lowest price option to replace a T12 is a T8 linear fluorescent. They have become the go-to option for pre-existing T12s. If you still have magnetic ballasts, switching to a T8 will require a ballast swap. Another option is to move forward with an LED retrofit.

Can I replace my T12 bulbs with LED?

T8 LED tubes won’t fall out if you try to install them in a T12 fixture—they’ll fit just fine. But here’s some even better news: If you have a T12 fixture, conversion to LED is going to be even easier than with a T8 fixture. This is because T12 fixtures have non-shunted tombstones, exactly what you need for LED tubes.

Are T12 fluorescent bulbs being phased out?

In effect since July 2012, the legislation eliminates nearly all 4-foot T12 lamps, some 4-foot T8 lamps, most 8-foot T12 lamps, and almost all standard halogen PAR38, PAR30 and PAR20 lamps from the market. T12 technology is over 80 years old. Since that time, lamps and bulbs have been developed that just work better.

What is a T8 fluorescent tube?

The largest category of tube light in widely-available use, T8 tube lights measure 26mm in diameter and are often used for lighting large, wide-open spaces. They’re normally seen in supermarkets, warehouses, garages and offices, although they’re suitable for smaller environments that need plenty of light too.

How do you tell what ballast you have?

You can determine whether you have a compatible fixture in seconds. Simply turn the light on, then take a photo of the fixture using your smartphone or digital camera. If there are no dark bands on the resulting image, you have an electronic ballast that will work with direct drop-in LED tubes.

Is T5 the same as G5?

Fluorescent G5 tube base types are a two pin fitting located at each of the tube with 5mm between the two pins. The T5 (16mm tube diameter) and T4 (12mm tube diameter) uses the G5 cap fitting.

What is the difference between T8 and T5 tubes?

The major physical difference between T5 and T8 light bulbs is the length and diameter of the tube itself. The T5 tends to be slightly shorter than the T8 tube, and is significantly smaller in diameter. This factor is important to consider when looking at your fixture, because the two tubes are not interchangeable.

Can you replace T5 with T8?

T5 lamps cannot replace T12 or T8 lamps because of differences in physical and electrical characteristics. T5 lamps come in different lengths than T8 and T12 lamps. A nominal 4-foot T5 lamp is actually shorter than an equivalent T8 lamp [1149 millimeters (45.23 inches) in total].

What is a t6 fluorescent tube?

Because they are long tubes, these bulbs are commonly used in rectangular shaped lighting fixtures that have the single-pin socket. …

Which is better LED or T5?

LEDs also offer increased light efficiency when dimmed as opposed to T5 fixtures and usually produce more lumens per watt in general, which decreases energy usage and thus, energy costs. A lower wattage of LED luminaire will usually be just as efficient, sometimes more, as a higher wattage T5 lamp.

Will a T8 ballast work with T5 bulbs?

T5 lamps need special ballasts to operate. In most cases, the T5 ballasts will not work with T12 or T8 lamps, although at least one manufacturer offers electronic ballasts that can operate either T5 or T8 lamps with appropriate wiring. T5 lamps operate at frequencies greater than 20 kilohertz.

What is the brightest 4ft fluorescent bulb?

The brightest four foot T8-sized LED tube light is the Barrina LED Shop Light Fixture. This tube shines with 5000 lumens using 44 watts. It replaces a 72 watt fluorescent tube.

Can you use a 32 watt bulb in a 40 watt fixture?

Yes, you can always put a lower wattage light bulb into a higher wattage rated fixture. The lower wattage bulb will draw less current from the fixture and generates less heat, and that’s perfectly fine.

Can I use a T12 bulb in a T10 fixture?

Registered. The bulbs will fit. T12, T10, T8 and T6 all come in the same standard lengths.

Will T12 fit in T10?

T12 and T10 lights also use the same ballast, which is essentially an inductor, so there is nothing on the fixture that you have to change to replace a T12 tube with a T10 tube. Smaller tubes will use less power for a comparable amount of light.

What does T8 or T12 mean?

A T12 lamp (on the left in the figure below) is therefore twelve-eighths of an inch, or one-and-one-half inches (3.81 cm), in diameter. A T8 lamp (on the right in the figure below) is eight-eighths of an inch, or one inch (2.54 cm), in diameter.

Are all fluorescent tubes the same?

All fluorescent lamps use the same technology, but there are several different variations and sizes.

What is T12 fluorescent tubes?

The T12 is an older generation fluorescent bulb that generates light through electromagnetic induction, which is considered less efficient method of creating light compared to that of newer electronic based circuits.

Are T5 lights full spectrum?

Barrina T5 Grow Lights, Full Spectrum, 3ft 128W (8 x 16W, 800W Equivalent), LED Grow Light Strips for Indoor Plants, Plug and Play, Seedling Veg and Flowering, 8-Pack.

How do I replace 48 inch fluorescent bulbs with LED?

How to Easily Replace Fluorescent Tubes with LED Tubes – YouTube

Do I still need a starter with an LED tube?

Conventional fluorescent tubes need a starter. This starter provides ignition voltage. Naturally, this isn’t necessary for LEDs, so the ignition voltage is superfluous. If you want to replace a traditional fluorescent bulb with an LED, then you must install a dummy starter or bypass the standard starter manually.

Are LED or fluorescent lights better?

LED tube lighting is the better choice because it lasts about 40,000 hours longer in testing, is more energy efficient, will save you more money, and will leave less impact on the environment.

What will replace fluorescent tubes?

Shop now for linear LED bulbs to replace your fluorescent tubes. The time has come for fluorescent lamps to step aside. LED technology has overcome their efficiency and affordability. Simply put, if you want to lower your energy demands, switch your linear light fixtures to LED!

Is it cheaper to leave fluorescent lights on?

Turning off fluorescent lights for more than 5 seconds will save more energy than will be consumed in turning them back on again. Therefore, the real issue is the value of the electricity saved by turning the light off relative to the cost of changing a lightbulb.

Are compact fluorescent bulbs still made?

Now CFLs, or compact fluorescent lamps, are slowly disappearing from stores. Home retailer IKEA stopped selling them in all its locations last year, and now manufacturer GE has penned a cheeky Dear John letter to the technology, saying it will stop making the bulbs in the United States.

How do you know if it’s the bulb or ballast?

One probe of the multimeter should touch the hot wire connections, while the other touches the neutral wire connections. If the ballast is good, an analog multimeter has a needle that will sweep to the right across the measuring scale. If the ballast is bad, then the needle won’t move.

How do I know which ballast to buy?

How To Choose A Ballast – YouTube