Are T8 bulbs being discontinued?

Even some T8 lamps have been phased out. US Congress has enacted legislation to prohibit the manufacture of these and other inefficient lighting technologies, and is calling for manufacturers to meet minimum efficiency requirements and lumens per watt for new products.

Is T8 the same as fluorescent?

T8 lamps are fluorescent lights one inch (or 8/8ths) in diameter. T5 lamps are 5/8th in diameter. The smaller the lamps the more energy efficient they are. T8 bulbs use about 35% less electricity to produce the same amount of light as a T12.

Do T8 and T12 bulbs use the same ballast?

T12 and T8 lamps also differ on the ballast that they are operated with most of the time. T12 primarily run off a magnetic ballasts and T8 bulbs operate on electronic ballasts. Even though the fluorescent light socket is exactly the same for both of them, they cannot operate on the same ballast.

What does T8 mean on a fluorescent bulb?

A T8 lamp (on the right in the figure below) is eight-eighths of an inch, or one inch (2.54 cm), in diameter. Both T12 and T8 lamps use the medium bi-pin base, which allows T8 lamps to fit into the same luminaires as T12 lamps of the same length.

How long do T8 fluorescent bulbs last?

LED tubes last an average of 50,000 hours (roughly 16 years) while fluorescent T8 tubes last an average of 25,000 (roughly 8 years).

Can a T8 tube replace a T12?

The easiest and lowest price option to replace a T12 is a T8 linear fluorescent. They have become the go-to option for pre-existing T12s. If you still have magnetic ballasts, switching to a T8 will require a ballast swap.

What is T5 tube light?

T5 lamps are fluorescent lamps that are 5/8″ of an inch in diameter. Differences in length and socket pin design versus conventional fluorescent lamps prevent any problems with electric circuits or human factors.

Can I replace fluorescent tube with LED?

Yes, you can replace fluorescent tubes with LED tubes or LED-integrated fixtures. If you just want to replace the bulbs, you can use plug-and-play, direct-wire, or hybrid LED tubes.

What will replace fluorescent tubes?

Choose a Ballast Compatible LED fluorescent tube replacement for a direct swap, plug and play led tube light. For almost all cases, Ballast Compatible LED tube lights are a better choice, due to their extremely easy installation.