I am looking for the "brightest" 4' t-8 lamp that I can find. I am being told that a 6500 kelvin would probably be the one. In the past I've dealt with spx35, and spx41 as general use lamps, but need as much light output as i can get for a particular application.Does the color rendering affect the lumen output or are these two different things? Thanks.
T-8 lamps
- Thread starter nizak
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- Location
- Chapel Hill, NC
- Occupation
- Retired Electrical Contractor
They make a T* 6500 I have also used the sp41 which is only 4100 and the brightest that my supplier has.
- Location
- Chapel Hill, NC
- Occupation
- Retired Electrical Contractor
That is my understanding.
svh19044
Senior Member
- Location
- Philly Suburbs
In perceived light in some fluorescent bulbs, it CAN mean this, but it certainly does not always mean this. Again, perceived light, not necessarily the actual light output. It is dependent upon the actual fluorescent bulb, and since it's nearly impossible to track down accurate S/P ratios, it's pretty meaningless. For all intensive purposes, yes, higher kelvin is a brighter perceived light.
But since I don't know of many "super bright " 6500k fluorescent lamps (though they can have extremely good CRI, so to answer your question, the higher CRI at 6500k appears to lower lumens, but there isn't a specific correlation, probably just lower demand for a 6500k high cri bulb), I'll throw out some suggestions for 5000k.
Ushio 800 series
Philips 850 series or Alto/plus
Litetronics also makes an F32t8 that is supposed to be extremely bright, but I haven't used them.
FWIW, you aren't going to find much "brighter" than 3100ish lumens, right around what you already have. You should probably be looking for the highest rated lumen FULL SPECTRUM F32T8.
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CONTROL FREQ
Member
- Location
- OHIO
not trying to "butt in to your biz", but I was curious as to why T-8?
svh19044
Senior Member
- Location
- Philly Suburbs
Going to a T5 HO would certainly provide more light....
CONTROL FREQ
Member
- Location
- OHIO
The reason I even ask is, I installed like 400 T-5 HO 6 lamp fixtures last year, in an industrial setting, ~63 watts per lamp. Talk about lighting a place up!!! They were mounted from ~18' bar joists. Owners could not have been happier. FLIP SIDE, 10 years ago, I hung a bunch of 1000 watt salad bowls in a plant 13' as spec'd. Before I even left the bldg., one of the facility maintenance guys asked me 'WHO ORDERED THE HOG ROAST OVER IN THE TUBE LINE FINISH AREA?" sure enough, I witnessed a group of 20 or so rather large women, sweating profusely and every one of them "sunburned" to a crisp. Got paid again to take them down and put up more appropriate lighting.:happyno:
hurk27
Senior Member
- Location
- Portage, Indiana NEC: 2008
If you are looking to install new fixtures (which the OP does not sound like hes doing) I would agree that T-5 HO 54 watt have the highest lumen per watt rating of any liner lamp on the market some where around 103 lumen's per watt which is an average of 5500 lumen's per 46" T-5 HO 54 watt lamp, I have seen some Luma lamps rated as high as 6000 lumen's per lamp, installing these in a fixture with polished aluminum conical reflective mirrors behind each lamp will effectively increase over double the effective light down on the work areas, I have installed many 6 lamp T-5 HO 54 watt RUDD high bays with these reflectors and they are so bright you can't look at them, I also have a manufacture who makes t-5 strip lights for the T-5 HO 54 watt, both 4' and 8' 2 or 4 lamp that are not to badly priced.
But if you are trying to brighten up some existing T8 32 watt, while Sylvania used to offer a line that used a high amount of rare earth elements that produced 3600 lumen's, but after looking through their site I see they are no longer offering this lamp line, most likely because of the restrictions put in place by China on purchase of these rare earth elements that has also driven up pricing on all linear fluorescent products, I think the highest I can find now is around 2700-2900 lumen's again using reflective polished aluminum conical mirrors type reflectors behind the lamps is about the only way you are going to get the most of light out of the fixture, but this is only going to work if you are changing the fixtures and order this type fixture.
As was said the kelvin rating is a color temperature rating and not a light level rating, with 2700 being warmest and about the color of incandescent, and 6000 being day bright almost the color of the sun if not a little too far beyond it to the blue side, but in real life almost looks blue and can be irritating to some people like yours truly. for some people a whiter light can look brighter such as 4100k but in realty it is the lumen's of the lamp that tells how bright it really is.
But if you are trying to brighten up some existing T8 32 watt, while Sylvania used to offer a line that used a high amount of rare earth elements that produced 3600 lumen's, but after looking through their site I see they are no longer offering this lamp line, most likely because of the restrictions put in place by China on purchase of these rare earth elements that has also driven up pricing on all linear fluorescent products, I think the highest I can find now is around 2700-2900 lumen's again using reflective polished aluminum conical mirrors type reflectors behind the lamps is about the only way you are going to get the most of light out of the fixture, but this is only going to work if you are changing the fixtures and order this type fixture.
As was said the kelvin rating is a color temperature rating and not a light level rating, with 2700 being warmest and about the color of incandescent, and 6000 being day bright almost the color of the sun if not a little too far beyond it to the blue side, but in real life almost looks blue and can be irritating to some people like yours truly. for some people a whiter light can look brighter such as 4100k but in realty it is the lumen's of the lamp that tells how bright it really is.
T
T.M.Haja Sahib
Guest
Are you saying there is no relation between color temperature and lumens output for a fluorescent tube light?
hurk27
Senior Member
- Location
- Portage, Indiana NEC: 2008
Not in the real world of using a light level meter, no more than a 28? F wind chill factor will freeze water when the real temperature is above 32? F / 0? C it is a precived light level not a real light level.
- Location
- Massachusetts
I find T5s to be less reliable, both lamps and ballasts. On top of that they are more expensive.
I also find that customers have a hard time knowing if the fixture needs a HO or regular lamp.
I also find that customers have a hard time knowing if the fixture needs a HO or regular lamp.
T
T.M.Haja Sahib
Guest
Please give your answer with respect to the 'perception' of a lux meter.
- Occupation
- Licensed Electrician
I would like to know more about this. I just finished installing some T5 HO for the first time in a new shop for a good client.
- Location
- Massachusetts
Just as a service guy it seems we have to do a lot more calls for T5 problems during the first year than we do for T8s
T
T.M.Haja Sahib
Guest
Is it possible to list problems you are experiencing in this regard?
- Location
- Massachusetts
Lack of light output.
T
T.M.Haja Sahib
Guest
Is there any prescribed mounting height for the fitting?
When the complaint 'Lack of light output'arises:immediately after installation or after some time?
How do you rectify the problem?
Thanks.
- Location
- Massachusetts
TM, I am not sure if you have figured this out but I don't like you. I find that You are rude, disrespectfull and you are never helpful to other members therefore I have no interest at all in helping you.
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T
T.M.Haja Sahib
Guest
This is an open forum.You can elect not to answer.But see post#14.You are actually helping him.:dunce:
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