T8 tubes are simply 1 inch in diameter versus the 1.5 inch diameter of T12 tubes. In an effort to make LED tube lights compatible with the internal dimensions of most fixtures, you will find that most LED tube lights feature a T8 or 1 inch diameter. They can indeed be used in T12 fixtures.Aug 19, 2016
Can you use a T8 LED bulb without a ballast?
Most T8 LED bulbs do not need a ballast. The only type of LED tube that requires a ballast is plug-and-play. Used as direct replacements for fluorescent tubes, plug-and-play LED tube lights install without fixture rewiring, and operate off the existing fluorescent ballast.
Are T12 bulbs still being made?
High-output and high-CRI T12s are still manufactured today, but production is down. Second, magnetic ballasts – which conventional T12s require to run – are no longer manufactured in the U.S.Dec 23, 2019
Can you replace a T12 fluorescent bulb with an LED bulb?
In an effort to make LED tube lights compatible with the internal dimensions of most fixtures, you will find that most LED tube lights feature a T8 or 1 inch diameter. They can indeed be used in T12 fixtures.Aug 19, 2016
Can you replace a T12 lamp with a T8 lamp?
The easiest and lowest price option to replace a T12 is a T8 linear fluorescent. They have become the go-to option for pre-existing T12s. If you still have magnetic ballasts, switching to a T8 will require a ballast swap. Another option is to move forward with an LED retrofit.Dec 23, 2019
Is T8 and T12 interchangeable?
T12 primarily run off a magnetic ballasts and T8 bulbs operate on electronic ballasts. ... So the bottom line is that these are not interchangeable and if you're going to upgrade from a T12 to a T8 bulb, then you also have to change out the ballast.
What happens if you put a T12 bulb in a T8 fixture?
If you place T12 tubes in a fixture with a T8 ballast, you will wear out the ballast and have to replace it. If you place T8 tubes in a fixture with a T12 ballast, then the tubes will have a shorter life due to a higher current through the tube.
How do I know if my fixture is T8 or T12?
If no markings are available, the size in diameter of the tube is the easiest way to determine the type you have installed. T8 tubes are 1-inch in diameter and T12 tubes are 1 1/2 -inch.Jun 3, 2015
Which is better T8 or T12?
The smaller the lamps the more energy efficient they are. T8 bulbs use about 35% less electricity to produce the same amount of light as a T12. ... For some applications, one T5 bulb can replace two T12 bulbs, providing even greater energy savings (a process called “de-lamping.”)Oct 9, 2015
Why are T12 lamps being discontinued?
In response, Congress made legislation stating that T12 linear fluorescents and other inefficient lighting technologies would no longer be manufactured. This legislation was put into action in 2012 with the DOE regulating T12 linear fluorescent lamps as a way of encouraging consumers to be more energy efficient.Dec 21, 2017
What are the brightest fluorescent lights?
Fluorescent T5s T5s are fluorescent tubes that are 5/8 of an inch in diameter. These are the newest development in the fluorescent family. Although they are the smallest, they are the most energy efficient and brightest. In fact, some T5s last up to 90,000 hours.Sep 20, 2019