Bigrhamr
Well-known member
I just bought a sample 6 bulb 4' t5 light to see if I want them in the new shop. The building I put it in for a test is 24 x 36 with a 12' ceiling, as the old t-12's gradually died off I replaced them with 300 watt incandescents. As a test I hung the t5
(6 bulbs @ 54 watt = 324, tag says total with ballast load is 360 watt, 3.0 amp) in the center of one half of the room and 5 of the 300 watt incandescents arrayed around the other half (300 x 5 = 1500 watts).
Results? The incandescent side is okay due to enough sheer wattage and having them in many locations cuts down on shadows. Then, hit the t5 switch and WHOA BABY, it's like being outside under a sunny sky. I can see details I didn't know were there before, dust on the table stands out in
3-D, I can read an old faded scale ruler that's useless on the other side of the building. They aren't cheap but with the cost of power if they're going to run all day like mine are the payback time isn't bad at all. If you're doing any kind of detailed work check them out.
(6 bulbs @ 54 watt = 324, tag says total with ballast load is 360 watt, 3.0 amp) in the center of one half of the room and 5 of the 300 watt incandescents arrayed around the other half (300 x 5 = 1500 watts).
Results? The incandescent side is okay due to enough sheer wattage and having them in many locations cuts down on shadows. Then, hit the t5 switch and WHOA BABY, it's like being outside under a sunny sky. I can see details I didn't know were there before, dust on the table stands out in
3-D, I can read an old faded scale ruler that's useless on the other side of the building. They aren't cheap but with the cost of power if they're going to run all day like mine are the payback time isn't bad at all. If you're doing any kind of detailed work check them out.
