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Fluorescent-lamp formats
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Since their introduction as a commercial product in 1939, many different types of fluorescent lamp have been introduced. Systematic nomenclature identifies mass-market lamps as to overall shape, power rating, length, color, and other electrical and illuminating characteristics.
Contents [hide] 1 Tube designations 1.1 Reflectors 1.2 Slimline lamps 1.3 High output/very high output lamps 1.4 Other tube shapes 1.5 Colors 2 Common tube ratings 2.1 European energy saving tubes 2.2 US energy saving tubes 3 T5 tubes 3.1 Energy efficiency 3.2 Mercury content 3.3 Glare 3.4 Differences from other fluorescent lamps 4 See also 5 References

Tube designations

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Lamps are typically identified by a code such as F##T##, where F is for fluorescent, the first number indicates the power in watts (or where lamps can be operated at different power levels, the length in inches), the T indicates that the shape of the bulb is tubular, and the last number is the diameter in eighths of an inch (sometimes in millimeters, rounded to the nearest millimeter). Typical diameters are T12 or T38 (11/2" or 38.1 mm) for residential bulbs with old magnetic ballasts, T8 or T26 (1" or 25.4 mm) for commercial energy-saving lamps with electronic ballasts, and T5 or T16 (5/8" or 15.875 mm) for very small lamps, which may even operate from a battery powered device. Fluorescent tube diameter designation comparison Tube diameter Extra measurements Inches
2 " 8 4 " 8 5 " 8 1 " 4 1 " 2

Tube diameter designations Imperial- Metricbased based T2 T4 T5 N/A N/A T16

Millimeters 7 12 15.875 G5 bipin G5 bipin

Socket

Notes Osram's Fluorescent Miniature (FM) tubes only Slim lamps. Power ratings and lengths not standardized (and not the same) between different manufacturers Original 413 W range from 1950s or earlier.[1] Two newer ranges high efficiency (HE) 1435 W, and high output (HO) 2480 W introduced in the 1990s[2] From the 1930s,[3] more common since the 1980s.[4] Circular fluorescent tubes only

approx approx

T8 T9 T12 T17 PG17

T26 T29 T38 N/A N/A

8 " 8 9 " 8 12/ " 8 17 " 8 17 " 8

1"

25.4

G13 bipin/Single Pin/Recessed Double contact

1 18" 28.575 11/2" 38.1 2 18" 53.975 2 18" 53.975

G13 bipin/single pin, Also from the 1930s, not as efficient as new lamps.[5] recessed double contact Mogul Bipin Recessed Double Contact Large size for F90T17 (preheat) and F40T17/IS (Instant Start) General Electric's Power Groove tubes only [edit]

Reflectors
Some lamps have an internal opaque reflector. Coverage of the reflector ranges from 120 degrees to 310 degrees of the lamp's circumference. Often, a lamp is marked as a reflector lamp by adding the letter "R" in the model code, so a F##T## lamp with a reflector would be coded as "FR##T##". Very high output (VHO) lamps with reflectors may be coded as VHOR. No such designation exists for the amount of reflector coverage the lamp has.

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Reflector lamps are used when light is only desired to be emitted in a single direction, or when Cross section of a typical fluorescent an application requires the maximum amount of light. For example, these lamps can be used lamp with and without a reflector in tanning beds or in backlighting electronic displays. An internal reflector is more efficient than standard external reflectors. Another example is color matched aperture lights (30 degrees of opening, give or take) are used in the food industry for quality control purposes, to allow robotic inspection of cooked goods. Aperture lamps have a clear break in the phosphor coating, typically of 30 degrees, to concentrate light in one direction and provide higher brightness in the beam than can be achieved by uniform phosphor coatings. Aperture lamps include reflectors over the nonaperture area. Aperture lamps were commonly used in photocopiers in the 1960s and 1970s where a bank of fixed tubes was arranged to light up the image to be copied, but are rarely found nowadays. Aperture lamps can produce a concentrated beam of light suitable for edge-lit signs.[6]

Slimline lamps
Slimline lamps operate on an instant start ballast and are recognizable by their single-pin bases.

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High output/very high output lamps

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High-output lamps are brighter and draw more electrical current, have different ends on the pins so they cannot be used in the wrong fixture, and are labeled F##T##HO, or F##T##VHO for very high output. Since about the early to mid 1950s to today, General Electric developed and improved the Power Groove lamp with the label F##PG17. These lamps are recognizable by their large diameter (17/8" or 21/8"), grooved tube shape and an R17d cap on each end.

