What is the difference between T8 and T12 fluorescent light fixtures?

What is the difference between T8 and T12 fluorescent light fixtures?

Fluorescent lights are tube shaped lamps with a chemical phosphor coating on the inside of the tube. The have small pins on each end that fit into the ballasts located in light fixtures. T12 lamps have a diameter of 1 ½ inches (or 12/8th of an inch.) T8 lamps are fluorescent lights one inch (or 8/8ths) in diameter.

What is the difference between T5 and T8?

The major physical difference between T5 and T8 light bulbs is the length and diameter of the tube itself. The T5 tends to be slightly shorter than the T8 tube, and is significantly smaller in diameter. This factor is important to consider when looking at your fixture, because the two tubes are not interchangeable.

Can I replace T8 with LED?

Yes, you can replace fluorescent tubes with LED tubes or LED integrated fixtures. As long as the bulb is compatible with the existing fluorescent ballast in the fixture, you simply remove the fluorescent and replace it with the LED tube light.

Can a T8 bulb go in a T12 fixture?

T8 tubes are simply 1 inch in diameter versus the 1.5 inch diameter of T12 tubes. They can indeed be used in T12 fixtures.

Can you put T5 bulbs in a T8 fixture?

T5 lamps cannot replace T12 or T8 lamps because of differences in physical and electrical characteristics. T5 lamps come in different lengths than T8 and T12 lamps. Miniature bi-pin sockets fit T5 lamps, while T8 lamps need medium bi-pin sockets.

Can I replace a T12 ballast with a T8?

The easiest and lowest price option to replace a T12 is a T8 linear fluorescent. They have become the go-to option for pre-existing T12s. If you still have magnetic ballasts, switching to a T8 will require a ballast swap.

What kind of T8 light bulbs do Walmart use?

Sunco Lighting 4FT T8 LED Tube, 18W=40W, Fluorescent Sunlite F32T8/SP850/10PK Fluorescent 5000K 32 Watts GE 40120 – F58T8/835PLYLXLR Straight T8 Fluorescent …

What’s the difference between T5 and T8 fluorescent lights?

Compared to T5 fluorescent lighting, the 8 Foot T8 tube lights are less economical. T8 fluorescent tube lighting tends to be more expensive and have a shorter lifespan of around 15,000 hours, but can last up to 50,000 hours if you choose the LED alternatives.

Can a T12 light fixture be used with a T8 light fixture?

The good news is that the sockets that are being used today in T8 light fixtures, can be used for the LED T8’s that are coming out on the market all the time. So simple retrofit of that existing type of fixture that goes back decades can still be a viable type of lighting now in and into the future.

What are the different sizes of fluorescent tubes?

There are 4 different fluorescent tube sizes; T4, T5, T8, and T12. The T stands for tubular and the numbers are an index for the diameter (in inches) of the tube light.