[TheForge] T8 florescent lamps

Thu Aug 12 17:30:52 EDT 2004

As others have said, the T8 designation has nothing to do with brightness or
color rendition.  T8 only says that the tube is 8/8" in diameter.

Florescent lamps are numbered according to the following:

F40 / T12 / 735 / WW
1    /  2    /3 & 4/ 5

1 - F=Florescent then the wattage
2 - T=Tube then the diameter
3 - 1st digit is CRI number - see below
4 - the remaining number is the color temp. in 100's of degrees
5 - an additional optional identifier - see below

Nominal color rendering index range (7 = 70–79, 8 = 80–89, 9 = 90–99) b.
Optional modifier abbreviations (CW = cool white, WW = warm white, ES =
energy-saver, HO = high-output, IS = instant-start, RS = rapid-start.)

Color rendering index (CRI). This is the metric (measured on a scale of 0 to
100) used to quantify how accurately a source renders a sample of eight
standard colors relative to a reference source, at a given color
temperature. The highest quality fluorescent lamps have CRIs in the 70s and
80s.

Color temperature. The metric used to describe the perceived "whiteness" of
a light source or how "warm" or "cool" it appears. The lower the color
temperature, the "warmer" the light appears. Full-size fluorescent lamps are
most commonly available in 3,000 K, 3,500 K, and 4,100 K color temperatures.

The old standard was T12 but now you can get T8 and T5 and you can get them
in 8' tubes but the 4' tubes may be better and are easier to get.  The
problem is that you MUST match your ballast with your lamp.  That means
don't go out and buy T8's until you check this out.   I think the T5 lamps
require a different terminal but the T12 and T8 use the same connectors.

BTW - If your ballast is bad and you do have T12 lamps, DO consider
upgrading to a new electronic ballast and T8 lamps.  You will have a
slightly lower total light output with a T8 vs a full wattage T12 but the
T8's are much more efficient.

Walt

-----Original Message-----
From: Michael H. Murphy <blacksmith at comcast.net>
To: 'Sponsored by ABANA' <theforge at mailman.qth.net>
Date: Thursday, August 12, 2004 4:29 PM
Subject: RE: [TheForge] Small Shop etc

>I've never heard them called "northern lights", but I haven't really talked
>to a lot of people about them.  They were putting them in as part of our
>office remodeling, and I asked one of the electricians about them.  With
>that info, I went to Home Depot, and asked what they had in that line.  I
>wound up buying a bunch, and now have a well-lighted shop.
>
>Only problem is that now I can see what's been hiding on those dark
corners.
>EECCHH!!
>
>Murf
>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: theforge-bounces at mailman.qth.net [mailto:theforge-
>> bounces at mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of Ralph Sproul
>> Sent: Thursday, August 12, 2004 12:07 PM
>> To: Sponsored by ABANA
>> Subject: Re: [TheForge] Small Shop etc
>>
>> Hi Murf, Are those T8's also considered "Northern light" as a gal at a
>> photo
>> studio refered to her fluorescents as?
>>
>> They were a much more comfortable light to view items in her gallery.  I
>> was
>> wondering what the technical name would be for them.
>>
>> Ralph
>> ----- Original Message -----
>> From: "Michael H. Murphy" <blacksmith at comcast.net>
>> To: "'Sponsored by ABANA'" <theforge at mailman.qth.net>
>> Sent: Thursday, August 12, 2004 7:00 AM
>> Subject: RE: [TheForge] Small Shop etc
>>
>>
>> > On the fluorescents, get T8 lights.  They come in several different
>> types,
>> > each with its own light characteristics.  I put them up in my shop
>> recently,
>> > and the difference from the T10's is significant.  I got the ones that
>> are
>> > supposed to put out a daylight spectrum, and I really like them.  Be
>> sure
>> to
>> > get good reflectors for the mounts; that makes it even better.
>> >
>> >  Murf
>> >
>> > > -----Original Message-----
>> > > From: theforge-bounces at mailman.qth.net [mailto:theforge-
>> > > bounces at mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of Mark Williams
>> > > Sent: Wednesday, August 11, 2004 10:50 PM
>> > > To: theforge at mailman.qth.net
>> > > Subject: [TheForge] Small Shop etc
>> > >
>> > > I've just built the largest shop my property will allow. It is 18 by
>> 24
>> > > feet, all steel construction. It's basically a carport with sides and
>> > > ends. The walls are 8 foot and the peak is approximately 11 feet. The
>> > > floor is dirt. I may get manmade sand (ground up concrete). My
>> previous
>> > > shop was a 10 by 10 foot canopy. This is a vast improvement. I will
>> > > probably put in fluorescent lights with some halogen lights over the
>> drill
>> > > press, grinder and belt sander. Any other suggestions will be read
>> > > carefully.
>> > >
>> > > Mark
>> > > Snow Hill, Maryland
>> > >
>> > >
>> > > ---
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>
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