Calling all CFL and T5 growers

reggaerican

reggaerican

Well-Known Member
sweet man looking good, i have not flowered with T5's yes but i will be starting my first mini scrog stelth dresser in bout a week or so.. i am going to use a whole crap load of T5 and cfls along with that liquid gold..
 
KuLong

KuLong

Well-Known Member
After doing some researching and seeing what people have been saying on this site and others....

About 70'ish % of people are giving it a thumbs down and the other 30'ish swear its the secret ingredient.

I guess this is one of those things that you have to try for yourself to see if it works for you.

(still cannot find out if its organic or not)
 
reggaerican

reggaerican

Well-Known Member
KuLong said:
After doing some researching and seeing what people have been saying on this site and others....

About 70'ish % of people are giving it a thumbs down and the other 30'ish swear its the secret ingredient.

I guess this is one of those things that you have to try for yourself to see if it works for you.

(still cannot find out if its organic or not)
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im not sure if it is organic kulong, would be nice if it is..
 
O

openmynd

Member
light magnification should not be a problem with cfls i even spray my seedlings with water and the cfls are only an inch away and i never had a problem with bleaching.
 
reggaerican

reggaerican

Well-Known Member
openmynd said:
light magnification should not be a problem with cfls i even spray my seedlings with water and the cfls are only an inch away and i never had a problem with bleaching.
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yea but you gotta watch those big T5's i have burned some leaf tips from touching the lamp... but never does with my t8's that i use for veg, heck they can touch wrap around and do backflips with no burning... haha but its tru
 
Auzzie07

Auzzie07

Well-Known Member
reggaerican said:
yea but you gotta watch those big T5's i have burned some leaf tips from touching the lamp... but never does with my t8's that i use for veg, heck they can touch wrap around and do backflips with no burning... haha but its tru
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I was skeptical about how close I could really get to my T5 without inducing heat stress to the plant, so for awhile I had my couple plants about 12" from the light, but I could see growth slowing down, so now I have them about 1" from the light with no signs of stress at all. I'm going to look into this product though.
 
dojaguy

dojaguy

Active Member
I USE t8 would that work for me? i heard the t8 bulb is better than t5... so thats why i bought t8
 
Auzzie07

Auzzie07

Well-Known Member
T8 versus T5 Fluorescent: A Brief Analysis


1. What do the alpha numeric codes T5 and T8 actually mean?
Much has been made of the differences between T5 technology and T8 technology. I think it is wise to begin by discussing what T5 and T8 actually indicate. The letter ‘T’ in the lighting industry stands for “tubular.” This makes sense when one considers that fluorescent tubes are in fact tubular. The number directly following the letter “T” indicates the thickness or diameter of that particular tube in eighths of an inch.

  • T12 = twelve eighths of an inch in diameter or one and one-half inches thick
  • T8 = eight eighths of an inch in diameter or one inch thick
  • T5 = five eighths of an inch in diameter or five eighths of an inch thick
2. What have these alpha numeric codes come to mean?
As interest in energy saving technologies has grown and become popularized, these codes have come to designate levels of energy efficiency, instead of merely indicating lamp tube diameter.
Assumptions of Efficiency:

  • T12 = old and inefficient
  • T8 = higher efficiency
  • T5 = highest efficiency
Although, these assumptions are generally true, it is important to look at the application and determine the cost benefit of T5 over T8 in order to determine if the increased efficiency of T5 justifies the substantial increase in initial and long term maintenance costs.
3. General Assumptions of Cost
Consider that a standard 4 foot T12 lamp costs between $1.25 and $2.00, a standard T8 lamp between $1.75 and $2.50 and a standard T5 lamp costs between $5.50 and $10.50. T5 costs significantly more than T8 and does not outperform it by the same margin. In fact, in many applications, the performance differences are negligible. Furthermore, all lamps are equally weighted with an average life of 20 000 hours.
General Assumptions of Cost:

