T8 Shop lights

[PPulcher]

I was out at the hardware store over the weekend to get a couple of new shoplights for my tank rack. In the past, I've purchased the el cheapo T12 ones, and one by one they've failed. Somehow, the tubes don't light up unless they are rotated in the holders.

The T8 fixtures cost quite a bit more than the old el cheapos, but it doesn't hurt quite as much in Ontario as you can get an instant $5 rebate from the Ontario Power Authority. Some stores have the coupons right with the lights, otherwise you can download it here: http://www.everykilowattcounts.ca/HTML/InMarket/EKC/coupons/EKC_T8_WebCoupon.pdf

I use the fairly inexpensive Phillips 'Daylight Deluxe' T8 tubes and they look fine.

[grumpystiltskin]

I use the t8,s on my tank, i have 16 tubes above my 240g they are great,, but dont quite bring out the reds in some of the more difficult plants.
Price wise they are the way to go, but one day i,ll lash out and buy compact fluorescent, or high output t5, looking at around $1000 for them though::(:

[Soggybottom]

I had a lot of issues with T12 lamps/fixtures from Home Depot. I found I had to rub the tubes from end to end to get them to light! I think most problems originate with the ballast though. I bought some cheap Chinese T5 fixtures since then and they have been pretty good. I'm trying to DIY more now and have become a devotee of the Fulham workhorse electronic ballasts, they are small, silent and solid. You can run them with pretty much any diameter of bulb and there's a website with wiring diagrams for all of the possible setups. "10 ballasts operate 132 lamps in 860 combinations" http://www.fulham.com (http://www.fulham.com/)
You just need a plug in cord, a couple of marrettes and 2 tombstone sockets for each bulb. The hard part is making the canopy housing out of wood or whatever, but I find that to be the fun part too :)

p.s. You can usually skip the "wiring jumper detail" part in the diagrams, since most tombstone sockets have built in jumpers...

[grumpystiltskin]

Where did you buy your t5,s from soggy?
I went to a hydroponics store today in westbank, and they have a single 54watt t5 for $29 each if i buy 12 of them , im probably going to buy 14.

[Soggybottom]

The individual piece stuff I buy from Albrite Lighting in Port Coquitlam when I am down in the Lower Mainland.
The complete T5 fixtures I bought from Finomenal in Richmond back when they were still in business and I still lived there heh.
They are 4' 54w "Terragro" (or something like that) with 6700k bulbs (or was that 6500?). The ballast must be really skinny because it is hidden in an aluminum housing not much wider than the bulb. They were pretty easy to mount, with screw-in plastic clips that the fixture popped into.
Some people had problems apparently, but they have lasted well for me. I can't remember what I paid, but I think it was more like forty something than $29...
You might be able to save a bit more if you DIY the whole thing though ::D:

[Bcanoe]

I had a lot of issues with T12 lamps/fixtures from Home Depot. I found I had to rub the tubes from end to end to get them to light! I think most problems originate with the ballast though.

I agree with Home Depot T12 singles. recently purchased 3 for a tank. All are giving problems.
Home Hardware's (Thompson brand I think) cost a couple of bucks more but have been problem free.
Bill