T5 light fixtures available at Home Depot
 

So I was cruising the Depot earlier this week and was walking through the lighting department when I spyed these T5 fixtures for sale. My HD had everything from 4 foot T5 fixtures to 6" T5 fixtures. And they offered 4 lamp fixtures to single lamp fixtures. They didn't have any with super-cool reflector on them, but they where nice and a reflector could easily be added. I picked up a 24" fixture to try out in my smallish orchid enclosure. I want to see if I can bump up the light output. The lamp I got was a 2 bulb, 24" unit that cost me about $28. The lamps that it came with were the "cool white" bulbs. Meaning that they are in the 3000 to 3500 K temp range. Not what I would perfer, but still OK for $28.

I'll install them and see what I can get out of this new addition to my light setup. :D

Wow, I'm going to have to check my local HD! I looked there multiple times, but nothing. :( I'll ask the next time. Sounds considerably cheaper than buying them at the hydroponics store here, or ordering them online. :) Thanks for the heads up!

Well I installed my new 24" two bulb T5 unit into my orchid enclosure. While it did punch up the light readings, the heat also shot straight up!! I recorded a high temp of 91.6 degrees F the other day. ANd that was without the full morning sun coming through the window that the shelf system sits in front of. Once the cloud cover heads out I think I might be in trouble!

That is definitely impressive - first time I've heard of HD carrying these guys! Try and add some fans to help dissipate the heat.

I remember reading somewhere that t5's are designed to run at about 92 degrees F. I bought one from a hydroponics place online a couple of years ago, and that's about the temp right near the bulbs. Fans help some.

Hey All,
The Home Depot near me has had these for a couple months. However, I am pretty sure they are not the high output T5's. Considering I have been growing under t12 and t8s for a few years now, anything would be an upgrade. Keep us updated on your progress. Would be nice to get Ross's opinion on these. Ross?
Neil

Hi Chas, Do you happen to have light meter? I'd be curious as to the FC readings at 6" and 1 foot on your T5's from Home Depot

Bill

At 6" from the light I am getting 830 fc. At 12" it's a harder reading to get because at that distance it is hard to shield off the other lights. I got a reading of 560 fc at 12".

I'm not sure this new T5 lamp is really helping that much. It has certainly raised the temp quit a bit. I go a hew high temp of 95.2 degrees F. That is really not good. I cut a few vent holes in the enclosure and added a couple of fresh air intakes to help lower the temps. I can now keep the temp at around 90 degrees F. Still a bit on the high side.
I'm not sure about the addition of this lamp. I'll have to look into more smaller fans I'm thinking.

Now why can't I find T5's at my local Home Depot? I wish! But are you sure that they are 3000K to 3500K cool white bulbs? 3000K to 3500K are supposed to be warm colored bulbs.

I miss-typed, they are a warmer looking light. Not the blue-er, cool white bulbs. I'd like to find some that are more in the 4100 to 4500 K range. Maybe even mixing the two together.

I have also cut more venting holes into the enclosure and turned up the output of the fan. Yesterday, after I messed with it some more I kept the temp down to 88.6 degrees F. SO maybe this is workable. But if not, I'm going to have to do something. This high temp thing is not good.

Ok I went to HD to check out the T5. Mine had T5's in 2, 3, and 4 feet single and double strip light models. The 2' = 14 watts (1275 lumens), 3' = 21 watts (2000 lumens )and 4' = 28 watts (2750 lumens). So the double strip light model will be double the watts. I've been thinking of buying more lights, so I'm going to list my observations.

The 4' T5 Double Strip light - 56 watts (28 watts each) = 5500 lumens (2750 per bulb). Cost = $35. Replacement Bulb cost = $8 (HD)

A single 4' T5 HO strip light - 54 watts = 5100 lumens. Cost $34-$38. Replacement Bulb cost = $14

Sunleaves Saturn IV (4' 4bulb T8 fixture) - 128 watts = 11200 lumens. Cost $30 no bulbs. Bulb costs for 4 = $14-$16

The only kind of T5 light at my HD was at 3500K.

