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Need help finding a certain type of bulb...

bliss

bliss

Blue Ridge Dragons
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So, I've decided to put a 24" UV bulb in my beardie enclosure, and take out the 18" so there will be more coverage.

Here's my problem:

I can't find a 10.0 UV bulb that is both 24" and a T-12 model. All I can find are bulbs that are 24" and T-8 models.

T-8's are the thinner fluorescent bulbs that are about 1" in diameter. T-12's are bigger and have a diameter of 1.5".

I don't really want to go out and buy another fixture, i've conveniently had this 24" fixture lying around for quite some time, and i've decided to put it in but the fixture is made for T-12's.

Thanks,

Dan
 
Hey Dan, I always liked the bigger uvb tubes 1.5" but the last time I ordered them I was told not made anymore by zoo med.

So I ordered the thinner uvb tubes by zoo med and they fit in all my 24" fixtures that I used the thicker tubes in. could not get the thicker uvb tubes from exo terra either.

Hope you can work it out.:)
 
Ed Clark said:
Hey Dan, I always liked the bigger uvb tubes 1.5" but the last time I ordered them I was told not made anymore by zoo med.

So I ordered the thinner uvb tubes by zoo med and they fit in all my 24" fixtures that I used the thicker tubes in. could not get the thicker uvb tubes from exo terra either.

Hope you can work it out.:)
Click to expand...

Hey Ed, how you been doing?

So a T-8 bulb will fit into a fixture that's made specifically for a T-12? if so, then that's awesome :D
 
Dan my curiosity got the best of me, I had to dig out an old T 12 bulb and compare it with the new T 8 bulb.


The pins are identical, so they are interchangeable!
 
Last edited by a moderator:
ha, I had the same problem yesterday as a matter of fact. I ordered a couple new reptisun 10.0's and received T8's. I always used the T12's and was kind of mad when I received them because I thought I had to go out and buy all new fixtures. I emailed the company and they told me that they would work in the regular T12 fixtures and I tried it and it worked.

I guess ya learn something new everyday...
 
Well that's cool, i'll just get a T8 and not have to worry about it :D

Thanks guys!

Also, i found this interesting article about T8s and T12s.
http://fins.actwin.com/aquatic-plants/month.9512/msg00039.html


Here's a small excerpt that may explain why T12 can be kinda hard to find (possibly?):

What's the difference between T8 and T12 lamps?
T8's are 1" in diameter, T12's are 1 1/2". T8's run on an electronic ballast,
and will not run (efficiently) in a fixture with a regular ballast. The same
length of lamp also runs on less electricity, a four foot T8 is 32W, while
the four foot T12 is 40W.

It seems that the commercial lighting industry is rapidly shifting towards
the more energy efficient T8 bulbs. The driving force in the US are the new
US Federal Minimum Energy Standards for fluorescent lights. The old F40T12CW
cool whites may be a thing of the past.

Relative amount of light
T8 bulbs are brighter than comparable T12 bulbs. Paul Krombholz found that
measured with a light meter, four T-8 bulbs put out about twice as much light
as three T-12 bulbs.
Click to expand...
 
Update...

Well, it seems as though a T8 bulb won't always work in a fixture made for a T12. Even though the pins are in the exact same place, Ed, the T8 bulb didn't work in my T12.

I'll post pictures later to show what happened.


I wondered about this, and decided to look it up on google. I think I may have found my answer from "WikiAnswers":

Q: Will a T8 fluorescent bulb work in a T12 fluorescent ballast?

A: Yes....sometimes! However, lamp (bulb) life may be considerably shorter than if the proper t8 ballast is used. Since ballasts limit current flow in the circuit, an improper (t12) ballast would cause more current to flow through the t8 lamp than the lamp is rated to handle. This is why lighting professionals know you must ALWAYS match the lamp to the ballast.

here's the link to that "WikiAnswers" page..>Click<
 
I use the black plastic ones. I think the T8s might work in -some- of the T12 fixtures (and the other way around), but i just have a black plastic cheapie fixture.

It's no big deal. I'll run out to walmart tomorrow and get a 24" fixture for a T8.
 
Ed Clark said:
Got all mine at Lowe's for 10 bux each and they have digital transformers.
Click to expand...

I went to my lowe's earlier today. They had several T8 fixture models, but all of them were for 48" bulbs. the only 24" type fixtures they had were for T4, talk about being a little irritated lol.
 
you guys should look into overdriving lights. a T8 and T12 are interchangable no real difference, just one draws less amps. I always use electronic ballasts so maybe that is it. I had a grow set up and was running 2 x 48in T12 bulbs from an ELECTRONIC ballast made to run 2 x 96in T8 bulbs. I had it going for around 9 months and the bulbs were still fine, and that was pushing 60 watts through 40 watt bulbs, the difference of 2-3 watts from a 24in T-8 T12 swap should make no difference. I have even heard of people setting up 1 48in t12 to a ballast made for 4 T8 bulbs.
 
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