t-8 or t-12 bulbs

[c_bell]

Can someone please explain the difference between t-8 and T-12 bulbs!!! I'm looking to buy new bulbs for my NO 36" AGA twin-tube strip light and I came across T-8 and T-12 bulbs and I don't know which ones I need. Thanks

 

[hartkarl]

t-8 lamps are skinnier than the t-12 lamps. t-12 lamps are your standard type lamp. with the t-8 lamps you usually need a elctronic ballast. check your ballast it will say what kind of lamps and how many you can use.

 

[squidworth]

The number means 1/8". A t-8 is 8/8 of an inch or 1 inch. A t-12 is 12/8 of an inch or 1 1/2 inch. These bulbs will interchange with no retrofit to the lamp HOLDER or ENDS. The ballast is quite different and will not interchange between the different bulb diameters

 

[waterwolf]

Not always true. Yes they do make seperate ballasts for T8 and T12 fixtures but I have some advanced ballasts that say they can't use T8 but they do. My old ballasts, 10+yrs ago would not work with T8. T8 bulbs seem brighter than T12.

 

[waterwolf]

"Advanced" was the brand name. The actuall model was Mark3 Energy Saver R-2S40-1-TP This ballast does use T8 and T12 bulbs. It worked with CorallifeT12, ZooMed T8 with no problems.

 

[waterwolf]

It cost $16 for a 2 lamp ballast.