Fluorescent T5 Lighting Fixtures

T5 Light Fixture Installation

Candice Hendricks — Mon, 26 Apr 2010 23:23:08 +0000

T5 lights have quickly become the most sought after type of energy efficient lighting on the market today. T5 light fixtures can be used for all kinds of beneficial purposes. In fact, T5 fluorescent light fixtures have become especially popular with plant and aquarium enthusiasts. In the plant category, T5 lights offer an alternative to metal halides which use more energy, don’t last as long, and lose output over time. T5 technology offers consumers an alternative that is energy efficient, last almost twice as long, and provides a more consistent amount of illumination output over time.

When shopping for a T5 light fixture, you will quickly find that there are many choices in size and installation methods to choose from. Some are intended to hang on a stand directly over the area that requires illumination while others are strip fixtures which can be installed anywhere lighting is needed. Some manufacturers include the light bulbs while others do not so you will need to pay close attention to the product descriptions. If you do need to purchase the bulbs separately, make sure you stick to what the fixture instructions recommend because there are many lengths and watt options to choose from.

When possible, purchase your replacement bulbs in bulk especially if you have many T5 lighting fixtures in your greenhouse or commercial location. Buying in bulk will greatly reduce the price you pay for each individual bulb. The internet is a great place to purchase your replacement bulbs because you can easily compare prices from one manufacturer to the other. Because T5 products are manufactured by many different companies, you should have no problem shopping around for a good price for the fixtures you need.

Online shopping is risky no matter what you may be buying so always read product details fully and never go by what is being showed in the picture. There is a large discrepancy in product photos and actual product details. Shop wisely by reading comments and tips from previous consumers or by watching videos. You can find many videos that show you how to install, replace, or maintain your new T5 light fixture. Some are many by consumers but most are actual professionals that deal with T5 products on a daily basis. Always use your best judgment when shopping because you don’t want anything less than a product that is durable, energy efficient, and effective.

T5 Light Bulbs

Candice Hendricks — Mon, 26 Apr 2010 23:15:00 +0000

Fluorescent T5 lighting comes in many forms including small compact fixtures to large industrial sized light fixtures. Whether you are using T5 light bulbs in your aquarium or greenhouse, you will find that there are many sizes, styles, and intensity levels to choose from. Most companies that carry T5 technology offer other types various types that you can choose from and also price ranges. A T5 light bulb will cost more than any other type of bulb available but it does last longer and provides a more consistent illumination over a long period of time. Metal halides don’t last very long and they lose a good percentage of their light output with use.

When deciding which type of T5 aquarium light bulbs to buy, consider that you will need fewer T5 bulbs in comparison with what you originally had. You can however choose to add more bulbs if you feel more lighting would benefit your sea life. It is important to know exactly how much you need for the fish and plants in your aquarium. You should try to purchase plants that require similar level of illumination as the fish you plan on adding. If you already have a well established aquarium, make sure that the lighting change will not affect your plants and fish negatively. Too much or too little lighting can cause problems for an existing aquarium.

When shopping for T5 fluorescent light bulbs for a greenhouse scenario, you should also make sure that you are getting the right illumination for the type of plants you plan to grow. Each type of plant and size will require a different type of light intensity. If you are placing T5 light bulbs in your existing greenhouse fixtures, make sure the fixtures are operating properly so you get the full benefit of the new light bulbs. If you are unsure about the effectiveness of your existing light fixtures, you may want to consider purchasing new fixtures that are safer and more effective.

Some retail stores different kinds of bulbs and fixtures but not all will consist of the more advantageous T5 technology. If you are looking specifically for T5 lighting products, make sure are not buying just any light bulb. There is a big different in quality of illumination, output, and energy efficiency so you definitely want all of those beneficial aspects if you are making an investment in lighting for your home, greenhouse, business, or aquarium.