  • T12 = lowest lamp, ballast and fixture cost
  • T8 = approx. 20% more expensive than T12
  • T5 = 3-4 times the cost of T8
4. Why is T5 the best and how does that apply?
There are several different factors that determine levels of efficiency. Quality of light measured in CRI (Colour Rendering Index), quantity of light measured in LPW (Lumens per Watt) and CU (Co-efficiency of utilization.) The numbers being used for CU are general for those used in the low level (12 feet and under) multi-residential environment so there can be fluctuations.
CRI levels: LPW levels: CU (Generally): T12 = 62CRI T12 = 78LPW T12 = .46CU T8 = 85CRI T8 = 92LPW T8 = .76CU T5 = 85CRI T5 = 103LPW T5 = .90CU Considering these general factors, it is obvious that T5 is the best. But, how much better? With all factors weighed equally, a general presumption can be made, that:

  • a. T8 is 40% more efficient than T12.
  • b. T5 is 51% more efficient than T12.
Yet, T5 in this environment is only 9% more efficient than T8. This would never justify the substantial increase in fixture, lamp and ballast costs.
Furthermore, if energy savings is an issue, you can often lower the light output by 9 or 10 percent in order to recover the efficiency without any real impact to the perceived light levels.
5. Weather Conditions and Long Term Performance
The standard 32 watt T8 and an electronic ballast with a low temperature rating, are proven performers in a wide array of extreme applications. The systems are tried, tested and true in parking garages, factories, extreme cold environments and the list goes on. T5’s don’t have the track record in extreme applications.
We believe the manufacturers are still “working out the bugs” as the largest portion of our warranty work involves defective T5 lamps and ballasts.
Furthermore, T8 lamps and ballasts are now commodity items and can be purchased at low costs. T5 is still a premium product, whose research and development costs haven’t even been fully realized, let alone the process to produce commoditized to create low cost, highly reliable, replacement parts.
6. Conclusion
The “bottom line” is that T5 is superior to T8 in that it creates more usable light. However, it is not a “game changing” technology in that its superiority renders T8 obsolete (as is the case with T12). Ontario incentive program through the Ontario Power Authority pays the same incentives on T5’s as they do on T8’s.
Finally, the real game changer will be LED and organic LED technologies. These technologies will render both T5 and T8 obsolete in the future. However, these technologies have not arrived as yet, and are not in the imminent horizon for fluorescent fixture applications. For the mean time, T8 and T5 will continue to be the reliable, energy efficient choice for a multitude of general applications. The astute lighting designer will specify based on individual project demands, not by an allegiance to one technology.




____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
And if you don't want to read all that: T5 is a better, more efficient lamp.
 
dojaguy

dojaguy

Active Member
Shit..... Im going to trash these unused t8 bulbs and go buy t5 bulbs than.... Or i guess i can return them.... Man what a waste of time
 
reggaerican

reggaerican

Well-Known Member
Auzzie07 said:
T8 versus T5 Fluorescent: A Brief Analysis


1. What do the alpha numeric codes T5 and T8 actually mean?
Much has been made of the differences between T5 technology and T8 technology. I think it is wise to begin by discussing what T5 and T8 actually indicate. The letter ‘T’ in the lighting industry stands for “tubular.” This makes sense when one considers that fluorescent tubes are in fact tubular. The number directly following the letter “T” indicates the thickness or diameter of that particular tube in eighths of an inch.

  • T12 = twelve eighths of an inch in diameter or one and one-half inches thick
  • T8 = eight eighths of an inch in diameter or one inch thick
  • T5 = five eighths of an inch in diameter or five eighths of an inch thick
2. What have these alpha numeric codes come to mean?
As interest in energy saving technologies has grown and become popularized, these codes have come to designate levels of energy efficiency, instead of merely indicating lamp tube diameter.
Assumptions of Efficiency:

