Fluorescent Tubes - How do I pick a winner

[sbosecker]

In my Interior Lighting Suggestions For Upcoming Build thread, a lighting plan with some T5HO lamps and with some T8 lamps was developed.

Some Sylvania lamps were suggested to provide the illumination.

Today I was at an "Overstock Warehouse" type of business and saw a variety of Philips T8 lamps at $1 per tube.

I took some pictures and then came home to try to do some research. I found this to be an exercise in futility. I can't determine if these tubes would be a good fit for my building.

I saw the following Philips tubes:

281881
226779
281626
272690
281568
281535
281576
281840
281550

I will need 58 T8 lamps. They seemed to have more of the 281840's than anything else.

Am I being penny-wise and pound-foolish for even looking at these tubes?

Scott

 

[BD1]

what about the Costco LED'S ?? Many posts about them.

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=254583&highlight=Costco+led

 

[Elginz]

Daylight 54k or more.

 

[toplessHO]

most of the differences are going to be in the Kelvin rating.

so get the most of the flavor you want and the ones that are a little higher or lower.
Take a plug in light with you and test at the store to see what Kevin rating you like.
Or just buy one of each to test at home and return the ones you dont want.
If possible get ones that have green lettering or green end caps,those are eco friendly
and can be disposed of in landfills.

 

[cybrdyke]

281881 2' tube
226779 U-bend tube
281626 4' tube, 3000k very warm color
272690 4' tube, 4100k good white color
281568 4' tube, 5000k bluish white color, 80 CRI
281535 4' tube, 3500k warm color, 80 CRI
281576 4' tube, 4100k good white color
281840 4' tube, 4100k good white color
281550 4' tube, 4100k good white color 80 CRI

I will need 58 T8 lamps. They seemed to have more of the 281840's than anything else.

These are all obsolete items, which you probably already know. That's why they're only $1 each. But, they're all decent enough lamps. The 80 CRI models are better than the others, so try to get some of those. Choose either 4100k (white) or 5000k (bluish white)...your preference, no performance difference.
If you can get all the same of one model, that would be ideal, so that they all match color-wise.
Stay away from the 3000k....too yellow-ish for garage work.
Good luck
CD

 

[sbosecker]

These are all obsolete items, which you probably already know. That's why they're only $1 each. But, they're all decent enough lamps. The 80 CRI models are better than the others, so try to get some of those. Choose either 4100k (white) or 5000k (bluish white)...your preference, no performance difference.
If you can get all the same of one model, that would be ideal, so that they all match color-wise.
Stay away from the 3000k....too yellow-ish for garage work.
Good luck
CD

CD,

Thanks.

Just the info I was looking for. May I ask where you tracked that down? There may be other tubes available. I just took pictures of the racks and then came home and transcribed the numbers. Some of the printed information in the pictures was obscured or not visible at all. When I go back, I may find additional possibilities.

Best regards,

Scott

 

[cybrdyke]

CD,

Thanks.

Just the info I was looking for. May I ask where you tracked that down? There may be other tubes available. I just took pictures of the racks and then came home and transcribed the numbers. Some of the printed information in the pictures was obscured or not visible at all. When I go back, I may find additional possibilities.

Best regards,

Scott

Unfortunately, it's in my head....along with some very evil voices.
If you have other numbers, let me know....but the 4100k or 5000k @80 CRI would be good choices.

 

[sbosecker]

Unfortunately, it's in my head....along with some very evil voices.
If you have other numbers, let me know....but the 4100k or 5000k @80 CRI would be good choices.

CD,

Golly.

I'm leaning towards the 281550's. However, if there weren't enough of those, would there be a visible difference (when under power) between those and the 281840's?

Best regards,

Scott

 

[sbosecker]

Unfortunately, it's in my head....along with some very evil voices.
If you have other numbers, let me know....but the 4100k or 5000k @80 CRI would be good choices.

CD,

I had a friend drop by earlier today and look for some T5 tubes. Much more limited supply of this type of tube. Here's what he just sent me.









Philips F54T5/841/HO/ALTO 290833 4100K 85 (Hmmm... one source 4000K another 4100K)
Sylvania FP54/830/HO/ECO 20903-2 3000K 85
Damar F54T5/850/HO/ECO 26412A 5000K 82

I think I would like to stick with 4100K lamps.

My lighting plan calls for 100 T5 lamps. I'm thinking the box of 40 Philips 290833 at $1 per tube would be a good start on that. Obviously I would be filling out the balance with a similar color temp.

...or should I not mix & match.

...or is there some other reason I shouldn't use the Philips,

Best regards,

Scott

 

[softailgarage]

I would recommend LED's, but, if you want to stick with Flouescent go with Sylvania T8 Daytime Deluxe. They're the brightest, most efficient bulb out there.