T5 Light Bulbs

T5 Grow Lights

Candice Hendricks — Wed, 21 Apr 2010 01:29:27 +0000

Artificial lighting for plants may be a necessity if you plan on growing plants indoors. There are many types of plant lights to choose from but none are as effective and beneficial as T5 grow lights. T5 fluorescent grow lights use very little energy and are cooler when compared to regular metal halide lamps which are typically used for plant growth. You can find many different types of T5 grow lighting fixtures on the market today since more companies have begun to offer more energy efficient options to consumers. As if their energy efficient qualities were not enough, T5 lighting is also longer lasting than other types of lighting options.

When deciding which type of T5 fluorescent grow light to purchase, may sure you take into amount the size and type of plants you plan on growing. Some plants call for more light than others so you will need to choose a fixture accordingly. The area in which you plan to grow the plants may also determine the type of fixture you should purchase. Some T5 grow lights such as the Hydrofarm Jump Start T5 Grow Light System are hanging while others are strip lights. Hanging lights must be installed in conjunction with a light stand which situates the light T5 grow light bulbs directly over the plants. You can adjust the positioning of the bulbs up and down depending on how high you want the light source to be.

Most T5 grow lights also come with an internal reflective finish so more light can be reflected at the plants below. You definitely get more illumination from each T5 light bulb and even though they are more expensive to purchase, over time you will end up saving money because they last longer than other light bulbs. Replacement T5 lights are easy to find and can just as easily be switched out when needed. If you own older light fixtures that once house metal halides, you can convert those to T5 fixtures by purchasing conversion kits. The conversion kit will come with parts that are designed to extend the shorter T5 bulbs to make them fit the older fixture.

To save even more money, purchase your light bulbs in bulk when possible. If you have many grow fixtures in use, it is likely that you will need replacements often so you are better offer getting a pack with multiple replacements at a cheaper rate. Make sure you know exactly the length and strength of your existing light bulbs because any discrepancy may pose a problem. The bulbs may not fit your existing fixtures or they may be too strong or too weak for you plants which will affect the growth rate of your plants.

T5 Light Fixtures Offer Greener Lighting Options

Candice Hendricks — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 04:51:10 +0000

Most reviews of T5 light fixtures focus on the benefits that CFL or compact fluorescent lights can bring to the average consumer. In fact, most look at the benefits of T5 lighting fixtures in aquariums and greenhouses. If compact T5 lighting technology is so beneficial, why isn’t anyone talking about a much larger global impact? One that can easily be accomplished if such lighting is introduced to large facilities like warehouses, schools, malls, hospitals, industrial, and manufacturing facilities. Many of these facilities require illumination 24 hours a day which easily adds up to anywhere from 30 to 60% of their energy costs. Most of these facilities are still using energy hungry metal halide fluorescents which came in increments of 250, 400, to 1000 watts. T5 fluorescent lights use 54 watts of power so even if a cluster of four is needed to get the same level of intensity of metal halides, there is still plenty of room for savings.

There is definitely some room for improvement even in the smallest facilities. For instance, another advantage of T5 fluorescent light fixtures is that they last longer than regular halides which can also greatly reduce maintenance costs for a larger facility and decrease the amount of light bulbs that end up in landfills. T5 lights also maintain their illumination output better and only lose about 5 to 6% of their output which is minimal when compared to the fact that metal halides have a 35% loss of output over time. T5 bulbs also come on faster when turned on and do not require the extra time it takes for metal halides to warm up. A T5 fluorescent light fixture can also be operated on motion detectors so lighting only comes on when needed in areas of storage and stairwells. A T5 light fixture also has a better color rendition rating at around 85 to 98% which is quite substantial when compared to the 65 to 93% rating of halides. Better light rendition promotes better production in manufacturing and industrial facilities.

Finally, as if even the skeptics needed another reason to choose T5 lighting over metal halides, there is also an estimated 2 tons of CO2 output savings for each T5 fixture annually. Such a substantial savings cannot be denied even by the toughest critics and one that our planet can certainly benefit from. So next time you are placed on a committee at your place of work, school, or town, recommend this small change and explain the benefits before everyone’s focus is placed on the initial cost of each fixture. The benefits and savings in energy costs are well worth the investment in our planet’s future.

