T8 vs T12

[tommyboyrn]

well i searched for relevant topics on this and thought I knew what I wanted but I dont guess i do. In my previous double garage I had 2 8ft fixtures with I guess T12 bulbs ( the fatter ones). I am planning a 30x36 shop and had read on here bout T8 bulbs in 4ft fixtures. Well I went to ace for an unrelated cause and decided to look at the bulbs and fixtures. The T8 bulbs are skinnier than what I thought and noticed the T12 were what I was thinking.....
So the T12 bulbs had more lumens and were cheaper than the T8.
So whats the real difference other than the cost? effeciency? etc?

 

[Charles (in GA)]

Comparing T8 and T12 on Buylighting.com I see that the typical 4 ft T8 or T12 have about the same lumen output, depending on which quality, grade, kelvin, etc of bulb you are comparing. Generally the T8 has the edge by a couple of hundred lumens, but at the same time, the T8 is 32 watts vs 40 watts or close to it for the T12.

In addition, its becoming more and more difficult to find a diverse assortment of bulb quality, kelvin, etc in the T12 as its simply not popular and is fading away fast. I also don't think there is any significant difference in price, possibly the T8 might have the edge there due to popularity of it.

Personally, I cannot see why anyone would buy T12 fixtures in these days and times. I have done away with all of mine except the short one over the kitchen sink and the same short ones in the pantry and laundry closet. I picked up spare bulbs (brand new bulbs) at the Habitat ReStore so I run them till I need more bulbs at which point they will get changed out to T5's.

Charles

 

[eljefino]

Most T12 fixtures I've seen have the frosted back of the bulb butting against or very close to a reflector. That light has to then bounce sideways at a bad tangent or back through the bulb including through two layers of frosting dust. I don't see it as efficient in practice as it could be in a lab.

If you really gotta get 'em, get a shop light with an electronic ballast that could run either T8 or T12. You'll be ahead of the game when you can't find T12s anymore.

 

[tommyboyrn]

many thanks, thats what i needed to hear.

 

[tommyboyrn]

charles, when u say 32 watts vs 40 watts, what does that mean? pardon the question but I am clueless. Is that the power to energize bulb?

 

[Burl]

Aren't T8s cheaper to operate?

 

[pattenp]

One big thing is a lot of the T12 stuff is being phased out because of the DOE requirements. T8 will be the standard and it is more efficient. If you're doing new fixtures you should go with T8.

This is a quote from the Sylvania site...

Federal energy legislation such as EPACT (The Energy Policy Act) mandates the phase out of many of the older T12 linear fluorescent lamp types . Advances in newer, more energy efficient fluorescent systems like T8 and T5, and CFL, coupled with financial stimulus and incentive programs ,give end users every opportunity to replace outdated T12 systems and lower their electric bills.

But on the other hand we talk about T12’s going the way of the dinosaur but the manufactures are now making electronic ballast for the T12 to replace the magnetic ones that are ban by the EPACT. They are also producing new T12 lamps that meet the EPACT requirements. If the T12 was a dying light form then I don’t think the manufactures would be making new T12 ballast and lamps.

*

 

[rburke65]

The T12, T8, T5 nomenclature indicates the lamps diameter in eights of an inch. So the T12 is 12 eights or 1 1/2", the T8 is 1" and the T5 is 5/8".

 

[wyliesdiesels]

charles, when u say 32 watts vs 40 watts, what does that mean? pardon the question but I am clueless. Is that the power to energize bulb?

Yes, that's the amount of power the bulb uses.