Now me personally I like the single T5 HO strip light because you can daisy chain 8 of them together. But the chain link is only 6" I think. And of course if you buy lights from HD you don't have to pay for shipping.

Around here all Home Depots (and I think Lowes too) carry them. I never tried them because I guessed that they would not be much different then other standard output fixtures.

They are not the HO (high output) T5s that are sold for aquariums and plant growing. They are just a standard T5 for use in indoor lighting.

I am sure they will grow plants but like other standard fluorescents they will need to be very close to the plant for good growth and may not be able to grow high light orchids even then.

Jonny, you tell me. Are these plants getting enough light from my standard type bulbs?

http://i274.photobucket.com/albums/j...s/IMG_6088.jpg

http://i274.photobucket.com/albums/j...s/IMG_5937.jpg

http://i274.photobucket.com/albums/j...s/IMG_5921.jpg

I don't know about you but the reddness of those leaves indicates high light levels. And most of those were before the addition of the T5 from HD.

I'm sure you are right, the HO lights put out more punch, sure. But the cost difference is also very high. Many people here just can't pay that much for HO, high price, T5 lamps. I offered this up as an alternative.

It's not perfect, but as I am finding out, in orchid growing in the home, it never is perfect. In fact I'm actually more happy with the standard 100 watt, 6500K CFL that are supplying most of the light. I also have two T8 grow lamps in addition to the total of 6 CFLs and the new T5.

Also, my plants are not that close to the fixtures. In most cases the plants are at least 8 inches from them, some more. The biggest problem I have under my lights is getting distance from my fixtures. The shelves don't adjust. So I am stuck with having smaller plants in my enclosure. Again, not perfect, but the plants are not just living but thriving and growing nicely.

Yes, the first two show that the plants are getting plenty of light BUT look how many watts you have on them! 600 watts of CFL and then some T8s. That is a LOT of wattage. I get the same effect from PowerCompacts (PCs) that are only four bulbs at 65 watts each.

Today, I will be hooking up a new four bulb High Output T5 system that is only 54 watts per bulb but has higher ratings than my current PC set up.

In the long run my system will more than pay for its $190 price tag because the bulbs are around $14 instead of the $35 I was paying for the PC bulbs and the total wattage will only be 216 watts so I will save on power.

My only reason for posting originally was to clear up any confusion folks might have between HO T5s and standard T5s. I did not want people to rush out and buy the T5s at the local store and then wonder why they were not performing as other T5 systems are here at the board which are actually HO T5s.

Truth is that those with HO T5s need to call them that to avoid confusion since just saying "T5" really rightly refers to standard T5s.

I will try to remember to do that as I post about lighting.

Point taken. Not all T5's are created equally.

One thing I wanted to clear up, I have almost 750 "equivalent" watts of light on my plants in this enclosure. The 100 watt CFLs are really only drawing 46 actual watts. So it's not fair to say I am drawing more power.

And I think you are correct, people should state either HO T5 or standard T5.

Good luck with your project. Make sure you post pictures!

Oh, you were going buy the equivalent watts. Ok, now I understand. Sorry, I probably should have thought about that.

I have never used CFLs to grow plants. I used to have them as lights until just recently when I switched to LEDs. I have also heard of folks adding them in addition to other lighting to round out lights like they used to do with incandescent lights.

I do have one orchid that is doing horrible in the orchidarium and I have thought about setting it out with its own light. Maybe I will try a CFL.

I saw the fixtures in their ad. The t-5 fixtures at HD are not high output. If you get these you might want to plan your lighting needs accordingly.

But it also has to do with how long the lights are on. Remember, the sun rises in the morning and the peak light levels are only there for about 3 hours and then it starts to set and the light levels drop. Growing these plants under lights is rather different. The timer goes on and Whamo! instant light. And within minutes the light levels are at they're peak. And for how long, 8, 10, 14 hours? That duration has an equalising effect. So maybe the lamps are only putting out 1000 FC at 6" distance, but the lamps are on for 12 hours. All these things need to be taken into consideration.