 

[cybrdyke]

By process of elimination....
You dont want the 3000k lamps (unless you're trying to have a VERY romantic ambiance in your garage).
I've never heard of Damar lamps...so I wouldn't buy them either.
The 290833 is a current product of Philips. You can still get them if this place doesn't have enough of them for you.
Yes you can mix and match...I often tell people that can notice the slightest color difference between 2 lamps in a ceiling.....STOP STARING AT THE LIGHTS!!! YOU'LL GO BLIND!!!

 

[sbosecker]

By process of elimination....
You dont want the 3000k lamps (unless you're trying to have a VERY romantic ambiance in your garage).
I've never heard of Damar lamps...so I wouldn't buy them either.
The 290833 is a current product of Philips. You can still get them if this place doesn't have enough of them for you.
Yes you can mix and match...I often tell people that can notice the slightest color difference between 2 lamps in a ceiling.....STOP STARING AT THE LIGHTS!!! YOU'LL GO BLIND!!!

CD,

Well I picked up a couple of boxes (all they had) of the Philips 281550. It turns out the reason this operation had most of these boxes of tubes was because there had been some audible breakage inside the boxes. One of my boxes had one broken and the other had 4 broken. I needed 58 tubes so I picked up 3 of the Philips 281840's to fill out my T8 needs.

There was just the one box of the Philips 290833 T5's. The box held 40 tubes and there was no breakage in this box. I got that as well.

So for a "Benjamin" + a bit (sales tax) I got 98 tubes. I need 60 more T5's for my build. I don't think I'll be able to match the dollar-per-tube cost benchmark that I established today.

Thanks for your help!

Best regards,

Scott

 

[Platonic Solid]

Nothing wrong with a bargain. Mixing 4000K and 4100K won't be noticeable, but mixing 4000 and 5000 will look funky and cheap.

F54T5HO:
I would ****** up those Philips F54T5/841/HO/ALTO 290833 4100K 85CRI Lamps (30,000hr).
If they don't have 100, fill in the rest with my original recommendation here: Sylvania 20906 @ 1000bulbs.com for $3.91 ea. (case of 40) (40,000hr)
- - - - - - - -
F32T8:
The 281840 are the old 700 series phosphor blend 78 CRI 2800lm (initial) 2660lm (mean)

These are OK: "281550 4' tube, 4100k good white color 80 CRI" 2850lm (initial) 2710lm (mean)

Original recommendation: Sylvania 21676 4100K 85CRI 3000lm (initial) 2820lm (mean) $3.37 ea. (linked)

 

[sbosecker]

Nothing wrong with a bargain. Mixing 4000K and 4100K won't be noticeable, but mixing 4000 and 5000 will look funky and cheap.

F54T5HO:
I would ****** up those Philips F54T5/841/HO/ALTO 290833 4100K 85CRI Lamps (30,000hr).
If they don't have 100, fill in the rest with my original recommendation here: Sylvania 20906 @ 1000bulbs.com for $3.91 ea. (case of 40) (40,000hr)
- - - - - - - -
F32T8:
The 281840 are the old 700 series phosphor blend 78 CRI 2800lm (initial) 2660lm (mean)

These are OK: "281550 4' tube, 4100k good white color 80 CRI" 2850lm (initial) 2710lm (mean)

Original recommendation: Sylvania 21676 4100K 85CRI 3000lm (initial) 2820lm (mean) $3.37 ea. (linked)

Platonic Solid,

Thanks for all your help.

There's an outfit called ADL Supply that currently has the Sylvania 20906 for sale at $3.77 per lamp AND they will let me buy 60 vs. the 40-count case increments.

When I put in a search for this item on their site, the price comes up as $4.81 per lamp (5 minimum). However, there is a "buy in bulk" note for this item and the note indicates the price is $3.77 for 40 or more tubes.

When I put in 40 it gave me a price of $3.77 per lamp and it allowed me to put in 60 tubes and kept that $3.77 price. Shipping is $15.99 + $3 handling.

I think that 1000Bulbs shipping for a case was just under $13. So ADL Supply was a bit over $6 more for shipping & handling than 1000Bulbs. For 60 tubes that's about 10 cents a tube which gets the price to just a bit under the 1000Bulb unit cost.

The real advantage for me in using these guys is the option to order the "odd-lot" 60 tubes vs. some multiple of the 40-count case.

Best regards,

Scott

 

[toplessHO]

consider you will need spares when you order,lamps dont last forever

 

[sbosecker]

For anyone that's interested, my tubes from ADL Supply arrived via FedEx this week while I was out of the country. My spouse brought the boxes in and I opened them up yesterday when I returned.

The following pictures show how the 60 T5 tubes were packed (2 boxes).

All seem to have survived without damage.

Scott