T5 Lights – Answers to Common Conversion Questions

Candice Hendricks — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 04:22:32 +0000

As with all new technology, T5 lights have spurred an endless amount of questions and concerns by consumers. Most new technology also has advantages and disadvantages that one must consider before making appropriate changes. To begin with, many wonder where the term T5 originated and what it stands for. The “T” refers directly to the shape of the lamp-tubular and the “5” represents the diameter of the lamp in eights of an inch. A T5 light bulb has a diameter of 5/8 of an inch. T5 light fixtures are the most compact and are slightly shorter in length than other fluorescent fixtures. For this reason, T5 lighting requires a different type of ballast so existing fixtures will either need to be completely replaced or conversion kits containing extenders are needed in order to make the change. Conversion kits are fairly inexpensive to purchase especially if you take into account what it would cost to change all of your existing fixtures.

How advantageous is the new T5 technology? There are many advantages including energy efficiency, longer lifespan, and the smaller more compact sizes. Manufacturers claim that the new technology is somewhere between three to four times more energy efficient than standard fluorescent light bulbs with a similar wattage. Another advantage is that T5 aquarium lighting will also last longer than standard fluorescent lights. Most manufacturers vouch that the lifespan of T5 bulbs is somewhere around 15,000 hours of frequent use. The bulbs run just as hot as regular fluorescents but they do not radiate heat which many aquarium owners feel is harmful and much harder to regulate or keep under control.

What are some of the disadvantages to using T5 light bulbs versus regular fluorescents? A small amount of aquarium owners feel that T5 technology lacks some of the vibrancy or penetration level of other bulbs. That problem has been easily remedied with the introduction of T5 HO bulbs which contain a greater lumen output. The higher output does a decent job of providing illumination evenly throughout the tank so even the most sensitive corals can thrive and survive a lighting change. The price of a T5 light fixture is also something that most consumers do not agree with. Many forget that the initial investment is nothing in comparison to the amount of money that is saved in the long run. T5 technology uses less energy to function day after day and its lasts much longer than any other lighting option available in the market today.

T5 Aquarium Lighting for Corals

Candice Hendricks — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 04:50:06 +0000

Unlike aquarium systems that only house fish, coral systems require special lighting environment in order to grow and prosper. Fish only systems need lighting so the fish can see and be seen. Reef aquariums offer more options in lighting including the option to choose bulbs that last longer and also offer more energy efficient than regular fluorescent light bulbs. LED or low voltage technology is the most recent and it is considered to be the wave of the future. Unfortunately for many reef aquarium owners, the technology is simply just way too expensive to purchase at its current prices. Lucky for many, fluorescent lighting has also evolved over the years. For instance, the introduction of T5 aquarium lighting gave aquarists a much more compact in size and they also offer more than half energy efficiency of standard fluorescent lighting.

Another major consideration to choosing T5 aquarium light fixtures over regular fluorescents or metal halides is that many experts feel that aquarium T5 light bulbs lack the intensity that is needed in order to promote healthy growth of corals. In many instances, aquarium T5 lighting needs to come from T5 HO bulbs which over a greater lumen output. The amount of aquarium T5 lights, with or without high output, will depend greatly on the depth of your tank. However, most experts recommend that T5 high output lighting be placed in tanks that are more than 12 inches deep. Aquarium T5 lights may initially seem like a steeper investment over regular metal halides but you will need to factor in the amount of money you will save over time. Your tank will require less energy to run each day and the T5 aquarium light fixture and bulbs will last almost double the life of metal halide fixtures.

As with most investments in new technology, there is much that needs to be weighed before you can determine if the change is worth making in the first place. To begin with, you must determine the type of system you want to own before you purchase the lighting. Fish systems are less expensive to purchase and maintain, dependent highly on the type of fish that you choose. Reef systems cost more to establish and require more attention in order to thrive. Depth, intensity, and color of lighting has a great effect on coral growth so you will need to invest in the right lighting for the type of system you are trying to create and for the size of tank you are using.

