T5 vs. T8, which to use?

[resinraider]

Self titled. Which to use and y plz. thnx, RR

 

[JoeCa1i]

t5's are better,but t8's work fine too.and they cost less.

 

[Ryando]

t5's are the better,but t8's work fine too.and they cost less.

Any, both t5 and t8 will work, most people use t5's though, i've never used any, im too in love with my 600 HPS =]

 

[resinraider]

R T5's really better? Y r they smaller? Will 4 (5s sise by side cover wf ince for veg?

 

[tom__420]

Yes t-5's are better I don't know what you are trying to ask though at the end of that last post

 

[resinraider]

Ahahha. Sry I'm on my phone. I was asking if 4 side by side cover my width of 16 inches

 

[tom__420]

Yeah you should be good to go

 

[IAm5toned]

the only difference between a t5 and a t8 is the diameter of the lamp... they will run off the same ballasts even. (rapidstart electronic)
because the t8's are bigger, they burn a little bit cooler (temp wise, you can get them in any color or shade you need...literally) than a t5.
and the t8's are cheaper. the only reason the t8's are cheaper is for marketing/sales reasons.
t5's fit in a smaller space, smaller light fixtures are more desirable than larger ones, therefore, you get charged more for the t5.
and thats about it.

 

[resinraider]

So they r the same shit? Would T8s cover more area as they r larger?

 

[burninjay]

the only difference between a t5 and a t8 is the diameter of the lamp... they will run off the same ballasts even.

This is not universally true, most ballasts that will run T5s will run T8s. However, not all ballasts that run T8s can fire T5s.'

T5s are far more efficient than T8s. A 48" 40w T8 will produce 2500 lumens, where a 48" 54w T5 will produce 5000. Thats twice the lumens at 1.35 times power consumption.

 

[IAm5toned]

yeah but for OUR purposes... they are the same.
lumens are visible light, not usable light....
check the spectral breakdown on em if you dont believe me.

 

[burninjay]

yeah but for OUR purposes... they are the same.
lumens are visible light, not usable light....
check the spectral breakdown on em if you dont believe me.

Well, forgive me for stating the obvious, but if a T5 of the same spectrum as a T8 puts out twice the lumens, it will also logically put out the twice the PAR(photosynthetically active radiation; usable light). I was using a commonly understood unit for a direct comparison. The T5 remains FAR more efficient than the T8 at producing any wavelength of radiation.