Other tube shapes

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U-shaped tubes are FB##T##, with the B meaning "bent". Most commonly, these have the same designations as linear tubes. Circular bulbs are FC##T#, with the diameter of the circle (not circumference or watts) being the first number, and the second number usually being 9 (29 mm) for standard fixtures.

Colors

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Color is usually indicated by WW for warm white, EW for enhanced (neutral) white, CW for cool white (the most common), and DW for the bluish daylight white. BLB is used for blacklight-blue lamps commonly used in bug zappers. BL is used for blacklight lamps commonly used in nightclubs. Other non-standard designations apply for plant lights or grow lights. Philips and Osram use numeric color codes for the colors. On tri-phosphor and multi-phosphor tubes, the first digit indicates the color rendition index (CRI) of the lamp. If the first digit on a lamp says 8, then the CRI of that lamp will be approximately 85. The last two digits indicate the color temperature of the lamp in kelvins (K). For example, if the last two digits on a lamp say 41, that lamp's color temperature will be 4100 K, which is a common tri-phosphor cool white fluorescent lamp. Halophosphate tubes Numeric color code Color Approximate CRI 27 Warm white 5079 33 Cool white 5079 83 Medium warm white 80 84 29 (discontinued) 32 (discontinued) 34 (discontinued) Numeric color code 827 835 841 850 865 880 Cool white (high CRI) 80 Medium warm white 50-70 Medium cool white 50-70 Cool white (pinkish) 50-70 Tri-phosphor tubes Color Warm white White Cool white Sunlight Approximate CRI ~85 ~85 ~85 ~85

Color temperature (K) 2700 4100 3000 4100 2900 3200 4000 Color temperature (K) 2700 3500 4100 5000

Cool daylight ~85 6500 Skywhite ~85 8000 Multi-phosphor tubes Numeric color code Color Approximate CRI Color temperature (K) 927 941 950 965 Warm white ~95 Cool white ~95 Sunlight ~98 Cool daylight ~95 Special purpose tubes Fluorescent lamp type Germicidal lamps Black-light lamps
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2700 4100 5000 6500

Numeric code

Notes No phosphors used at all,

05 08

using an envelope of fused quartz.

09

Sun-tanning lamps [edit]

Common tube ratings

This section lists the more common tube ratings for general lighting. Many more tube ratings exist, often country-specific. The Nominal Length may not exactly match any measured dimension of the tube. For some tube sizes, the nominal length (in feet) is the required spacing between centers of the lighting fixtures to create a continuous run, so the tubes are a little shorter than the nominal length. Tube Diameter in 18 in (3.175 mm) Nominal Length Nominal watts T5 6 in, 150 mm 4W T5 9 in, 225 mm 6W T5 T5 T8 T12 T12 T12 T12 T12 T12 12 in, 300 mm 21 in, 525 mm 18 in, 450 mm 2 ft, 600 mm 2 ft, 600 mm 4 ft, 1200 mm 5 ft, 1500 mm 6 ft, 1800 mm 8 ft, 2400 mm 8W 13 W 15 W 20 W 40 W 40 W 65 W, 80 W 75 W, 85 W 125 W [edit]

European energy saving tubes

In the 1970s, Thorn Lighting introduced an energy saving 8 ft retrofit tube in Europe. Designed to run on the existing 125 W (240 V) series ballast but with a different gas fill and operating voltage, the tube operated at only 100 W. Increased efficiency meant that the tube produced only 9% lumen reduction for a 20% power reduction.[7] This first energy saving tube design remains a T12 tube even today. However, follow-on retrofit replacements for all the other original T12 tubes were T8, which helped with creating the required electrical characteristics and saving on the then new (and more expensive) polyphosphor/triphosphor coatings, and these were even more efficient. Note that because these tubes were all designed as retrofit tubes to be fitted in T12 fittings running on series ballasts on 220240 V supplies, they could not be used in 120 V mains countries with inherently different control gear designs. Tube Diameter in 18 in (3.175 mm) Nominal Length Nominal watts Notes T8 2 ft, 600 mm 18 W retrofit replacement for 2 ft T12 20 W T8 T8 T8 T8 T12 3 ft, 900 mm 4 ft, 1200 mm 5 ft, 1500 mm 6 ft, 1800 mm 8 ft, 2400 mm 30 W 36 W 58 W 70 W 100 W retrofit replacement for 4 ft T12 40 W retrofit replacement for 5 ft T12 65 W retrofit replacement for 6 ft T12 75/85 W retrofit replacement for 8 ft T12 125 W

By around 1980 (in the UK, at least), most new fluorescent fittings were designed to take only the newer, retrofit tubes (end-caps won't take T12 tubes, except for 8 ft length). The earlier T12 tubes still remain available as spares but only fit in older fittings.

