T5 bulbs are nice and bright, but is it normal to get hot?

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Model T Ford Forum: Forum 2012: T5 bulbs are nice and bright, but is it normal to get hot?
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Robert Poane on Sunday, October 14, 2012 - 08:32 pm:

I love the T5 florescent bulbs over the T8, but they get too hot to touch, especially at the ends. Is this normal? Thank you in advance. Bob


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By JohnH on Sunday, October 14, 2012 - 09:09 pm:

As T5 are of smaller diameter than T8, the answer is yes. This is because the heat is being dissipated from a smaller area. The ends of a fluorescent tube run warm because this is where the cathodes are, and with smaller diameter tubes can be too hot to touch.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Steve Blancard on Monday, October 15, 2012 - 07:18 am:

I'm not familiar with the different types of florescent tubes. What is the advantage of T5 bulbs? Brighter? more energy efficient? cost?


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Robert Poane on Monday, October 15, 2012 - 08:26 am:

The T5 I have are much brighter than T8. No shadows! I think they are as efficient as T8's. They are pricy, but hypertension from the stress of shadow frustration from T8's is pricier to me. T5 eight foot four bulb unit was $70 at Home Depot. Bulbs were $8-$10 I forget. I am only using a total of 4 bulbs in two units about 4 feet apart and about four feet from the wall on three sides. They should last me a long time because I do not spend too much time at night in the garage in dark winter nights. I am becoming a fair weather T repairer.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Steve Blancard on Monday, October 15, 2012 - 11:18 am:

Can the T5s be used in the cheaper light fixtures or do they require their own fixture and ballast?


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Chris Brancaccio - Calgary Alberta on Monday, October 15, 2012 - 11:33 am:





Looks like T8s are what we are used to seeing.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Roar Sand on Monday, October 15, 2012 - 11:46 am:

Which one will work, if at all, in an unheated space (pole barn) in northern MI?


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By William Rowles on Monday, October 15, 2012 - 12:12 pm:

When I remodeled my shop and garage I installed the new T5 fixtures and bulbs. The difference in light is amazing. The T5's start up immediately in the coldest weather also. I highly recommend the upgrade to anyone interested in better lighting and/or doing a shop or garage remodel.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Robert Poane on Monday, October 15, 2012 - 12:14 pm:

Double check, but I be;ieve the T8 and T5 work well in cold enviroments and the T5 comes on within about 1-2 seconds.

The T5 will only work in units made for T5 as the diagram above shows.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Richard Wolf on Monday, October 15, 2012 - 12:16 pm:

I was working at a place that replaced all their florescent light to save on electric. I picked up several(10 or 12) and the starters and the bulbs were bigger and expensive, really expensive. Got rid of them.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Steve Blancard on Monday, October 15, 2012 - 01:22 pm:

Thanks - I'll look into some new T5s. The T8s aren't bad, but I could use more light.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By JohnH on Monday, October 15, 2012 - 06:31 pm:

T5's will only work with electronic ballasts, but there are adaptors available that will let you install a T5 tube in a older T8 or T12 lamp using an iron cored ballast. The adaptors, which contain an electronic ballast, are fitted to the ends of the T5 tubes which are shorter than their T8/T12 counterpart.
As someone who collects old light bulbs, the difference in efficiency between a 1960's T12 tube and a modern T5 is quite obvious; you get a lot more light for any given lamp wattage.
In fact, T12's are on the "to be banned" list in this part of the world, so I must stock up for the fittings I have that use them. 65W tubes are already difficult to get.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Russell Koch on Tuesday, October 16, 2012 - 11:21 am:

In both lighting posts no one has mentioned HO(high output). They are worth the extra money,watts & firing in the cold.
Yes, T12 will be no more but can be converted to T8 with ballast & lamps, no new fixture.
T5's come in both regular & HO but have the same socket configuration & if confused will smoke the ballast


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Robert Poane on Tuesday, October 16, 2012 - 12:50 pm:

Good point Russell, I have HO T5's, that's probably why they are so brights. If I did not look up, I would think there are 2 or 3 100watt screw in light bulbs.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By ex trooper on Tuesday, October 16, 2012 - 01:15 pm:

We did a job in an old factory a few years ago. Installed 16 T5 fixtures, 48" 4 bulb units with chrome reflectors and they are BRITE! These were up against a 30 foot ceiling. Bet they'd be awesome on a 8-10 foot ceiling! Only use them till you need glasses LOL. troop

[IMG]http://i50.tinypic.com/2v0msyg.jpg[/IMG]


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Ken Todd on Tuesday, October 16, 2012 - 01:47 pm:

Roar asked: "which one will work, if at all, in an unheated space (pole barn) in northern MI?"

The electronic ballasts for T8s are rated to start down to 0ºF (-18ºC).
Don' know about T5s.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Robert Poane on Tuesday, October 16, 2012 - 01:56 pm:

I am pretty sure T5's are rated for very cold weather too, but I do not know the specifics.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Ken Todd on Wednesday, October 17, 2012 - 11:25 am:

Robert, check the label on the ballast of one of your fixtures.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Thomas Mullin on Wednesday, October 17, 2012 - 02:03 pm:

Looking online, eLightBulbs recommend you get the HO version for a cold garage:

The color temperatures available in common T5 light bulbs are 3000K (warm white), 3500K (warm/cool blend), and 4100K (cool white). They are available in two basic types: the standard and the high-output. Standard T5 bulbs have two pins on each end of the bulb. They provide a normal fluorescent light level for general applications. They should not be used in very cold areas, as they may fail to light up when temperatures get below 32 degrees. High Output T5 bulbs have one oblong black plastic piece on each end of the bulb. The provide a higher level of light output than Standard T5 bulbs and use more wattage to do so. They are used in cold temperature locations, such as garages, outdoor signs, and freezers.


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