Can a VHO Ballast Run a T5 Light?
The newer T5 fluorescent lighting standard, introduced in 1996, has quickly become all the rage in the world of fluorescent lighting. Highly efficient and extremely thin, T5 lights are the choice for high-end lighting applications in the home, office and aquarium. Does this Spark an idea?
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What is T5?
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In the world of fluorescent lighting, bulb diameter is measured in eighths of an inch, with the number following the T indicating the number of eighths. This means T5 bulbs are 5/8ths of an inch, which is very thin in the fluorescent lighting industry. The bulbs, which come in standard and high-output varieties, are extremely efficient with a high lumen-per-watt ratio and exceptional color rendition.
Compared to Other Styles
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The nearest competitor to T5 bulbs and ballasts is the T8 standard, which has been around for decades. Using wider bulbs, T8 lights offer good efficiency and quality color rendition. They are less expensive than T5 bulbs and come in the standard sizes that are available in T12 bulbs. However, they lack the high efficiency of T5 bulbs, which cost more and produce a higher quality of light. For high-end applications, the T5 standard can't be beat.
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Compatibility
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T5 bulbs are compatible with VHO, or Very High Output ballasts. However, their unusual lengths and singular pin configuration means the fixtures holding the bulbs need to be designed specifically for T5 bulbs. For a VHO ballast, it is best to select high-output, or HO, bulbs in order to take full advantage of the ballast's firing capability. This means you can reduce the number of bulbs in your setup while still getting the superior efficiency and light quality of the T5 bulbs.
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