US energy saving tubes

not retrofits and required new matching ballasts to drive them. Running a T8 tube with a ballast for T12 will reduce lamp life and can increase energy consumption.[8] The tube type should always match the markings on the light fixture. Tube Diameter in 18 in (3.175 mm) Nominal Length Nominal watts Notes T12 T12 T12 T12 T8 2 ft 4 ft 5 ft 8 ft 4 ft 17 W 34 W 40 W 59 W 25 W Shoplite

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In the 1990s[citation needed], various energy saving tubes were introduced in the US, but unlike the T8 tubes introduced in Europe, they are

T5 tubes

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In the 1990s, T5 tubes were designed. The lengths of these tubes are designed to fit within 300 mm modular units (such as modular ceilings, modular cupboards, etc.), each being a multiple of 300 mm, less a constant fixed amount for end-caps and the construction of the unit end. The use of T5 tubes (rather than T8 or T12) allows the tubes to be fitted into smaller spaces, and the smaller light source also enables more accurate control of beam direction by means of optics (reflectors and lenses in the luminaire). Each tube length is available in both a lower power high efficiency (HE) version, and a higher power (but lower efficiency) high output (HO) version. The loading (watts per unit length) of the T5 HE tubes is similar to the original 4/6/8/13 W T5 tubes, and some manufacturers produce a range of fittings spanning both these ranges of tubes. When originally developed in Europe, operation from both switchstart series ballasts and electronic ballasts was specified, but electronic ballasts were rapidly taking over at the time, particularly in the commercial lighting space where these tubes are most commonly used, and switchstart series ballast operation is no longer specified by manufacturers, only electronic ballasts.

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Tube Diameter in 18 in (3.175 mm) Length Watts HE Watts HO Notes T5 563 mm (22.2 in) 14 W 24 W fits within a 600 mm modular unit T5 T5 T5 863 mm (34.0 in) 21 W 1,163 mm (45.8 in) 28 W 39 W 54 W fits within a 900 mm modular unit fits within a 1200 mm modular unit fits within a 1500 mm modular unit

1,463 mm (57.6 in) 35 W, 49 W 80 W

T5 fluorescent is the first linear lamp type to be served only by electronic ballasts.[9] It is smaller than T8 and T12 lamps, with a miniature bi-pin base. It is notable for its lumens-per-watt efficiency, due to its peak light output occurring at 35 C (95 F) air temperature.[10] There are three types of ballasts available for T5 lamps: instant start, rapid start, and programmed start electronic ballasts. T5 lamps operate at frequencies greater than 20 kilohertz. Most manufacturers claim that their T5 ballasts have a total harmonic distortion (THD) of less than 15%. Most T5 ballasts are very quiet and carry class A sound ratings. Dimmable ballasts exist for T5 lamps.[11]

Energy efficiency

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Care must be taken when comparing efficiency of T5 and earlier technology fluorescent tubes. Whilst T5 can appear to be more efficient than T8 in datasheets, this is actually due to different test methods. Output of T8 tubes is measured using magnetic ballasts, whereas output of T5 tubes is measured using electronic ballasts. When T8 tubes are run on electronic ballasts, they are about the same efficiency as T5 HE tubes. The T5 lamp provides peak light output at 35 C (95 F) air temperature. (By contrast, the T8 and the T12 lamps provide peak light output at a 25 C [77 F] ambient air temperature.) The T5 lamp has a higher lumens-per-watt efficiency than a T8 lamp of about the same wattage, in a space where there is little or no air circulation.[10] Also, the so-called "high output" T5 lamps have lower efficacy than the "high efficiency" series (lamp nominal powers 14, 21, 28 and 35 W). Care is needed to specify the latter lamps, if very high energy efficiency is wanted. T5 lamps are a popular energy-efficiency measure, due to their potential to cut energy use in lighting by more than 65%.[12] 4 Linear Fluorescent Bulbs 28 Watt T5 54 Watt T5 25 Watt T8 32 Watt T8 34 Watt T12 40 Watt T12 Lumen Output 2900 lumens 5000 lumens 2209 lumens 2850-3100 lumens 1930-2800 lumens 1980-3300 lumens[13]

T5 luminaires that utilize a sleep mode or motion sensors to operate can generate even larger cost savings. In a 2008 field test in a warehouse scenario, using a standard T5 lighting system as a replacement to a metal halide system had potential cost savings of 23%. However, when using a T5 system with a sleep mode to replace a metal halide system, building owners had potential cost savings of 3475% depending on sleep and wake control modes used.[14]