Very true. What wattage are these T5s
I believe any T5 that is 54 watts is 'HO' and anything else is not...I think this entire HO/NO nomenclature is confusing and pointless.

I was surprised how well T8s were doing for me, even though I do keep my high light plants under a bank of T5s

Whoops, maybe I should have been a little more clearer. The only T5 lights HD has are the regular 28 watts. The T5 HO strip light and the Sunleaves Saturn your going to have to go to a hydroponics store. I got the pricing for the two items from Worms Way.

I don't think it is confusing at all and certainly not pointless. Now I am very used to the terminology since I also keep reef aquariums. In reef keeping there was not just standard and HO but also VHO (very high output.)

Their power to grow higher light corals increased with each "nomenclature." There doesn't appear to be a "VHO" bulb in T5s yet but the use of standard/NO and HO is very helpful and will reflect the light output of the bulb.

I would not have paid for HO T5s if I could get the same lumens and FCs under a standard T5.

Well clearly I'm just an easily confused individual than, eh :poke: :) I can kind of see the point now that I think about it - it's probably important that people know the type of ballast before trying to shove bulbs in. It just makes more sense to me and seems more informative to me to say a 54W T5 ballast vs a 24W T5 ballast, rather than saying "HO vs NO" But to each his own - I don't keep aquariums or coral so I suppose I haven't had the chance to become 'very used' to the terminology.

Whoops, I have HO t5's, not regular t5's. My bad. They run hot but are BRIGHT! So bright I pulled the minicatts out until I could lower the shelf significantly. They were not cheap, but I feel they were worth it.

Yes Sheila, I just received my system yesterday to replace my Power Compact light system and the new system is VERY VERY bright!!! Good grief! lol

Today the orchids are going without light until I can build a stand to raise the lights up higher (don't want to put holes in the cabinet bottom above the orchidarium.)

The PC lights just sat on top of the orchidarium and I thought I could do that and just raise them an inch to cool. No way! While the ballast is completely cool and silent the bulbs get fairly hot plus I am afraid the new intensity will burn my low light orchids at the bottom of the orchidarim which is about 18" from the top.

UGH, more work but I am glad I got it. I went with the 4ft New Wave system since they are fabricated and made in the USA and have a 2 year warranty.

Yep, there are not cheap but mine will easily pay for its self since it uses a little less electricity than the PCs and the bulbs cost less than half!!

Calvin, stating it like that is just as good as saying HO or NO. Both ways help folks know what the other person has or is referring to.

Thanks everyone for the discussion. I have learned something I knew nothing about. I just got into Neos. and was looking for HO T5's but the cost is more than I expected. I think I will have to re-think a little while longer before the investment.

I installed HO T5 4 bulb 4 foot fixtures in my garden last october. The results have been absolutely amazing!! Plus, the best part, is that my power bill went down!

Are "neos" Neofinetia varieties? If so, they can be very expensive (and oh so worth it) so you should be able to afford an HO T5 unit.

I got the New Wave HO T5 fixture 4ft w/4 bulbs (included), made in the USA (not China), with a high quality German reflector and a 2 year warranty for $190.

It is a VERY nice system. I don't have the link for where I got it but if you say your interested, I will dig it out for ya.

Yes, I was talking about Neofinetia Falcata's. If you don't mind digging it up I would appreciate it. Thanks.

Don

Yes, I love the Neofinetia varieties. Also, the Sederia japonicas that come it SO many dwarf and variegated varieties.

Anyway, here is the link to the company and the page with the light I got:

T5 New Wave 4FT Fluorescent Grow Lights - Plantlighting Hydroponics & Grow Lights

They have a cheaper brand but I have not heard as much good stuff about it and I believe they are Chinese knock offs.