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Post by kd on Nov 20, 2008 22:05:06 GMT -5
I know I should do my own research on this, and probably much has been posted here on this, but I'm still hoping you can help. I'm looking to replace some of my t12 flourescents, that the ballasts have burned out, and add some more. Is t8 what I should get? What do I look for? What bulbs do I buy (cool whites, grow bulbs, etc.)? How much light in comparison to the t12s do t8s produce? Do I need to place the fixtures farther from the plants? Is the cost cheaper for electricity as well as the ballasts themselves? Thanks for your help. I would like to get some in the next few weeks. I'm kind of in a rush, 'cause I have more plants coming, and nowhere to put them! (with lights, that is).
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Post by sherkas on Nov 20, 2008 22:11:09 GMT -5
All I can shed light on is bulbs. I know you can do gro lights or warm/cool whites or anything you want really.
Keep in mind a warm light is higher in the red spectrum and a cool bulb is higher in the blue. Balance those and your good to go. Personally I use a gro bulb which comparing its light spectrum, each one is like 2 regular white bulbs. So if you want cheap, go warm/cool whites, else do some research on the bulbs spectrum and ensure its good before you buy it.
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Post by hackerberry on Nov 21, 2008 10:08:17 GMT -5
From my experience, most CP prefer Daylight bulbs and they love full spectrum. I only use grow lights [purple-ish color] on my tropicals.
HB
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Post by Rug on Nov 21, 2008 22:44:06 GMT -5
Ok here goes! i did research this and posted somewhere. The thing is that the T8s produce more light, about 2850 avg. lumens compared to the T12s 2200 avg. On top of that there is an avg. savings of 35% energy cost. There is no point in converting from a T12 magnetic Ballast to a T8 Electronic ballast because, like I said in a post earlier today, a T8 electronic ballast is actually more expensive to buy than a whole new T8 fixture. They go on sale at Canadian tire about once a month or so. Now compare this to a T5 HO fixture and you get a cost increase but you get over 5000 lumens for 55watts where you get 2800 lumens for a 32watt T8, divide the lumens by the watts and you get the "lumens per watt" which shows way more lumens per watt on the T5s. I went to T5 High outputs and luv them!!!!!!!!!!!! 4 bulbs = 220 watts =20,000 lumens. Compare this to a 35,000 lumen, 400 watt metal halide and the evidence is clear that T5s are the best deal out there. Mind you the fixtures cost a lot but the savings is worth it. Not to mention the awesome color you get with the T5s in your plants and the fact that they run cool compared to a metal halide. I will take some pics of some of my T5 plants in a bit an post em. The Ceph I got from the Ceph master Curlingguy is starting to turn a nice red color now. i am embarrassed to show what it looks like at the moment though cause I lost a few pitchers and leaves due to the humidity change. I have weened it off the plastic bag humidity dome which kept it so beautiful, but was a hinderence to my set up. (Thanks once again to the man himself, Curlingguy) But back to the topic. Oh and Daylight is my preference as well, 5000 kelvin (5000k as its called) Most bulb packaging, by Philips at least, will list these stats on them. Here is the best info I can find on the topic without looking too hard but it is for t12 vs t8s not t5s. www.alliantenergy.com/docs/groups/public/documents/pub/p012398.hcsp
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Post by kd on Nov 22, 2008 0:29:08 GMT -5
Thanks for the help. Yeah, it looks like t5s are the way to go. As I said, some of my t12 ballasts have burned out. I would like to relpace those with t5s, but there will probably be a difference in light output. Should I move the one or two t5 ballasts farther away from the plants that I currently have the t12s at?
Has anyone used CFLs? Would that be a way to go?
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Post by Rug on Nov 22, 2008 11:28:23 GMT -5
You will need to buy whole new fixtures. You won't be able to use the T12 fixture because the end caps are a different size and the bulbs are 2 inches shorter. if you do get a new T5 fixture make sure you get a T5 High output fixture. if not you are just wasting money. The bubs for a T5 HO (4 ft) are 55 watts each. These fixtures will need to be bought at an industrial electrical supply company. They won't be found at hoe Depot or the hardware store. Check in your local yellow pages and make some calls. Don't be afraid to shop around because their prices may vary dramatically. Not all electrical supply companies will carry them either, so don't get discouraged if the first few tell you they don't have them. if all else fails I ordered mine thru ebay. Duty of $35 or so sucked though.
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Post by jonnybee7 on Nov 22, 2008 13:32:45 GMT -5
Super Lite Lighting or Robinson Lighting in Winnipeg for example could get you fixtures and bulbs that Home Depot and Rona, etc. cannot. But expect a bigger price tag. I got my 4 bulb T8 fixture at Super Lite, but I was in a big rush due to too many plants and not enough light and didnt shop around, so I may have overpaid. But I'm happy with it. Does an excellent job of coloring the plants. I can't imagine what they would look like if I had T5's.
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