High performance T8 fluorescent tubes are commonly available in three wattages and a number of different colour temperatures. These HP T8 lamps have high light outputs, high efficiency, longer life, better colour rendering properties and maintain their light output better than older lamps as they age. These lamps are NOT compatible with the magnet ballasts used in older fluorescent fixtures.
The diameter of these T8 lamps is one inch (8 x eighths of an inch). Since the pin spacing is exactly the same as it is for the older T12 (12 x eighths of an inch) tubes, existing fixtures can be easily retrofitted by changing out the ballasts and tubes.
Electricity savings from changing from an older, magnetically ballasted fixture with 34 watt T12 tubes to a high performance T8 system can be as high as 40 percent. Savings from changing out an older fixture with 40 watt tubes is even higher.
High performance T8 tube options include:
- 32 watt – These lights are very versatile, are well suited to lower temperature applications and produce more light than an older 34 watt lamp.
- 28 watt – These lamps providing additional energy savings and are well suited to warmer office style environments. They produce approximately the same amount of light as older 34 watt T12 lamps and regular 32 watt T8 lamps.
- 25 watt – These lamps deliver the highest electricity savings but light output is somewhat reduced, so they are best suited to locations that currently have high light levels than is really needed, a situation that occurs in many office or classrooms where most work is now done on a computer. F25 lamps require a warm environment to start and operate properly.
High Performance electronic ballasts are more efficient and produce less heat than older magnetic ballasts. They also run at much higher frequencies and as result are not prone to the flicker or buzzing that can be an issue with some older magnetically ballasted fluorescent fixtures All gas discharge lamps require ballasts to modify line voltage electricity to characteristics needed to fire the lamps properly.
Colour Temperature - One method the lighting industry uses to rate the colour of the light provided by lighting products is by its Colour Temperature expressed in degrees Kelvin. Higher numbers such as 41000 K provide a bluer light that is more like daylight. These “cool white” lamps will seem brighter than lamps with the same light output but a lower colour temperature. “Warm white or soft white” lamps (Colour temperature in the 2700 to 30000K range) provide a light similar to the light produced by an incandescent lamp. Lights with this colour temperature do a better job of accurately portraying warmer the reddish end of the colour spectrum such as reds or flesh tones.
For more information, including technical tables on high performance T8 lighting visit Conserve Nova Scotia’s web site at: http://www.conservens.ca/slc/Q&A#performance and click on the Smart Lighting Program Brochure heading.
