Should I replace my bulbs?
- Thread starter ET1
- Start date
If you compare the "medium life expectancy time" (=50% of the lamps fail after that time) of diff. lamps you will get these results:
T12: 13.000 hours, T8( with conventional ballast) 15.000 hrs, T8( with warmstart ballast) 20.000 hrs and T5 (electronical ballast only) 18-20.000 hrs.
with a 12 hour/day photoperiod this corresponds to:
T12: 3 years, T8( with conventional ballast) 3,5 yrs, T8(with warmstart ballast) 4,5 yrs and T5 (electronical ballast only) 4-4,5 yrs.
(tests according to EN 60081/IEC81 (testconditions 2,75 hours on and 0,25 hrs off). )
____________________
How fast does the light production of the lamp decrease in time ?
"Betriebsstunden" = hours of operations
You see that a T12 drops quite fast(after 5000 Hrs) to 80% of its "light-output" in lumen at its start. A T8 reaches 80% after 10.000 hrs. and a T5 (which is nowadays standard in my eyes, T8 and especially T12
should be sent to museums) levels out quite flat and will reach 80% of its maximum output only at the end of its medium life expectancy.
___
So when to change:
T12 (dont change it, remove it and try to get a more modern lamp! at least T8, better: T5!!) after 5250 hrs (with 12 hrs light per day = after 14 months)
T8 "standard" (like from Hagen/GLO) after 10.000 hrs (27 months)
T8 fullspectrum (like from JBL) after 15.000 hrs (3,5 yrs)
T5 when the lamp do not shine anylonger ( (to be expected after 3,5 -4,5 yrs)
Dont forget to check regularily if your reflectors are clean, and wipe off your lamps (when they are cold and electricity is off) to remove dirt, dust and residues from calcium...
Source:
Robert Miehle's great site about light in aquaristics:
http://www.hereinspaziert.de/Lampen/Leuchtstoff.htm
bye, au-revoir à Canada;
j'espére que je pouvais t'aider!
Jörg
T12: 13.000 hours, T8( with conventional ballast) 15.000 hrs, T8( with warmstart ballast) 20.000 hrs and T5 (electronical ballast only) 18-20.000 hrs.
with a 12 hour/day photoperiod this corresponds to:
T12: 3 years, T8( with conventional ballast) 3,5 yrs, T8(with warmstart ballast) 4,5 yrs and T5 (electronical ballast only) 4-4,5 yrs.
(tests according to EN 60081/IEC81 (testconditions 2,75 hours on and 0,25 hrs off). )
____________________
How fast does the light production of the lamp decrease in time ?
"Betriebsstunden" = hours of operations
You see that a T12 drops quite fast(after 5000 Hrs) to 80% of its "light-output" in lumen at its start. A T8 reaches 80% after 10.000 hrs. and a T5 (which is nowadays standard in my eyes, T8 and especially T12
should be sent to museums) levels out quite flat and will reach 80% of its maximum output only at the end of its medium life expectancy.___
So when to change:
T12 (dont change it, remove it and try to get a more modern lamp! at least T8, better: T5!!) after 5250 hrs (with 12 hrs light per day = after 14 months)
T8 "standard" (like from Hagen/GLO) after 10.000 hrs (27 months)
T8 fullspectrum (like from JBL) after 15.000 hrs (3,5 yrs)
T5 when the lamp do not shine anylonger ( (to be expected after 3,5 -4,5 yrs)
Dont forget to check regularily if your reflectors are clean, and wipe off your lamps (when they are cold and electricity is off) to remove dirt, dust and residues from calcium...
Source:
Robert Miehle's great site about light in aquaristics:
http://www.hereinspaziert.de/Lampen/Leuchtstoff.htm
bye, au-revoir à Canada;
j'espére que je pouvais t'aider!
Jörg