fluorescent light question

To answer the ballast driving question...yes it will fire up the T12's.

ok thanks..
so my next question would be..how efficient is it...
like lets say you put in a 40 wat bulb in a ODNO 2x T8 ballast..
How many wats will that put out

From my reading, it looks to be roughly 1/2 as efficient as an overdriven T8 in terms of measured light output, not watts.

I have both and, to me, there is much more light from the T8s (both overdriven 2x).

KurtG said:

From my reading, it looks to be roughly 1/2 as efficient as an overdriven T8 in terms of measured light output, not watts.



I have both and, to me, there is much more light from the T8s (both overdriven 2x).

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Where did you find your readings..

Also in you set up, are you saying you have a t8 ballast ODNO 2x driving t12 bulbs? or is it a t12 ballast driving t12 bulbs

What length in inches are ya looking for the T8 10000k bulb?

I was reading on here somewhere. I probably read every post the last couple weeks while setting up my tank.

I have a t8 ballast and am *Now* running 2 T8 bulbs overdriven 2x. I started with the T12s, because I hadn't read enough first and grabbed what first came to me.

There was a chart with wattages and light output. I don't know what the units for light output were, but the T12 was 75 and 140 overdriven whereas the T8 were 150 and 240 2x overdriven. So 140/240 is roughly 1/2 as efficient in terms of light output. The bulb wattages are similar (36-40 watts, and 50-55 watts 2x overdriven).

I think there is a "phillips T8 post" on here that had the chart.

ya.. I think have read those results somewhere..

But my question is were the testers using T12 ballasts to drive the T12 bulbs or were they using T8 ballasts to drive the T12 Bulbs

The reason I am asking is becuase I currently have 2-T8 ballasts ODNO 2x Driving 4-T8 bulbs... and the only bulb I can find which is the one I want is a T12 bulb...

So I was wondering the effect of the ballast that will have on the bulb

lilflippy said:

What length in inches are ya looking for the T8 10000k bulb?

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48" .

I think all the tests are on T8 (electronic) ballasts. I had the T12 bulbs in the T8 ballast, but they were noticeably dimmer.

strizzi16 said:

48" .

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Do a seach on google for Zoo Med Ocean Sun 10,000K Fluorescent Lamp - 48" (T8)

hmm well thanks for all the imput Kurt..

I always like hearing first hand experiances...

I still wonder about the actual numbers behind it all