Light table on a student budget

[Ray]

I use (and sell at a discount) Hydrofarm High-Output T5 fixtures - both 2' and 4' lengths. They are lightweight and put out quite a bit of light, and you can gang them together as needed.

Hydrofarm - Hydrofarm FLT5HP2 T5 High Performance 2 Foot System

Hydrofarm - Hydrofarm FLT5HP4 T5 High Performance 4 Foot System

[ceropegia]

Okay, so T5s are the best light choice for fluorescents...what wattage of bulb should I get for them? I was hoping to get 2' double strip fixtures since I don't have a ton of space and I don't want to lug the 4' fixtures around when I move, but if they are really significantly better I will probably purchase them. How much do the 4' fixtures run? I can't seem to find any online at Lowe's or Home Depot (the closest hardware stores to me...there really aren't any specialty stores around).

[zygostates]

Sorry about the ignorance...but what is the difference between a F5 light fixture and a "shop light" fixture that you buy at Wal-Mart,Lowes,etc.?

[Austin Powers]

Correct me if I am wrong, but it seems as though the opinion is that T5's provide more light, and are more versitile than T8's. I just bought a T8 fixture and bulbs at Lowes, perhaps I'll return and get T5's.
Thanks,
Stephen

[philoserenus]

Austin--according to the math, the cost per lumen is lower on t5s than t8s, this is why it is more worth it in the long run.

zygo--there is no difference in terms of definition of 'shoplight'--they are both shoplights. t5s can be considered as new technology--newer stores are changing over to t5 shoplights to light their stores--look up and find a really bright one--thats probably a t5

cero--I see t5 fixtures at home depot, but they are never on display... they are just in the boxes, try asking the lighting people. its about $60CDN per 2 tube 4' fixture.

I'm not exactly a beginner, been growing for a few years already--I have a t8 fixture, and trust me. If u are starting fresh, t5s are the way to go. better than selling the t8 and then buying a t5 later.

[Ray]

Originally Posted by zygostates

Sorry about the ignorance...but what is the difference between a F5 light fixture and a "shop light" fixture that you buy at Wal-Mart,Lowes,etc.?

The "T" designation tells you the diameter of the bulb, in 12ths of an inch. T5=5/12", T8=3/4", T12 (most standard shop lights)=1".

A typical 48" shop light bulb is 40W, while a 48" T5 is 54W, and with that energy passed down a smaller tube volume, and applied to a smaller surface area of phosphors, they put out a lot more light.

I use and carry a so-called "high performance" T5 from Hydrofarm, both in 2' and 4' lengths. The fixtures are light and easy to suspend from almost anything, making setup a breeze.

[John D.]

TCO (Total cost of ownership) can get convoluted so it's good to figure it for your own costs and electric rate.
using the numbers so far in this thread
a T5 fixture is $60 and uses two bulbs (cost $10 each from Hydrofarms site) = (total initial cost $80) This produces 10,000 lumens (5000 per bulb) consuming 108 watts per hour (2 x 54W)
at 6 cents per kilowatt hour operating cost is $37.84 per year (lights on 16 hours per day x 365 days)

T12 shoplights are $18.00 per fixture (two bulbs)
each bulb produces 3200 lumens. 2 fixtures (cost $36) + 4 bulbs (cost $6.32 for a package of 2) = (total initial cost $42.32) produce 12,800 lumens. 40 watts per bulb x 4 consumes 120 watts per hour for an operating cost of $42.05 per year

The difference in replacement bulb cost more that offsets the higher operating cost per fixture (and you get more lumens total)