Not sure how this works, could use help - T8 lights/ballasts

814 Views 8 Replies 4 Participants Last post by Diana, Aug 14, 2012

jamesbaptista

Discussion Starter · Aug 8, 2012

So, I have a regular 4 bulb T8 light fixture that I have 4 T8 6500k bulbs in. I wanted some higher color for looking at fish so I bought a coralige 10000k bulb from a LFS. When I tried it in my fixture it doesnt turn on. Now, I don't know a lot about these lights so my question is did I get a bad bulb or do these bulbs need a different type of fixture/ballast?

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slavecorps

· #2 · Aug 8, 2012

It's possible you got a bad bulb (when I worked at a fish store people would sometimes buy a new bulb, put the old bulb in the box, then try to return it).
Did you make sure the new bulb was a T8 and not a T5?

Is it the whole fixture that isn't turning on or just the new bulb?

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jamesbaptista

Discussion Starter · #3 · Aug 8, 2012

its a T8, im sure of that. It fits in the fixture and the other 3 bulbs turn on. I was just wondering if the coralife bulb needed a special type of ballast or fixture. I don't see how it would I just thought I would check before I try to return the bulb.

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slavecorps

· #4 · Aug 8, 2012

You probably just have a bad bulb.

I suppose you could have a problem with the end caps, but most likely a bad bulb.

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jamesbaptista

Discussion Starter · #5 · Aug 8, 2012

I have the old bulb in there now and it works great, so the fixture is good. So bottom line, if I buy any T8 bulb it should work in my T8 fixture?

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HolyAngel

· #6 · Aug 8, 2012

jamesbaptista said:
I have the old bulb in there now and it works great, so the fixture is good. So bottom line, if I buy any T8 bulb it should work in my T8 fixture?

Yep, any t8 bulb will work with any t8 fixture. The new bulb is likely bad, should be able to go back and they'll let you swap it for another.

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jamesbaptista

Discussion Starter · #7 · Aug 8, 2012

Thanks! I was pretty sure that's how it should work. I appreciate the help

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jamesbaptista

Discussion Starter · #8 · Aug 14, 2012

Thanks for all the help, I returned the bulb and the new one works great!

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Diana

· #9 · Aug 14, 2012

When I return something that is defective I will write directly on the item 'defective'.
That way if it gets reshelved (even by accident) there is the hope that no one will buy it until the 'mistake' is figured out.

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