Photo Source: kyleandtressa.com

T5 Grow Light Fixtures

Candice Hendricks — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 00:19:12 +0000

For many years options in fluorescent grow lights were limited to a few options but much as changed and the industry is evolving to meet the demands of energy efficiency. T5 grow lights are especially popular with many greenhouse plant enthusiasts because although the bulbs run fairly hot, they do not emit or radiate heat to the seedlings or plants below. It is extremely important to only purchase light bulbs that state “cool white” or “cool” on them. It is also a good idea to choose T5 grow lighting with high output or T5 HO lights. Light bulbs that state high output or plus promote better growth. The size of your garden or the spacing between your plants is the main determinant as to how many light bulbs or fixtures you will need.

T5 grow light fixtures have a reflective backing that is also beneficial to plants because not only are the bulbs sufficient to promote higher amounts of growth, the reflective aspects help increase the benefits even more. A T5 grow light system is very costly in comparison to regular metal halides but the benefits are well worth the initial investment. T5 fluorescent grow light bulbs last almost three times longer than regular metal halide bulbs. Manufacturers promise that the new technology is also more than half more energy efficient than other competitors. The energy savings alone is something consumers need to take into account before purchasing any type of lighting system. Over time the savings could become substantial especially if the lights are going to be left on for long periods of time which is typically the case with indoor gardening.

T12 and T8 grow lights are slightly longer than T5 bulbs so you can get larger coverage with fewer bulbs. As with most evolutions in technology, there are many advantages and disadvantages to each change that is made but one must weigh all options before making a sound decision. Ask other plant growers how they feel about their T5 lighting lighting options. Setup small lighting tests with a few different options in lighting to determine which one works best for the type of plant growth you are interested in. Some plants require a larger concentration of natural light in order to thrive so no matter how hard you try to achieve that with artificial lighting it simply cannot fulfill that need. Know your plants and their necessary environments before you choose any type of lighting. Once you have a good idea of what your plants will require to grow, you can then make a better determination as to the type of lighting that can get you the results you are after.

T5 Light Bulbs

Candice Hendricks — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 01:28:23 +0000

T5 lighting technology has become quite popular because it offers consumers an alternative or more precisely an energy efficient option to metal halide fluorescent lighting. T5 light bulbs are more compact in size and require less energy to operate. Aquarium enthusiasts were the first to discover the advantages of T5 aquarium lighting because up until 1995, metal halides were the only option of lighting for an aquarium. The new technology also offered aquarium owners a much cooler lighting system. There are however, some disadvantages associated with the new technology. According to some aquarium owners, T5 lights lack illumination or lumen output which they feel also affects the penetration of light in an aquarium. Many of the plants and organisms that live on the bottom of an aquarium cannot survive or reach their full potential if they lack adequate lighting.

Replacement of only a few of your existing metal halides with T5 bulbs, can still give you the benefits of energy efficiency without affecting the crucial levels of light penetration needed for the plants and fish in your aquarium. A second alternative is to switch all of the bulbs out with T5 light bulbs but also adding a few extra bulbs in order to increase the illumination penetration but not too many because you still want to retain your energy efficiency benefits. Many consumers have found that it is cheaper to convert existing fixtures instead of purchasing new a T5 light fixture. T5 conversion kits are fairly inexpensive to purchase and depending on the amount of fixture you currently own, the kits can save you the much higher cost of replacing all of the fixtures. The kits come with extensions that lengthen the T5 technology so it can fit in the larger fixture.

T5 compact fluorescent lighting options have greatly reduced in price over the years. Originally many aquarium owners did not switch to the new technology because it was way too expensive but that is no longer the case. The bulbs are not that much more expensive than metal halides and the long-term savings in energy costs are quite substantial. The introduction of T5 HO or high output light bulbs has also changed the market. They are a little more expensive to purchase but they offer many more options in lighting especially for aquarium hobbyists. If you are considering becoming an aquarium owner or if you are ready to make the switch, you should definitely consider investing in one of the top brands like Nova or IceCap because not all T5 light fixtures are made the same.

