A Bright Idea

T5 vs. T8 Fluorescent Lighting

The light bulb is an amazing and often underappreciated invention that has essentially given us the ability to exist in modern life, allowing us to work, play, and explore well beyond the limits of darkness and night. Ever since Thomas Edison developed a practical filament, which gave way to the first commercially viable incandescent light bulb, people have been trying to improve on the bulbs design to increase brightness, longevity, and efficiency. From these new designs came the most common bulb used today: the fluorescent light. The fluorescent bulb offers a few different variations, most popular among them the T5 and T8. What are T5 and T8 bulbs? What sets them apart? How do they stack up to other types of bulbs? Read on to find out!

Understanding Fluorescent Lights

Although fluorescent lights surround us in essentially every environment, the average person doesnt consider how it produces light or illuminates the room. T he main feature of a fluorescent light is a glass tube containing an inert gas, usually argon, and some mercury, all kept under low pressure. The inside of the glass is coated in phosphor powder. Electrodes at each end of the tube are wired to a circuit connected to an alternating current. Theres a lot of cool science that happens when you flip a light switch. The electrical current goes through the circuit to the electrodes. At the atomic level, the massive voltage causes electrons to move through the inert gas, going from one end of the tube to the other. The change in energy also causes the mercury to convert from liquid to gas. The electrons traveling through the tube bump into the mercury atoms. These collisions increase the electrons energy, and as the energy levels return to normal, the electrons release photonslight particles. Mercury atoms have electrons that are arranged such that they end up releasing ultraviolet photons. The human eye cant register the ultraviolet spectrum , but thats where the phosphor powder lining comes into play. When the mercury-generated photons hits a phosphor atom, the atom heats up as one of its electrons gains energy. As that electron settles, it releases another photon that is weaker in energy. Now imagine that happening millions of times, creating millions of weak photons comprising visible white light. Using different kinds of phosphors, manufacturers can alter the color, warmth, and intensity of light. Conducting electricity through a gas can be quite fickle. In solid conductors, electrical resistance is a constant that is controlled by what the conductor is made of and its general size. In a gas discharge, there isnt that same stability, causing the electrical current to increase as long as theres enough voltage. This increase will eventually cause the fluorescent light to blow out.

So why arent all your fluorescent lights blowing out? Well, they have a built -in control mechanism called a ballast. A magnetic ballast coils around the circuit and acts as an electromagnet, slowing down changes in the current. Magnetic ballasts have a low cycle rate, causing the sometimes noticeable flickering in older fluorescent lights. They also vibrate at a low frequency, creating the gentle hum so many people associate with fluorescent lights.

Comparing T5 and T8 Bulbs

That brings us to T5 and T8 bulbs, two common types of bulbs used in commercial, industrial, and warehouse settings. Fluorescent lights are available in various shapes, sizes, and configurations. T5 and T8 just happen to be two of the more popular formats. The letter T stands for tubular, describing the fact that the bulb is in tube form. The number after the T refers to the diameter of the tube in eighths of an inch, so a T5 is five-eighths of an inch in diameter and a T8 is eight-eighths of an inchone whole inchin diameter. This goes all the way up to T17 bulbs. While the alphanumeric codes mainly refer to shape and size, many in the industry have associated the numbers with energy efficiency. Th eres the assumption that the smaller the size, the greater the efficiency. By that stretch, the T8 is more efficient than T12 bulbs, but T5 lamps offer even higher energy efficiency.

Weighing Out the Factors

To be fair, that assumption about energy efficiency generally holds true. Efficiency is determined by several different factors, but the three most relevant factors are: Lumens per watt (LPW): This is the quantitative measure of how much light a bulb emits based on how much energy it uses. The average T8 lamp emits 92 lumens per watt, while T5 lamps offer 103 lumens per watt. Color rendering index (CRI): The CRI measures how faithful a light bulbs colors are to those from an ideal, natural light source. T8 and T5 lamps both have 85 CRI. Coefficient of utilization (CU): This quantifies how well a lamp can light up a particular area as a percentage of the total light produced. T8 lamps offer .76 CU while T5 .90 CU.

Just from an initial look, the T5 is a clear winner, and when you compare the bulbs against a T12, T8 lamps are 40 percent more efficient, while T5 lamps are 51 percent more efficient.

Things to Consider
One of the main things to consider when choosing between the two is upfront cost. T8 lamps will cost $1.75 to $2.50. T5 lamps cost $5.50 to $10.50. That makes them three to four times more expensive. Considering the minimal increase in performance and the same average life of about 20,000 hours, the extra cost is debatable. Most importantly, theres a matter of use. Where you need light plays a significant role on the type of bulb you choose. For example, not all lamps are built to withstand

the low temperatures and harsh conditions of the outdoors. T5 bulbs generally cant handle extreme conditions, but a standard T8 bulb with an electronic ballast rated for low temperatures is proven to excel in extreme applications, including factories, parking garages, and cold environments. The T5 is superior to the T8 in terms of efficiency and usable light, but the T8 is by no means useless or obsolete. Your choice really has more to do with what you need at the time. The one type of light that may trump all fluorescent bulbs is the LED.

LEDs and Fluorescents

LEDs are a form of solid-state light, meaning they produce light from a piece of solid matter: a semiconductor. The semiconductor is composed of a negative layer and a positive layer. The negative layer consists of free-floating electrons while the positive layer has openings to accommodate the flow of electrons. When the semiconductor gets charged, the electrons get excited, and as they flow between the positive and negative layers, they emit a consistent light. The bad news is that LEDs tend to have a greater upfront cost thanks to the pricey semiconductor technology within, but the pros far outweigh that single drawback. LEDs offer up to 75 percent more lumens while using fewer watts. Furthermore, in the process of creating light, incandescent, halogen, and even fluorescent bulbs generate heat, which means energy. LEDs dont emit heat, allowing for further energy savings. LED lamps dont use mercury. Granted, fluorescent lights only have a small amount of mercury, but the fact remains that should the bulb break, at least some small fraction of the mercury gas will enter the air. LED bulbs have a surprisingly long lifespan. Some have been rated to last up to 50,000 hours. With regular use, you could keep the same LED bulb for about 20 years. Compare that to the measly 750 to 1,000 hours of an incandescent bulb and 20,000 hours for a linear fluorescent lamp. An LED practically pays for itself. And then theres color temperature. Sunlight offers the best color temperature, providing the full spectrum of color. Incandescents offer a steady, even progression of color that creates the warm, yellowish glow. Fluorescents tend to peak in blues, greens, and yellows. LEDs can be adjusted to provide the full color spectrum, offering the closest alternative to natural light.

If you would rather not pay the upfront cost of an LED bulb, T5 and T8 bulbs remain a viable, reliable choice for general applications. Try out different lights and see what works best for you and your budget.

Resources
light bulb on by xophe_g is licensed under CC BY 2.0 sunlight in color by photologue_np is licensed under CC BY 2.0

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