T5 ballasts

Hi, is there any difference between t5 and t8 ballasts? Or would one be able to run t5 lights on t8 ballast that's the correct watts?

 

Completely different ballasts... Maybe @DigiGram can give us the reasoning behind it...?

 

I tried to run T5 off a T8 ballast a few years ago. Didnt work.

Ive since found out they operate very differently.

 

There are a few different types of ballasts and T5 & T8 will run off of both. The first type of ballast is the electrical ballast which is a coil of wire. These ballasts are old technology and normally involve a starter to ignite the florescence. They are costly to run and they have been outlawed in Europe. Some of the Chinese made light fittings have these ballasts.

The later electronic ballasts are designed to run single lamp type in one instance and multiple lamp types in another. Take the BAG electronics MLS39.2S-01/220-240 ballast. It can run

T8 38w 36w 30w 18w 15w
T5 FQ 39W-24W
T5 FH 14W
TC-L/TC-F 36W 24W 18W

Specks from here.
http://www.lcisa.co.za/productFinder/products/4/MLS-series-in-Multi-Lamp-Technology/
http://www.bagelectronics.com/en/products/electronic-control-gears-for-fluorescent-lamps/electronic-ballasts/

You will have noticed that there are two different T5 ratings with different Watt ratings. This is because there are two different design lamp types. The first type is the "FQ" lamps that have a fast start. These lamps are designed for frequent switching like in offices, kitchens and general household use. They are shorter lived and slightly more expensive to run.
The "FH" lamps are slow start lamps that are only occasionally switched on and off. They are used in areas like shopping malls, underground railwaystations etc. They are highly efficient lamps with a long life.

I take it finance or cost of the electronic ballast is the reason for this question. The new T5 electronic ballast will save you money in the long run because it is cheaper to run and the T5 electronic ballast is friendlier on the lamp it that it lasts longer.

Hope this helps explain for you.

New T5 ballasts can be purchased from LCI for about R120.00
http://www.lcisa.co.za/

 

Thanks @KGB, think that covers most of what I wanted to know! Seems even if you go the DIY way it still costs to go T5.

 

For smaller tanks I like to stick to T5 tubes in the 8-13W range and add a couple of them. Only reason for that being I can DIY the electronic ballast for them, and even cheaper is to salvage a ballast from an old broken CFL, but only if you like combining highish voltage with water vapour .

As KGB mentioned, you do get some ballasts that work with both types, and I have used T5's on T8 magnetic (or electric) ballasts, but they waste a lot of electricity and reduce your tube life since the starting voltage is COMPLETELY wrong.

If you can not get affordable T5 ballasts (like here in Potch), you can salvage one from those undercounter light fittings, they are T5 as well and you get them in higher wattages.

 

what would count as smaller tanks? i have a 2ft and 4ft that i want to use t5's with and wants to know what the cheapest option would be? and im also doing my shoping in potch lol. do you use regular coolwhite tubes?

 

I have found regular tubes work well. I have 2 Osram 54W 6500K daylight tubes. Some people say its a bit yellow but I havent noticed this. Maybe a blend of 6500K and 8000K or 10000K bulbs to get a nicer looking light.

 

Cool White is 4000K and that is what I use on my 2ft, as getting 6500K in Potch is really difficult... If you can get some 6500K tubes, it would be far better. 4000K is a bit yellow as it gets older. My 2ft uses a 13W tube with hacked ballast, need to add some more, but not before I move, while my 4ft relies on T8's for now, I do not want to buy new tubes before I move in a months time.

 

I'm running 2x15w daylight cfls and a 20w white t8 on my 2ft. But the tank is in a cabinet and the canopy made from wood so it has glass sliders to keep the water from damaging the canopy. Now I feel the plants are not getting enough light. Would it be better to put some t5's in? And how many? Maybe another way to keep the moisture from the wood and get rid of the sliders? A fan maybe?

 

Just keep your sliders clean, and you won't get that much of an increase when you jump from Daylight CFL's to T5's!! Where did you buy the Daylight CFL's? lol. Correct me if I'm wrong, but 50W is more than enough for a 2ft tank! Do you add ferts or CO2? Also try adding a reflector behind the lights, or paint the inside of the canopy white. It works wonders!

 

@DigiGram and @Yster I have just PM you guys

 

The cfls from Senwes in the industrial area. Dosing EI and Excel atm.

 

Never though of looking at Senwes for Daylight CFL's, will have a look, currently all of my plants are in my 60L anticipating the Groot Trek Reversal