  • T12 = old and inefficient
  • T8 = higher efficiency
  • T5 = highest efficiency
Although, these assumptions are generally true, it is important to look at the application and determine the cost benefit of T5 over T8 in order to determine if the increased efficiency of T5 justifies the substantial increase in initial and long term maintenance costs.
3. General Assumptions of Cost
Consider that a standard 4 foot T12 lamp costs between $1.25 and $2.00, a standard T8 lamp between $1.75 and $2.50 and a standard T5 lamp costs between $5.50 and $10.50. T5 costs significantly more than T8 and does not outperform it by the same margin. In fact, in many applications, the performance differences are negligible. Furthermore, all lamps are equally weighted with an average life of 20 000 hours.
General Assumptions of Cost:

  • T12 = lowest lamp, ballast and fixture cost
  • T8 = approx. 20% more expensive than T12
  • T5 = 3-4 times the cost of T8
4. Why is T5 the best and how does that apply?
There are several different factors that determine levels of efficiency. Quality of light measured in CRI (Colour Rendering Index), quantity of light measured in LPW (Lumens per Watt) and CU (Co-efficiency of utilization.) The numbers being used for CU are general for those used in the low level (12 feet and under) multi-residential environment so there can be fluctuations.
CRI levels: LPW levels: CU (Generally): T12 = 62CRI T12 = 78LPW T12 = .46CU T8 = 85CRI T8 = 92LPW T8 = .76CU T5 = 85CRI T5 = 103LPW T5 = .90CU Considering these general factors, it is obvious that T5 is the best. But, how much better? With all factors weighed equally, a general presumption can be made, that:

  • a. T8 is 40% more efficient than T12.
  • b. T5 is 51% more efficient than T12.
Yet, T5 in this environment is only 9% more efficient than T8. This would never justify the substantial increase in fixture, lamp and ballast costs.
Furthermore, if energy savings is an issue, you can often lower the light output by 9 or 10 percent in order to recover the efficiency without any real impact to the perceived light levels.
5. Weather Conditions and Long Term Performance
The standard 32 watt T8 and an electronic ballast with a low temperature rating, are proven performers in a wide array of extreme applications. The systems are tried, tested and true in parking garages, factories, extreme cold environments and the list goes on. T5’s don’t have the track record in extreme applications.
We believe the manufacturers are still “working out the bugs” as the largest portion of our warranty work involves defective T5 lamps and ballasts.
Furthermore, T8 lamps and ballasts are now commodity items and can be purchased at low costs. T5 is still a premium product, whose research and development costs haven’t even been fully realized, let alone the process to produce commoditized to create low cost, highly reliable, replacement parts.
6. Conclusion
The “bottom line” is that T5 is superior to T8 in that it creates more usable light. However, it is not a “game changing” technology in that its superiority renders T8 obsolete (as is the case with T12). Ontario incentive program through the Ontario Power Authority pays the same incentives on T5’s as they do on T8’s.
Finally, the real game changer will be LED and organic LED technologies. These technologies will render both T5 and T8 obsolete in the future. However, these technologies have not arrived as yet, and are not in the imminent horizon for fluorescent fixture applications. For the mean time, T8 and T5 will continue to be the reliable, energy efficient choice for a multitude of general applications. The astute lighting designer will specify based on individual project demands, not by an allegiance to one technology.




____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
And if you don't want to read all that: T5 is a better, more efficient lamp.
Click to expand...
geteat post auzzie!! yea guys i have tries them all and t5 is the best.. happy growing
 
R

reefcouple

Well-Known Member
I will be starting a journal within a couple weeks that will be a SOG HOT5 with liquid light.. They are still in the cloner and once i put them in the table I will commence the journal.

I will also be journaling a 1000W grow with bubbilicious and Snow white that just came in today (currently germinating)!! woohoo!!

Tellin ya folks, if you are a cfl'er or T5 grower, spend the money on the liuid light.... well worth it..

happy farming
 
reggaerican

reggaerican

Well-Known Member
that would be sweet!! and if you can not spray one would be even beter that way we can all see the difference...
 
fabfun

fabfun

New Member
whats up is this where the party is. Can i bring a date with me.
anyone heard of t-6 lights i found some at salvage yard today

reggaerican said:
that would be sweet!! and if you can not spray one would be even beter that way we can all see the difference...
Click to expand...
 
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