lighting question
- Thread starter darkfader
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summoner12
Avid Member
T12 is no longer made by Zoo Med and even Exo Terra I think..... You will still find T12 in shops though, but not in productions. So you should see them phase out.
This is always an option. Depending on where you buy..... Ask if they'll send you the T8. Size is one difference... BUT the way the lamps are powered is another difference that should be paid attention to. Even though a T8 and T12 will fit in one another's lamp socket and even power up, it is a bad idea. T8 lamps won't strike when used in a crappy T12 fixture using a magnetic ballast. and even if they do strike they are being powered incorrectly and will cause damage to the lamp and could either cause it to operate with more UVB or less depending on the situation.... 38w lamp in a 32 fixture will produce less UVB...
Not if you are hoping to get UVB out of it. You can use a normal lamp next to a UVB for more lux, but it will not add to the UVB.
the "8" in T8 means 8/8" or eight, one eighths (1"). a T12 is twelve eighths or 12/8" (1.5")
summoner12
Avid Member
I know they have the T8s.... at least they will in the popular sizes....
xanthoman
Avid Member
currently all recent 5.0 reptisuns 18" or under, are t-8 , but most reptisuns over 18" are t-12 , there was a recent post claiming that all reptisuns were going to t-8 and whether you got a t-8 or a t-12 would depend on how old the stock was,(i have yet to verify the validity of the claim) i was on the phone with zoo med today discussing ballasts and i didnt even think to address that issue, but if you are going to buy a 48", i would check first, you might also want to check your ballast , if you have a standard generic home depot shop light it is most likely a magnetic ballast, it will probably work,but may flicker or strobe more than an electronic ballast / zoo med recomends an electronic ballast as the preffered ballast for all reptisuns, these are usually found in the higher end fixtures
summoner12
Avid Member
magnetic will not strike a T-8 lamp(Edit: at least not the cheap POS fixtures from HD, Already tried that). If it does you will get 'snaking' and this will destroy the lamp.
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xanthoman
Avid Member
the difference may also be in the ballast , there are many types of both magnetic and electronic ballasts, zoo med recomends an electronic ballast for ALL reptisuns , but admits you may be able to get away with a magnetic ballast for 5.0 if you are trying to run a 10.0 you should use an electronic ballast ,or you risk damaging the bulb or possibly producing wavelengths outside of its intended parameters (ie too much or too little uvb)
http://www.lightsearch.com/resources/lightguides/ballasts.html
TylerMcCoy
New Member
its definitely T8
summoner12
Avid Member
The rating of the UVB output has little to do with the ballast if the lamp and fixture are matched correctly. In other words, running a 40w T12 5.0 on a 40w magnetic ballast or running a 40w T12 10.0 on the same ballast will not effect the lamp in any way. Sure the output will be higher on the 10.0... but this is expected, it is a higher rated lamp. The importance of ballast selection is not related to the lamps 'UVB rating'.
The point of a ballast is to limit the current to the lamp and to strike the lamp. Electronic ballasts have more control of how the lamp is struck and operated. Electronic ballasts also operates the lamp more efficiently than magnetic ballasts. An electronic ballast can also operate the lamp at a higher frequency (20kHz or more), so flicker is not noticed. CLF lamps operate at 40kHz or more. A magnetic ballast will operate at 100-120Hz... yes that is Hz vs. kHz. A electronic ballast is 'flickering' 20,000 times faster than a magnetic ballast.
This produces a more 'stable' light output.
xanthoman
Avid Member
i just got off the phone with zoo med and they verified sommoner12 statement. [not that i doubted it , you just never know about anyones claims (including mine, until they are verified ) since january all reptisuns, in all sizes are now being manufactured as t-8, and they claim that they will work with most magnetic ballasts (i have my doubts) most electronic ballasts come in the higher end fixtures, but most cheap fixtures can easily be rewired with an electronic ballast which can be had cheaply online from a whole butload of places- http://www.ballastwise.com/?gclid=CMqfpL-U8pwCFSFRagodIEVqjg - but foster and smith and most other dealers are still shipping the t- 12 so if you want t-8s be sure to request and verify , one advantage of t-8s is that they can be run with exo-terra's electronic dimming light cycle ballast with built in timer and auto dimming light cycle (i had one and it was a great unit, but i got rid of it because it couldnt be used with t-12s) and i just ordered two 24" reptisuns from pet mountain and they are both t-12s and supposedly already shipped , they were on sale , i suspect to clear stock for the t-8s
summoner12
Avid Member
Zoo Med Dropping T12 UVB Lamps.
A magnetic ballast meant for T-8 should strike the lamp.... using your old T12 magnetic ballast with the new lamp will not work. For all of you with those $8 Home Depot T12 fixtures... sorry but your gonna need to upgrade to the new T8 fixture. My fixtures would not strike the lamp. and my nicer T12 fixtures did strike the lamp but it was 'ghosting' and that is very bad for the lamp.
This weekend I purchased new fixtures for my T8 lamps. I also purchased an Electronic ballast that I plan to make a DIY T12 to T8 conversion thread.
A magnetic ballast meant for T-8 should strike the lamp.... using your old T12 magnetic ballast with the new lamp will not work. For all of you with those $8 Home Depot T12 fixtures... sorry but your gonna need to upgrade to the new T8 fixture. My fixtures would not strike the lamp. and my nicer T12 fixtures did strike the lamp but it was 'ghosting' and that is very bad for the lamp.
This weekend I purchased new fixtures for my T8 lamps. I also purchased an Electronic ballast that I plan to make a DIY T12 to T8 conversion thread.
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