Mercury content

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The T5 lamp has a low mercury content. Each new generation of fluorescent lighting technology, including the T5 generation, has been able to function with less mercury, but perform with the same or greater efficiency. The lamp has a coating on the inside of the glass wall that stops the glass and phosphors from absorbing mercury. This barrier coating reduces the amount of mercury needed from approximately 15 mg to 3 mg per lamp. Since mercury absorption causes the lamps light output to depreciate over its life, the coating helps to keep light levels much closer to initial outputonly 5% depreciation in the first 40% of its life.[10]

Glare

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Since T5 are smaller than T8 bulbs, but produce roughly the same amount of light, their surface luminance is higher than T8 lamps. Glare can be an issue, especially with high output bulbs (5000 lumens), but can be mitigated by placing the bulbs out of direct line of sight, or using louvers or diffusers.[15]

Differences from other fluorescent lamps

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T5 lamps are approximately 40% smaller than T8 lamps and almost 60% smaller than T12 lamps. T5 lamps have a G5 base (bi-pin with 5 mm spacing), while T8 and T12 lamps use a G13 base (bi-pin with inch/13 mm spacing).[9] T5 tubes operate at a higher than ideal temperature for the purposes of regulating the mercury vapor pressure in the tube. A fluorescent lamps "cold spot" is the area where the internal glass wall temperature is at its lowest. It is the temperature of the coldest spot which effectively sets the mercury vapor pressure for the whole tube. Unlike a T8 or T12 fluorescent lamp, where the cold spot is in the middle, in T5 lamps it is at the tube end which is marked with the rating label, in the extended space behind the filament. By having this extended area outside of the discharge run cooler, this reduces the mercury vapor pressure in the whole tube to more ideal levels.[16] T5 lamps generally last for 20,000 hours, as compared to T8 lamps, which last for 15,000 hours.[17] T5 lamps are both electrically and physically incompatible with T8 and T12 lamps. These differences in dimension prevent T5 lamps from being used as replacements for T8 and T12 lamps, unless the existing luminaires are electronically converted, via T5 retrofit conversion, to high frequency operation, so that they can accept the T5 lamps. Note that conversion kits will invalidate any standards conformance (such as UL) which a luminaire has, unless the manufacturer will re-certify their product with a particular conversion kit.

See also
Compact fluorescent lamp List of light sources

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Fluorescent lamp recycling T5 retrofit conversion

References
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14.

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^ Funke and Oranje, "Gas Discharge Lamps"; N.V Philips' Gloeilampenfabrieken (1951) ^ "EC&M: The T5 Fluorescent Lamp: Coming on Strong" . 2003-09-01. Retrieved 2008-09-28. ^ "Covington, E. J. The Story Behind This Account of Fluorescent Lamp Development" . Retrieved 2008-09-28. ^ "Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory: T-8 lamp retrofits" . Retrieved 2008-09-28. ^ "Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory: History and problems of T12 fluorescent lamps" . Retrieved 2008-09-28. ^ http://www.lamptech.co.uk/Spec%20Sheets/Philips%20TL%20Aperture.htm . Aperture lamps, retrieved 2009 11 15 ^ Thorn Lighting Technical Handbook ^ "Lighting Design Lab: http://www.lightingdesignlab.com/commercial/articles/Energy_Code.htm" . 1995-11-01. Retrieved 2009-07-06. ^ a b Lighting Research Center, "T5 Fluorescent Systems", [1] , accessed 11-30-2009. ^ a b c Electrical Construction & Maintenance, "The T5 Fluorescent Lamp: Coming on Strong", [2] , accessed 11-30-2009. ^ NLPIP Lighting Answers: T5 Fluorescent Systems. 2002. http://www.lrc.rpi.edu/programs/nlpip/lightingAnswers/lat5/pc4.asp ^ Save It Easy, expected energy savings data, [3] , accessed 2010-07-09. ^ http://www.sizes.com/home/fluorescents.htm ^ DELTA: Field Test: T5 Fluorescent High-Bay Luminaires and Wireless Lighting Controls. 2008. Issue 3. Available online at: http://www.lrc.rpi.edu/programs/DELTA/pdf/DELTAT5HighBayLuminaires.pdf 15. ^ http://www.lrc.rpi.edu/programs/nlpip/lightingAnswers/lat5/da3.asp 16. ^ Building Sustainable Design, "New generation energy efficient fluorescent tubes: triphosphor", [4] , accessed 11-30-2009. 17. ^ The Carbon Trust, "How to implement T5 retrofit conversion kits", [5] , accessed 11-30-2009.

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