Changing t12 fluorescent to t8

If you have a favorite T12 shop light fixture you want to bring back into the good old days of light output, order a 1.20 ballast factor ballast for F32T8, and look for bulbs rated at 3000-3200 lumens. You'll be right in there at about 3600 lumens per lamp--similar to the old days before energy saving ballasts and econowattF40T12 combined to have very poor light output. Plus the new technology will do it at 100 lumens/watt --better than the old days.

These rock as far as light output and efficiency-- and it isn't new tech so the price is right.

http://www.amazon.com/Sylvania-49873-QHE2X32T8-Fluorescent-Ballast/dp/B002CYVFTC/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1426309158&sr=8-1&keywords=QHE+2X32T8%2FUNV+ISH-SC

Here's a 3100 lumen bulb to go with it:
http://www.amazon.com/Philips-139881-ADV835-Straight-Fluorescent/dp/B002CZ0X1C/ref=sr_1_90?ie=UTF8&qid=1426309874&sr=8-90&keywords=f32t8+800

I've seen 3000 lumen bulbs at Lowes, etc.

Just switched about 300 fixtures from T12 to T8 in our office building.

T12 lamps are still available but production has ceased.

Moved from technology corner

D.E.Bishop wrote:
I replaced a T12 fixture with a four foot LED shop light. Almost as much light and it only cost $40. Saved a lot of time over changing ballast. Ballast alone was $32 at Lowes and Home Depot. I am replacing a four tube/four foot fixture and figure I'll make the cost up in short amount of time.

When shopping at Lowes and Home depot look down low,the high dollar stuff is at eye level cheap stuff is on the floor. I paid $14.99 for ballast,$9.47 for phillips bright white 6500 K bulbs.

I replaced a T12 fixture with a four foot LED shop light. Almost as much light and it only cost $40. Saved a lot of time over changing ballast. Ballast alone was $32 at Lowes and Home Depot. I am replacing a four tube/four foot fixture and figure I'll make the cost up in short amount of time.

Changed the 100 or so T12 ballasts and bulb fixtures in our church to T8 ballasts and bulbs, Not only are they more efficient but we now use only 2 bulbs instead of the 4 per fixture. Everyone agrees that we have the same light output. Received a grant from the local utility that paid for most of it.

pianotuna wrote:
Hi,I would have gone for led myself.

I need 8 footers & haven't seen them in LED at any reasonable cost.

T8 is a good choice over T12. It'll be about 40% more energy efficient at a given light output. You'll still have trouble in extremely cold weather, but much less with a new electronic ballast than you would have with a magnetic ballast.

Hi,

I would have gone for led myself.