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derf9h
04/03/2007, 03:33 PM
Anyone know where I can find a table of conversions for standard flourescents to pc to t5 wattage outputs?

I would just like to have some kind of idea of the difference

for example:

If I have 100 watts of standard flourescent on my 29 gallon and wanted to upgrade to PC's, how much pc wattage would I need to get ateast match what I had in flourescents?

any ideas, equations?

thanks

erick

BurntOutReefer
04/03/2007, 04:09 PM
you mean something like this?

http://www.eere.energy.gov/consumer/your_home/lighting_daylighting/index.cfm/mytopic=12060

pjf
04/03/2007, 04:38 PM
Regular fluorescent (T8 & T12) tubes generate 81-92 lumens per watt (Table 1-3, http://www.lrc.rpi.edu/programs/nlpip/lightingAnswers/lat5/pc1a.asp).

PC or high-wattage compact fluorescent lamps (HW-CFL) generate 50-70 lumens per watt (Figure 4, http://www.lrc.rpi.edu/programs/nlpip/lightingAnswers/HWCFL/HWCFL-efficacy.asp).

While PC lighting produces more light than regular fluorescent lighting, it is not very efficient. IMHO, there are alternative upgrade options that will give you better results:

1. Upgrade your tubes from regular fluorescent (T8, T10, T12) to T6. The use of the narrow diameter T6 tubes will improve the efficiency of your reflectors. T6 tubes are socket-compatible with regular fluorescent fixtures.
2. Upgrade your tubes and ballasts from regular fluorescent to T6HO. Your normal output electronic ballasts will run T6HO tubes at normal output. You will have to upgrade your ballasts to receive the higher output of the T6HO. Both tubes and ballasts are available from www.naturallighting.com.
3. Upgrade your fixture from regular fluorescent to T5HO. T5HO lamps are both bright and efficient (Table 1-2, http://www.lrc.rpi.edu/programs/nlpip/lightingAnswers/lat5/pc1a.asp).