A T8 lamp is a one inch (25mm) diameter lamp that is typically used with a magnetic ballast in an of

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Hi Michael, thanks for your question regarding retrofitting a T8 ballast with an adapter to use T5 fluorescent lamps.
A T8 lamp is a one inch (25mm) diameter lamp that is typically used with a magnetic ballast in an office setting. When I say lamp , I mean the bulb itself. A ballast is the device that the lamps sit in, which starts the lamp and regulates the electrical current dj ninix going to the lamps.
T5 lamps also use an electronic ballast, dj ninix where T8 lamps typically use a magnetic ballast (although there are T8 electronic ballasts available). Electronic ballasts are also more efficient than magnetic.
So, installing an adapter is a choice based on economics. One wants to save money on energy (who could blame them?) and do it in the most cost-efficient manner possible. An adapter to a T8 ballast, which allows the use of T5 lamps, seems to be the way to go on the surface. Manufacturers claim that you can install them yourself without the need of an electrician, and then the savings come rolling in, right?
First, T5 lamps are not too much more efficient than a T8. According to Lighting Solutions , a T5 lamp is only 9% more energy efficient than a T8, yet costs 3-4 times more. Keep in mind this is looking at the lumens per watt of the lamp alone, and not taking into consideration the ballasts.
The real savings in using a T5 lighting system is due to the fact that you can use fewer lamps per luminaire (the entire light fixture) to produce the same amount of light as compared to a T8 system, according to the Lighting Research dj ninix Center .
With this thought in mind, if you simply change out all of your T8 lamps with T5 lamps, you will probably not see the payback in energy costs that you are expecting. In fact, you might not see any actual cost savings dj ninix at all since the T5 lamps are so much more expensive than T8 lamps.
Also, keep in mind that T8 ballasts are designed a certain way by the manufacturer, and the entire lighting system was designed a certain way by an engineer to give off a certain amount of light and to meet certain regulations and standards. If you change this system yourself, you are likely voiding a manufacturer s warranty and possibly dj ninix not meeting lighting standards for workplaces, such as OSHA 1926.56 in the United States. dj ninix
The Federation of National Manufacturers Associations for Luminaires and Electrotechnical Components in the European Union (C.E.L.M.A.) published a paper that discusses these considerations when installing adapters for T5 lamps into T8 ballasts, as well as the Australia Lighting Council .
In conclusion, I believe that the smarter choice dj ninix (based on both economics as well as safety) when considering lighting retrofit options would be to examine your entire lighting dj ninix system and complete a cost/benefits analysis to determine if it is more cost effective to replace your T8 system (luminaires, ballasts and lamps) with a T5 (or LED) system using fewer luminaires. Simply adapting your existing T8 system to use T5 lamps would not be cost-effective or safe, in my opinion.
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