T5 vs T8 strip lighting

[camaro0991]

Hey all,

Im goign to be installing strip lighting in my lift bay. Im tossed between t5 or t8 bulbs. Home depot has 8foot strips that take 4, 4 foot bulbs each in each size. Am I correct that the t5 bulbs are brighter than the t8s, even though they are smaller?

 

[pattenp]

They are brighter and cost 2X.

 

[sandiaman]

I recently installed the T5 strips from HomeDepot in my shop and am quite pleased with them. I used cheaper 5000k bulbs (Eiko 81160 - F54T5/HO/850) from 1000Bulbs.com. Time will tell on the longevity of these bulbs. The best thing I liked about the strips from HD is that by running an additional wire and switch, you can turn on half or all of the of the lights. I installed 6 strips (24 bulbs) in my 20 x 30 shop and the lighting level is sufficient for detailed work. The T5 HO bulbs I used have a lumens output of 4500 after warm up. That is twice the output of a T8 bulb.

 

[badgcoupe]

FWIW,
T5's are often used in reef aquaria because they have the "balls" to meet the demands of the extremely high levels of light corals need to survive. T8's, no matter what quantity are never used.

 

[Browns1964]

Where I work at they added a addition to the building 6 years ago. The front half is T8 and the new addition is T5. There is a big advantage with the T5 so much brighter and they used less lights.

 

[MeentSS02]

I installed 3 4-foot, two bulb T5 strips in my garage a couple years ago (they are the Lithonia ones from Home Depot, bulbs included). They replaced three porcelain Edison sockets that I tried both regular and CFL bulbs in with limited success.

I've been quite pleased with how much light they put out compared to their foot print (or is that ceiling print?), so much so that I bought a whole bunch more that I have yet to hang. Three of them were plenty for general lighting in my attached 3 car garage, but I'd like more for when I'm working on my vehicles or detailing them. I have a feeling the amount of light generated by all the other ones I plan on hanging will border on the absurd.

 

[burleyfarm]

I used 3 of the HD 8 foot, no diffuser, 4 lamp, T8, daylight lamp fixtures in half of my 30 x 34 garage and they are more than adequate for any work I'm going to do. (tractor and MGB restoration)I'm actually going to experiment this weekend and remove half of the lamps to see if I can go with the 4 foot, T8's. I bought some of the 4 foot fixtures with diffuser for placement directly over my work bench area in the other half of the garage. It was really bright after I did my Epoxy-Coat floor.

 

[roche]

Could anyone please post a link to the exat home depot model you are guys are using?

I've been shopping for my new garage. Thanks!

 

[FunkyfullWidth]

When I was walking around HD the other day, they had 8' 4 bulb lithonia, non HO t8 strips that were not listed on the website, I can't recall the price, but It was under 40ea.. sometimes, the best way to see what's out there is to go to your local HD store.

 

[pattenp]

Could anyone please post a link to the exat home depot model you are guys are using?

I've been shopping for my new garage. Thanks!

This is the 4 lamp T5 I've seen in my HD.

http://www.homedepot.com/Lighting-F...ngId=-1&keyword=t5&storeId=10051#.UF24qbJlRpA

*

 

[Cobra6]

This is the 4 lamp T5 I've seen in my HD.

http://www.homedepot.com/Lighting-F...ngId=-1&keyword=t5&storeId=10051#.UF24qbJlRpA

*

That light is great, but the T5 bulbs are still so expensive - once you pay $70 for the fixture, you still have to put $40 worth of bulbs in it.

You can get this tandem T8 fixture for $40 and spend $10 - $12 on bulbs -
http://www.homedepot.com/h_d1/N-5yc...Id=-1&keyword=lithonia+t8+light&storeId=10051

cost makes a big difference if you are puting in 10 of these units. While the T5 units are better, they are not 2.5 times the cost better.

 

[jonahbones]

lumen output per watt tri-phosphor t8 is more efficient than t5
t5 main advantage is small form factor
most marketing for t5 use data for old style t8 tubes for comparison
always found the cri of t5 too low to like the light from them

 

[ddawg16]

lumen output per watt tri-phosphor t8 is more efficient than t5
t5 main advantage is small form factor
most marketing for t5 use data for old style t8 tubes for comparison
always found the cri of t5 too low to like the light from them

Not quite an accurate statement.

Generally, the T5 is more efficient (lumes per watt), but it depends on color and other factors. There are a couple of T8's that put out more light....

But as a blanket statement....not correct.

However....as far as cost goes....T5 are more expensive...

Here is a good link on T5's

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fluorescent-lamp_formats

 

[Bill1969]

You have to be kidding me that is the fixture that you want to put in your garage! For the best results go with these guys. The fixture is a bit more but American Made has a reflector to push all the light down to the work space. The people a warehouse lighting are friendly and very helpful with suggestons and layouts... give them a shout...

http://www.warehouse-lighting.com/industrial-strip-lights/8-foot-industrial-strip-light-fixture-4-lamp-t8-flourescent-light-120-volt-95-enhanced-miro-4-reflector.aspx

Bill

 

[Charles (in GA)]

THIS THREAD discusses THIS T5HO STRIP FIXTURE from HD. It uses These bulbs.

