T-5 vs T-5HO vs T-8

[bams50]

Okay. I've read many threads about lighting here, and learned a lot. But I'm still confused about which bulbs are best for my application

I have an old gas station, 30x30, 2 bays. One has an old in-floor drive-on lift. The other will be getting a new two-poster.

I'm rewiring the whole thing, and going with new fixtures. Our race car shop has all new 4' fixtures, 4 bulbs each. I've not gotten a ladder to find out which bulbs they are, but the light is excellent.

I want the most efficient bulbs they make; they have to be able to work well when the shop is cold as well- probably down to 40 degrees F at the coldest.

Can someone give me a brief summation on T-5 vs.T-5 HO vs. T-8? I know about diameter; I'm just wndering about efficiency and durability.

 

[madosta]

How high are your ceilings or where you plan to mount the lights?

There's also T-8 HO

You'll hear a lot of people here liking the T8s and that's what I've got installed in my garage at 10' ceilings and a 5000k color - my favorite.

Make sure you get all the same color bulbs and form the same manufacturer if you want them to match.

The T5s are probably the best, but if your ceiling is high enough. Some have installed T5 HO high bay fixtures in their garages and don't like the flood of intense light. Others have installed T5s in their garages and love them. I would have used T5s if my ceilings were high enough, but I like my T8s and the ballasts will start down to I think -10F.

 

[bams50]

Haven't actually measured the ceiling height, but it's high enough for lifts- 13 or 14 feet?

We're thinking a row of fixtures down the center, two at the front, and maybe one on each side wall.

 

[ForceFed70]

A quick summary:

A standard T5 will be the most efficient, but only slightly more efficient than a T8.
In my opinion, the T5 is a slightly better fixture but not worth the extra cost vs T8.

T5HO and T8HO are high output versions of the regular T5 and T8. You sacrifice lamp life and efficiency for that extra output. The HO fixtures are also more expensive.

IMO: T8 is best bang for buck which is why I chose them for my shop.

 

[bams50]

A quick summary:

A standard T5 will be the most efficient, but only slightly more efficient than a T8.
In my opinion, the T5 is a slightly better fixture but not worth the extra cost vs T8.

T5HO and T8HO are high output versions of the regular T5 and T8. You sacrifice lamp life and efficiency for that extra output. The HO fixtures are also more expensive.

IMO: T8 is best bang for buck which is why I chose them for my shop.

Just what I was hoping for. Exactly. Quickie explanation of the differences. Much appreciated!

 

[dimarcelli]

A T8 32 watt lamp puts out 2800 lumens, and a regular T5 28 watt lamp puts out 2900 lumens. So you can see they're literally the same one just uses less power and costs more. T5HO 54 watt lamps put out 5000 lumens.

Most standard residential electronic ballasts are good down to 0 F. Some commercial models are good down to -20 F.

 

[G'ord]

One last consideration is that you buy lamps that are cold starts.

 

[tfi racing]

A quick summary:

A standard T5 will be the most efficient, but only slightly more efficient than a T8.
In my opinion, the T5 is a slightly better fixture but not worth the extra cost vs T8.

T5HO and T8HO are high output versions of the regular T5 and T8. You sacrifice lamp life and efficiency for that extra output. The HO fixtures are also more expensive.

IMO: T8 is best bang for buck which is why I chose them for my shop.

Exactly what I think as well,T5's have their advantages, you need hundreds of fixtures in hundreds of locations to take full advantage of the slight increase of efficiency.For residential and small commercial buildings,T8 fixtures with good quality ballasts and lamps are very hard to beat.

 

[bams50]

Thanks for making this clearer for me. Eventually I'll start a thread with pictures of this neat little garage.

 

[Gary S]

I have not tried T5s yet, but I can say that I don't trust the lumen ratings you see on the box. I have two identical light fixtures over my garage workbench. One has T12 lamps in it. The other one has T8 lamps. The T8 lamps are rated at higher lumens than the T12s, but when I hit the switch, the T12s are brighter. I would expect the same thing with comparing T8 to T5. Watts still matter. The lumens listed on the box may not be real world.

 

[ddawg16]

A quick summary:

A standard T5 will be the most efficient, but only slightly more efficient than a T8.
In my opinion, the T5 is a slightly better fixture but not worth the extra cost vs T8.

T5HO and T8HO are high output versions of the regular T5 and T8. You sacrifice lamp life and efficiency for that extra output. The HO fixtures are also more expensive.

IMO: T8 is best bang for buck which is why I chose them for my shop.

I also concur.....Force did his homework

That is of course assuming your doing all tubes.....

CFL is another option....cheaper to install...but not as efficient as T8 or T5

LED...more expensive up front.....but last longer....payback takes longer as well....

I have 16 CFL's in the bottom level of my garage in recessed cans...for me it's perfect....less likely that I'll hit one with a piece of wood...a few years from now when (and if) the cost of LED's come down...I can change them out.....

 

[FunkyfullWidth]

I say go with t-8's. The money saved between t-8's to t5's... Buy a heater, then cold starts aren't that much of an issue. 40 is cold in a shop. With the right fixture and bulb, t8's will be great.

 

[77thor]

I would go with T8 HO fixtures but I can't find them anywhere locally

 

[bookman51]

Interesting thread. I have still have yet to put lights into my 72 x40 pole building. Like to hear more people's thoughts in T-5, T-8, T-5HO, T-8HO, etc. I live in Nebraska where it does get cold in the winter. Decisions, decisions!

 

[zcar751]

Here is another way to look at it, T12s are history, T8s are today, and T5s are the future. The reason to go to the thinner bulbs is environmental. Keep in mind that the bulb is filled with a mercury vapor so smaller tube means less vapor.

From what I have seen on pricing you will pay about the same for T5 and T8 fixtures of equvolent capacities. What you will notice on the high bay fixtures is a reflective backing combined with 8 or 10 lamps to give the lighting equivalent of high intensity discharge lights at a fraction of the energy consumption.

 

[FDNY-L107]

Maybe I am not majority here, but I installed T5HO's 4300k in my 825 sq ft 3car garage and love them. I have commercial high bay fixtures flush mounted in 10.5 ft ceiling. I went with 4 six bulb fixture units and 1 four bulb unit. The light is outstanding. In eight years with an average usage of 4-6 hrs per week, I have never changed a bulb yet.