Replies

1. 
   saschafer | Jan 14, 2008 04:47pm | #1

   T8 bulbs are usually more efficient (more light for a given power input).

   -Steve

    

2. 
   questtools | Jan 14, 2008 11:45pm | #2

   I have a smaller shop, 21 X 17 and the main lighting source is 8' fluorescent lights with the 4' T8 bulbs. I was advised to use the 8' strips with 4' tubes to save costs in buying the tubes but after two years of daily use I have not had to replace the fluorescent tubes.

   The T8 are rated at 32watts each, so there is a small savings in electrical costs I suppose compared to  the larger T12 bulbs, but the biggest advantage I enjoy is using the T8 "daylight tubes". Everyone who has come over to the shop can't believe how warm and natural the lighting is in the shop, they feel like they are outside on a sunny summer day. I forget the ratings of the daylight fluorescent tubes, I believe it is approaching 6000K.

   Three friends have converted their fluorescent lights over to the "daylight tube" and they are very happy with the "new shop environment". I find one of the biggest benefits is not having to strain to see the pencil lines at any of the machines - the light is clean and bright. Less eye strain makes enjoying the time in the shop even that much more enjoyable!

   I believe that T8 are the new standard fluorescent tube, so if you can use them without a costly ballast conversion, then give them a try but please try the daylight tubes - they are amazing!

3. 
   forestgirl | Jan 15, 2008 05:17am | #3

   I use T8's and really like them, but I learned something about the fixtures the last time I went a-buying:  I was told that the fixtures that take either regular tubes or T8's are not as advanced ballast-wise as the ones that are dedicated to T8's.  I think it had something to do with the interference issue, for one thing.  Maybe someone here can expand on that general point.

   forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-) 
   
1. 
   DonStephan | Jan 15, 2008 06:34am | #4

   Last fall I needed to buy 16 8' fixtures in the building I bought. Thought I wanted HO (high output) T12 fixtures to get the most light. The electrical supply house showed me that equivalent T8 fixtures with electronic ballasts used about half the electricity, produced about 78% of the lumens of the HO T12, and cost about the same. And because of the lower electrical usage, more fixtures can be used on a single circuit.They said T12 are being phased out starting in 2009 - since they have a larger volume than T8 they require more mercury or other metal (the reason for the phase out). The T8 with electronic ballast are MUCH quieter than HO T12's I purchased a couple years ago, and I'm quite pleased with the T8's.

4. 
   benhasajeep | Jan 17, 2008 03:38am | #5

   T-8's are smaller diameter tubes and a couple watts less per tube.  The thing to look for now a days as mentioned above is the "color" of light they put out now.  5000k is considered "daylight".  4100k is considered "cool white", and 3200 / 3500 is considered "soft white".  Of course the higher the k value the more expensive the bulb.  The lower k lights have a more greenish tint.  5000k is supposed to be the same as daylight.  And they make an even brighter 6000k which has a bluish tint (like the expensive HID headlights on luxury cars).  I opted for the 4100k when I redid my lights as they had higher brightness in color but still inexpensive.  For a case of 15 they were like $12 cheaper than the 5000k bulbs.  But I think when I need to replace bulbs in the future I will fork over the extra and get the 5000k bulbs.

   So long story short, the t-8's put out about the same amount of light (lumens) on less power.  But if you choose to go with higher K bulbs.  Your shop will seem brighter because of the "color" of light they put out.

   
   

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   Edited 1/16/2008 7:41 pm ET by benhasajeep

5. 
   Scott_y | Jan 17, 2008 06:34am | #6

   T-8 bulbs will also work well at much lower temperatures than T-12. Below 50 F the T-12 output diminishes quickly. With T-8s you can go to Zero F and still get good light output. T-8s are especially appreciated in my unheated garage shop.

    

   Scotty