T5's - Reply form Deltec Tech Crew about new bulbs, check em

[Mouse]

OK, T5 lights have an output of 87-90 lumen per watt, most Metal Halides
have an output of 75-80 lumen per watt.
The 1200mm tube has a 54 watt output which equals 4700 lumen, 6 tubes as
available in our pendant unit would therfore have the same light output as a
350-375 halide (would that be available).
Currently tubes are available in various Kelvin ratings from 6,000k upwards,
we recomend our own Aqua Blue tubes which are a white/blue mix with a
11-12,000k output.
Bulb life is upto 15,000 hours, considerably longer than halide, plus
replacement tubes are similar in price to standard T8 tubes.
As you have pointed out, the light is emitted over the length of the tube
and does not come from a single point like a halide. This is however not
seen as a draw back, as the overall light reaching the corals is roughly the
same(the metal halide light, spreads out considerably before it reaches the
corals due to refraction, design of the reflector, surface ripple etc.)
One big advantage is these bulbs run considerably cooler than halides and so
are much easier to use in hooded tanks, confined spaces etc.
If you require further details, and especially before posting these details,
please call me on 07909 978069 just to chat about our equipment or just
keeping corals!

From what this guys saying i think their going to be pretty good lights, just wanted to share with those who may be thinking of upgrading new lights. Its certainly made me think carefully.

Anybody care to contest the above comments :?:

 

[Mouse]

If you feel the information above is mis-guiding, give me your comments and ill put them forward to the man @ Deltec.

 

[npaden]

The bulb life on most halides is in the 10,000 hour range. It's just that the spectrum shifts and we don't want to use them after 3,000 to 4,000 hours. Most flourescent tubes have the same problems with spectrum shift and although they still work after a year or so most people replace them. You would probably still have the same thing with the T5 tubes.

I think I will just stick to my Iwasakis. 6 of those T5's @ $25 = $150 to replace. My last Iwasakis cost $200 to replace all 4. (Coupons at hellolights! ) To get the same light out of T5 tubes it would take 24 tubes and at $25 each would have cost $600!

FWIW, Nathan

 

[Anonymous]

hi.
Most power compact are in the neighborhood of 55 lumen per watt. So the T-5 seems to be almost twice as efficient. I am a bit skeptical about this... anybody with both a T-5 and a lux meter?

 

[JeremyR]

The t-5's I saw were "visually" brighter than the PC's and VHO's, and I was really sorry that I didn't have some kind of light meter. The eye isn't the best light meter out there, but they were impressive for flour bulbs. Still isn't metal halide tho.. even if the intensity was the same, it's not going to penetrate like halide for the same reasons other flour bulbs don't.

 

[ChrisRD]

This link might be helpful. If you do the math on the white 96 Watt PC bulbs it comes out to over 84 lumens per watt. It also mentions a 12,000 hour service life although most PC users seem to replace yearly due to decreased output.

A quick search of the GE lighting products catalog reveals the following,
All lamps are essentially the same lamp available in the different sizes. All lamps were in the 45-48" size range and all are 4100K:

T-12: 3200 Lumen, 40 Watt, 80 Lumens/watt, 20,000 Hours
T-12 HO: 4250 Lumen, 60 Watt, 71 Lumens/watt, 12,000 Hours
T-12 VHO: 6200 Lumen, 110 Watt, 56 Lumens/watt, 10,000 Hours
T-8: 2825 Lumen, 30 Watt, 94 Lumens/watt, 15,000 Hours
T-5: 2900 Lumen, 28 Watt, 104 Lumens/watt, 20,000 Hours
T-5 HO: 5000 Lumen, 54 Watt, 93 Lumens/watt, 20,000 Hours

Keep in mind that this information is for specific lamps and the numbers for the higher K, full spectrum lamps used in aquaria would be lower, but I think it illustrates the relationship. As the tube gets smaller, the lamp gets more efficient. Also, as the lamps are pushed to higher wattages they seem to decrease in efficiency (ie. VHO). Also, the lumen values shown are initial only. According to the manufacturer's specs the larger diameter lamps and higher output lamps (HO and especially VHO) tend to loose output quicker than the smaller tubes and lower (NOl) output lamps.

All that being said, I don't think you can use these numbers as a direct comparison with halide lighting. Many factors would have to be considered in evaluating and comparing entire lighting systems such as light penetration (as Jeremy pointed out), lamp replacement costs, space considerations, heat dissapation, etc.

 

[Veng68]

Hey Mouse,

Do you have a web address for the Deltec company? I'm having a hard time finding them on the web. Thanks.

Cheers,
Veng68

 

[ujohnk]

Hi,
www.deltecaquariumsolutions.com

 

[Veng68]

Hi,
www.deltecaquariumsolutions.com

Thanks ujohnk 8)

Cheers,
Veng68