Charles

 

[www.lightingcomponents.us]

T5 Cost more and uses more energy but it gives out much more light you can check out our website www.lightingcomponents.us for great pricing on fixtures

 

[fstbusa]

IMO, The light output of a t5 is only slightly higher than a t8. Not enough to justify the increased fixture, lamp cost, and energy usage

 

[Donald Cook]

Am I reading right? T5 uses almost twice the wattage as a T8. Bulbs cost more, fixtures cost more, so you could use 1.5 more fixtures and get more light for less energy.

 

[GarageWrench]

When I was walking around HD the other day, they had 8' 4 bulb lithonia, non HO t8 strips that were not listed on the website, I can't recall the price, but It was under 40ea.. sometimes, the best way to see what's out there is to go to your local HD store.

I know this post is a few months old, but I have three of these in my 600 sq ft garage and am quite happy with the output. Much better than the incandescent fixtures they replaced. I think they were $39.99 each and I put standard cool white bulbs in them.

 

[ddawg16]

T5 Cost more and uses more energy but it gives out much more light you can check out our website www.lightingcomponents.us for great pricing on fixtures

Thats trolling if I've ever seen it.......no, wait....spamming....

Comparing Lumens Per Watt (LPW)

T8 = 90LPW
T5 = 99LPW

If going from T12 to T5....worthwhile....T8 to T5? Waste of money

 

[mdkingsley]

Intersting, I was looking at T-8 4 bulb fixtures last night at HD trying to decide on what to do.

 

[CT2012]

i just installed 2 of those 4-bulb t8 8' long t8 from home depot in my garage, along with a 4' long 2-bulb t8 unit.

once all the lights get going (which takes a couple of minutes), it's plenty bright for 99% of my needs. garage is 20'x20'.

if i was detailing my car to the level of measuring paint thickness and using magnifying glass to identify hairline scratches, ok, then i'd go with something a little brighter.

which is another way of saying, don't overthink it. per 4-bulb fixture is about 40 bucks for the unit plus ~10 bucks for lights. no-brainer.

 

[24hours]

I just installed four of the 8' H.O. T-5's at 20,000 lumens per strip. I upgraded from three 4' T-12's. My little three car (Odd shape) garage now has around 121 lumens per sq. foot. Last week our temps were at 17* degrees and the lights fired right up. No problems.

It's quite the upgrade.

 

[Brian41]

I just installed 12 of the T-5 HO 8ft strips from HD in my new booth. Once we paint the walls its sunglass time.

 

[Adam McLaughlin]

I personally love the paint booth look IF you can turn off certain lights to stagger them when you don't need the high intensity light
If you want to go 1/2 light then this is an option

Very nice. Well done Brian41

Adam

 

[hanly2]

I recently installed the T5 strips from HomeDepot in my shop and am quite pleased with them. I used cheaper 5000k bulbs (Eiko 81160 - F54T5/HO/850) from 1000Bulbs.com. Time will tell on the longevity of these bulbs. The best thing I liked about the strips from HD is that by running an additional wire and switch, you can turn on half or all of the of the lights. I installed 6 strips (24 bulbs) in my 20 x 30 shop and the lighting level is sufficient for detailed work. The T5 HO bulbs I used have a lumens output of 4500 after warm up. That is twice the output of a T8 bulb.

The price on those bulbs is nice. How did they last?

 

[Quijote]

I considered T5's, but for the garage, with exposed bulbs, I actually felt the light was too concentrated and bothered my eyes if I accidentally looked at it. I'm very happy with my T8's.

 

[hanly2]

That is true even when i was at hd looking at the lights it was hard to see after. But my ceiling is 12' and i do paint and body work.

 

[Norcal]

Unless you have the ceiling height for T5 fixtures, it is bad lighting design to use them w/ lower ceiling heights, the T5 lamps are just too bright & uneven light levels will result. T8 lamps & ballasts are a lot cheaper too, just to use HD's prices for T5 lamps at about $10 ea., a 2 lamp T5 ballast $54 ea., 2 lamp T8 approx. $20, and electronic ballasts do not last as long as the old ballasts. A local hardwood/ laminate floor supplier has T5 fixtures in their laminate floor showroom, ceiling height is 12-14 feet & it looks bad with the bright spots under the fixtures then dimmer light levels as it gets farther away from the light source.

 

[BFBOB]

I got the HiOutput T5 2- 4' tube fixture from HD because I needed to stuff a lot of light into a small area, between a duct and the wall over my workbench. Old, tired 40W big tubes never were really bright enough, and no room for more tubes. T5's in, problem solved. Expensive, but well worth it in this application. I got the warmer of the two colors available, sacrificed a few lumens for better color rendition.

 

[600SL]

My research led me to T8's based on my ceiling height of 10'. The T5s are brighter which has the effect of concentrating too much light in one area when used in low bay situations. I also opted for open aperture reflectors based on recommendations from the web for there ability to keep the bulbs clean and also since I have a white reflective ceiling. The open apertures added a lot to the cost since they are not available as consumer items.

Unfortunately I don't have direct comparison between the T5 and T8 all I can say is I'm happy with 17, 8 foot 4 bulb T8 units mounted 10' high in a 30x48 garage. The solution yields an overall lighting of ~ 100 cf.

 

[rkstr]

+1 for the 8' T5 fixture using four 4' T5 bulbs from HD. A case of 25 5000k T5 bulbs from 100bulbs.com is only $70 shipped to doorstep. Like other posts, run red wire and use two switches. Only turn them all on when I really need to see, mostly use half at one time.

 

[BuickFarmer]

Some great info regarding the T5's being too bright at low bay, thanks