Tek-Light T5 High Output Fluorescent

[Guest]

I see a lot of our growers swiching over to the Tek5 -

A closer look;


These new high output fluorescent lamps have an extremely high lumen per watt rating compared to standard fluorescent bulbs, making them extremely suitable for indoor cultivation purposes. Each 54 watt, 48 inch long, high output fluorescent bulb produces 5000 lumens, or 92.59 lumens produced per watt of energy consumed. By comparison, a standard 40 watt, F40 cool white lamp produces a mere 1260 watts, or 31.5 lumens per watt.

High output fluorescent lamps have a very low heat factor which allows the fixture to be hung extremely close to plant canopy, thus increasing usable light levels. The TEK-LIGHT(tm)'s exclusive 9-bend reflector is made of imported German 95% reflective aluminum to drive every available lumen of light to your plants. Light output is 300% higher in this high-tech reflector compared to cheap fluorescent fixtures.

Measuring a mere 2.5 inches deep, the awesome Tek-Light High Output Fluorescent fixtures are extremely low profile, sleek and light to hang. Especially suited for growing areas where vertical space is restricted.

State-of-the-art, solid state electronic ballasts have no copper windings and do not emit heat, noise or vibration. This unique design places ballasts outside lamps (instead of above lamps as in competitive fixtures) for longer fixture life.

Features include a backlit ON/OFF switch, chrome V hangers and 4 eye bolts. Optional Sun Lifts Adjustable Cable hanging systems (available below) are easy to install and allow for convenient vertical adjustments for all Tek Lights. 2 year rebuild or replace factory warranty on fixture. 1 year warranty against failure on lamps.

Tek-Lights are available in 4 lamp configurations and will accept your choice of daylight (cool) 6500K lamps; warm 3000K lamps; or a combination of the two. High output fluorescent tubes are not included in the fixture price and should be purchased separately below fixtures.

Tek-Light T5-42 holds two tubes and produces 10,000 initial lumens. This unit measures 48.0 inches long by 9.0 inches wide by 2.5 inches tall.

Tek-Light T5-44 holds four tubes and produces 20,000 initial lumens. This unit measures 48.0 inches long by 11.0 inches wide by 2.5 inches tall.

Tek-Light T5-46 holds six tubes and produces 30,000 initial lumens. This unit measures 48.0 inches long by 15.0 inches wide by 2.5 inches tall.

Tek-Light T5-48 holds eight tubes and produces 40,000 initial lumens This unit measures 48.0 inches long by 19.0 inches wide by 2.5 inches tall.

 

[sysprog]

There is a thread sparking the idea that T6 ballasts will work with T5 bulbs, so you can make your own. ~$50 T6 ballast @casa dePOT & order T5 bulbs.

 

[guineapig]

nice post sysprog.....the results with the T5 lights have been quite promising and your post provides some awesome info for potential T5 owners....I gathered some data about the new T6 bulbs which are meant to approach the lumen output of T5 lights when you put them in a T8 electronic ballast (i know it is confusing).....an IC friend did some sleuthing and called the company www.naturallighting.com to get the real deal on T6 bulbs.....it turns out that the website fudged the numbers on their lumen output......the bulbs' lumen output are significantly lower than T5 lights so they don't have the canopy penetration of T5 lights and are somewhere inbetween traditional fluorescent bulbs and the T5 bulbs in terms of lumen output......but, when you consider that the T8 electronic ballasts cost 50 dollars (4-bulb) at home despot vs. the 200 dollars for the T5 ballast (4-bulb), people on a budget might want to consider the T6 ballast as an option for vegetative and especially for seedlings.....

if anyone wants more fluorescent information (i know it can be confusing) feel free to pm me and i will explain the crazy manufacturer codes for as long as it takes to clear it all up......

so i recant my statement, "Down with T5 Tek Lights...." We were hornswaggled a bit.

fight on fluorescent warriors!!
the herbal gerbil

 

[sysprog]

Bummer gerbil, but once again it appears that you get what you pay for
I was just looking at putting one of the ghetto t8+t6=t5 light together for a grow cab.

For clarity's sake, you can only run a T5 bulb with a T5 ballast, correct?
Hopefully the Tek T5 will drop in cost as popularity & competition grow.

 

[Guest]

Hey Sysprog,

I checked into the t8+t6=t5 light as you describe and with this combo you will get 10% more light than if you used the standard t8 bulb....not much difference. To see the full lumen potential of the t6 bulb you would have to replace the t8 ballast with a t5 ballast. The light shop in the link above quoted $25-$35 for a 2 bulb t5 ballast only to replace the Home Depot t8 ballast.

Too much fiddling for me so I bought t5's. Paid a little more but save a bunch of time and hassle.

I'm pretty sure t5 bulbs only fit t5 ballasts.

National Garden Wholesale carries a few different brands of t5s that you can check out:
http://www.nationalgardenwholesale.com/lighting_product.php?id=04_FL

- GroNut

 

[Guest]

On 10/11/2005 8:58:26 AM "Naturallighting.com" <[email protected]> wrote:

The T6 lamp will work with electronic ballasts, 32 watt up to 55 watt.
Lumen output will be about 3200 with a 32 watt T8 ballast. You would have
to replace ballast with T5 HO55 watt to operate at max wattage of 4500
lumens.

larry


On 10/10/05 10:23 PM, "StrainWhore" wrote:

> I have T8/T12 (can accept both) electronic "shop light" style lighting
> fixtures. Do I need to make any modifications to the ballasts to use the 'T6
> Fluorescent Lamp, 55 Watt, Full Spectrum [T64855]' bulbs in my fixtures?
>
> It seems to me that pulling 55 watts out of a fixture designed for 40/32 watts might be bad?
>
> Any help would be appreciated.
>
> Thank you

 

[sysprog]

Damn engineers.