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The bulb burned out in my kitchen light and my father removed the bulb before I could look at it to determine if it's T8 or T12. Does it matter which bulb I use in the light fixture? I've heard different contradicting things about whether T8 and T12 are truly interchangeable. The light fixture was installed in 1987. The previous bulb was 20 watt and I think it was 2 ft. long, but I can measure that. Home Depot's web site only shows T12 bulbs for 2 ft., 20 watt bulbs. I thought T12 was outdated, so I am totally confused.
Is there a way to tell whether the light fixture (or I guess ballasts?) are T8 or T12? I don't see any markings.
T8 use lightweight electronic ballasts
Older t12 ballasts are heavy magnetic ballasts , newer t12 ballasts are also electronic.....
The t8 will have a 17 in the part number for 17 watt the t12 will have a 20 in the part number for 20watt ... but some 2 ft lamps are actually a 4ft in u- shape so it looks like 2 2ft lamps . That would have a 32 in the part number for t8 an 40 in the part number for t12
If you can get me a number off the ballast I can likely tell you what it is
The only thing I could find on the fixture (conveniently located on the side 6" from the wall ) is that it's made by Mobern and it's a Low Power Factor. There's a number: E15315. There's another sticker which I couldn't quite make out, but it has this number: 456.199 I had to use a frickin mirror to see anything and then read it all backwards. I can't access the ballast. The fixture only takes one bulb.
I recently replaced about 10 fluorescent tubes with LED tubes which work with both T8 and T12 fixtures. It was an easy job even for a clueless guy like me. Go with LED. Get rid of that power hungry ballast too.
Isn't it the case that some fixtures can take LED bulbs that you just install and they bypass the ballast, but on other fixtures you have to actually remove the ballast?
Isn't it the case that some fixtures can take LED bulbs that you just install and they bypass the ballast, but on other fixtures you have to actually remove the ballast?
Some LED bulbs are direct replacement.. You just put them in and they use the output of the existing ballasts and others, such as Toggled bulbs (Toggled is a brand name) you remove the ballasts and direct wire 120v to the bulb.
In general, for energy reasons, the bulbs that run off 120v are generally better as you don't have the waste of the ballast anymore, so overall it's more efficient.
However, for people who shouldn't be mucking around with electricity and rewiring something.. The direct replacement bulbs are still better than continuing to use the old florescents.
I'm very sensitive about lighting. I'd prefer to stick with fluorescents in the kitchen until I can test out LEDs elsewhere in the house. I can't stand CFL bulbs (I can hear them buzzing) and have to be careful in which lamps I use them. I also can't stand bright light and that blue/daylight colored lighting. I sometimes have to wear lightly tinted sunglasses while using the computer or TV and that's with the backlight turned down. So I might try LEDs in the kitchen one day, just not now. Baby steps.
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) is that it's made by Mobern and it's a Low Power Factor. There's a number: E15315. There's another sticker which I couldn't quite make out, but it has this number: 456.199 I had to use a frickin mirror to see anything and then read it all backwards. I can't access the ballast. The fixture only takes one bulb.