How to do a T5 Lighting Conversion

Candice Hendricks — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 00:46:00 +0000

T5 Lighting has revolutionized the lighting market. T5 lights were designed to be the compact version of regular fluorescent lights or metal halides. Manufacturers of T5 lights were looking to give consumers a greener alternative for their lighting needs. Top reasons to switch from metal halides to T5 lights are:

•    Save on energy costs
•    Easy to install
•    Improve carbon footprint

T5 lights can save you an estimated 70% on energy costs. The reasoning behind this is fairly simple. T5 light bulbs come in increments of 14, 21, 28, and 35 watts for small or regular lighting applications. T5HO lights come in 24, 39, 54, and 80 watt increments for larger more industrial spaces. Standard fluorescent lights or metal halides come in increments of 250, 400, and 1,000 watts. You can save a significant amount regardless of which and how many existing lights you plan to convert.

Manufacturers have created simple and easy to install conversion kits. These kits allow you to fit new T5 light tubes into existing 2, 4, 5, 6, and 8 foot fittings. This means you won’t have to purchase new fixtures or find ways of properly disposing of the old ones. New T5 fixtures are available if do not have existing fixtures or if your existing fixtures are not functioning properly and need replaced.

T5 lights also last almost twice as long as other lights. As if saving money on energy costs wasn’t good enough, T5 lights also reduce replacement and maintenance costs. T5 lights are designed to reduce your carbon footprint. Your carbon footprint is measured by the amount of GHG or greenhouse gas emissions you produce directly or indirectly. T5 lights do just that because they are energy efficient in comparison to other lights on the market, they are easy to convert and do not require disposal of the existing fixtures, and they last almost twice as long as other lights which cuts down on the need for constant repair and replacement.

T5 lights and fixtures can be found at any local home improvement store. T5HO lights and conversion kits can be found online. Wholesale and bulk ordering is available for all types of T5 lights and accessories.

How Advantageous is T5 Lighting in an Industrial Setting

Candice Hendricks — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 00:34:08 +0000

T5 lighting was created to offer areas that require high bay lights a greener or more energy efficient alternative. Large buildings like warehouses, industrial and manufacturing facilities, schools, and department stores all require many ceiling lights to illuminate the space for long periods of time. In the past, these larger buildings only had the option of using standard tube lights also known as metal halides or regular fluorescent lights for their illumination needs.

Wattage
The biggest difference between metal halides and T5 lights is wattage. Metal halides come in 250, 400, and 1000 watts. T5 light bulbs come in increments of 14, 21, 28, and 35 watts for residential or smaller fixtures. T5 HO lights or high output lights come in 24, 39, 54, and 80 watts. T5 HO lights offer a considerable savings in wattage especially in a large setting.

Output
T5 bulbs only lose an estimated 5-6% output over their lifespan. Metal halides have an estimated loss of 20% output over their lifespan which means they continue using the same amount of energy even though the amount of light they produce diminishes over time.

Color Rendition
T5 light bulbs have a 85-98% color rendition score which means they are very close in comparison to natural light. On the other hand, metal halides have a 65-93% score. T5 lights come in a choice of different color temperatures and retain their color output during their entire lifetime. This is especially important for areas that need lighting that is truer and more consistent through its lifetime.

Energy Efficiency
As if T5 lights couldn’t get any better, they also come on automatically and don’t require a warm-up period like halides do. This energy saving feature as well as the remarkable savings in wattage makes T5 lighting very attractive to consumers especially those with in the industrial area.

Conversion
Changing existing metal halides for T5 lights is fairly inexpensive. Manufacturers have created conversion kits that can be installed at little cost and right along with the new T5 bulbs. T5 lights also work with regular clip-on reflectors so existing reflectors do not have to be replaced.

Distribution
T5 light bulbs are made by numerous lighting manufacturers. Suppliers are abundant and prices are very comparable. T5 fixtures and bulbs can be purchased wholesale and in bulk for an even greater savings.

What is Fluorescent T5 Lighting?