How to Read Florescent Bulb Codes

[StatFreak]

Jay
«on July 11, 2006, 06:40:31 PM »

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What size are the IGT bulbs ?? the same as Marks Universal bulb or are they a standard size....


CaptainHappy
«on: July 11, 2006, 11:22:37 PM »   

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IGT S+ uses F15T8/CW in 18 inch length (Sylvania P/N in this case) as best I remember...

Be careful at the store to get Cool White as shown in the part number if you like the nice pure bluish white...  This is a personal preference of course, but alot of stores have WW, stands for Warm White, as well, and these are the ones that have more of a reddish orange tint to the White lite. 

F is florescent
15 is for 15 watts
T is for Tubular bulb.
8 is the Diameter of tube in of eighths of an inch. T8 is 1", T12 is 1.5", etc
CW is for Cool White

Captainhappy
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[SLOTMAN]

I wanted to add my 2 cents:

A lot of bulbs are being rated on the Kelvin scale now so it is nice to know what equals what.

4100 aka 741 equals CW cool white
5000 aka 750 equals DL day light
3500 aka 735 equals warm white
3000 is a non classified lamp which is a dull pink light

The higher in the kelvin scale the whiter the lamp is.  The wattage stays the same but your eyes perceive it as a brighter light.

A T-8 lamp is considered an electronic lamp which runs on an electronic ballast which will run longer cooler and doesnt hum like the t-12 magnetic
A T-12 is a lamp for a magnetic ballast but will actually run on a electronic ballast you dont get the power factor though.

Electronic ballast's start in 0 degree weather where a magnetic will need at least 32 degrees and then will strobe and flicker until it comes up to full brightness.

Different lamp makers throw extra numbers in there to confuse people which mean absolutely nothing.

Phillips uses ALTO which means low mercury
Sylvania starts their lamp number with a FO and they use the term octron

I could go on and on but this is some of the important points.