{"title":"How to Select your Fluorescent Bulb","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"category-description\"\u003e\n\u003cscript src=\"\/content\/vspfiles\/prettyPhoto\/js\/jquery.js\" type=\"text\/javascript\" charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\n\/\/\u003c![CDATA[\n\/\/]]\u003e\n\u003c\/script\u003e \n\u003clink rel=\"stylesheet\" href=\"\/content\/vspfiles\/prettyPhoto\/css\/prettyPhoto.css\" type=\"text\/css\" media=\"screen\" charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e \n\u003cscript src=\"\/content\/vspfiles\/prettyPhoto\/js\/jquery.prettyPhoto.js\" type=\"text\/javascript\" charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\n\/\/\u003c![CDATA[\n\/\/]]\u003e\n\u003c\/script\u003e \n\u003cscript type=\"text\/javascript\" charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\n\/\/\u003c![CDATA[\n$(document).ready(function(){\n    $(\"a[rel^='prettyPhoto']\").prettyPhoto();\n  });\n\/\/]]\u003e\n\u003c\/script\u003e \n\n\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cspan style=\"font-family: Arial; font-size: 24px; font-weight: bold;\"\u003eHOW TO CHOOSE AN FLUORESCENT BULB\u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/content\/vspfiles\/assets\/images\/flu_banner.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"prettyPhoto\"\u003e\n    \u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: Arial; font-size: 24px; font-weight: bold;\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n    \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: Arial;\"\u003eMost elements of a fluorescent light source cannot be changed without first changing your fixture or internal ballast. The wattage, length, shape and base type of fluorescent bulb are set by the fixture characteristics. You pretty much need to match exactly what you have and should have the bulb model number in hand when ordering: \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: Arial;\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n    \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: Arial;\"\u003eHow to interrupt a common fluorescent ordering code F32T8\/741\/ECO\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: Arial;\"\u003e(F) Fluorescent (32) Watts (T) Tublar (8) Diameter in eights of an inch 8\/8 or 1” (7) CRI (41) Color Temp (ECO) Brand Information or other output\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: Arial;\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n    \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: Arial;\"\u003e(F) Fluorescent - your bulb is obviously a fluroescent\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: Arial;\"\u003e(32) Watts - This one uses 32 watts. This number can range anywhere from 5 to 120 watt. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: Arial;\"\u003e(T) Tublar - your bulb is a straight tube not a U-shape or C-circle shape. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: Arial;\"\u003e(8) Diameter in eights of an inch 8\/8 or 1” . This bulb is a T8. Other common diameters are thicker T12 and skinnier T5\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: Arial;\"\u003e(7) CRI - Color rendering of lamp - see below. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: Arial;\"\u003e(41) Color Temp - Color of light itself - usually either 27-warm yellowish, 41-cool white, 51- daylight bright\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: Arial;\"\u003e(ECO) Brand Information or other output such as low mercury or high output designations. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: Arial;\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n    \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: Arial;\"\u003eThese factors should be considered when selecting a fluorescent lamp. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n  \u003cul style=\"\"\u003e\n    \u003cli\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: Arial;\"\u003eLIGHT OUTPUT (LUMENS)\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n    \u003cli\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: Arial;\"\u003eCOLOR RENDERING INDEX (CRI)\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n    \u003cli\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: Arial;\"\u003eCORRELATED COLOR TEMPERATURE (CCT)\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n    \u003cli\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: Arial;\"\u003eSIZE \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n    \u003cli\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: Arial;\"\u003eSHAPE\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n    \u003cli\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: Arial;\"\u003eBASE TYPE\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: Arial;\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n    \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: Arial;\"\u003eLIGHT OUTPUT (LUMENS)\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: Arial;\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n    \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: Arial;\"\u003eWhen considering light output, wattage is something to keep in mind. Wattage is not an indicator of lamp brightness. Wattage measures energy consumed by the lamp and actual the Light output is measured in lumens or units of luminous flux. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: Arial;\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n    \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: Arial;\"\u003eCOLOR RENDERING INDEX (CRI)\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: Arial;\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n    \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: Arial;\"\u003eCRI is a lamps ability to render an objects true color based on a scale of 100, with a 100 being a incandescent lamp.  \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: Arial;\"\u003eFluorescents with a CRI of 70 and under are typically in low quality lamps. Colors in the room will appear dull and washed out. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: Arial;\"\u003eFluorescents with a CRI of 70-79 are appropriate in commercial applications. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: Arial;\"\u003eFluorescents with a CRI of 80-89 are appropriate in commercial and residential applications.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: Arial;\"\u003eFluorescents with a CRI of 90-99 are appropriate in high end retail or graphic businesses where true color is important. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: Arial;\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n    \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: Arial;\"\u003eCORRELATED COLOR TEMPERATURE (CCT)\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: Arial;\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n    \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: Arial;\"\u003eCCT is a numerical measurement of the color appearance of a light source measured in degrees Kelvin within a range of 2700K to 6500K. 2700K being the warmest closest to yellow and 6500 being the coolest and closest to sunlight.  \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: Arial;\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n    \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: Arial;\"\u003eSIZE\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n  \u003cul style=\"\"\u003e\n    \u003cli\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: Arial;\"\u003eYou have many sizes to choose from when selecting a fluorescent lamp, common sizes are T12, T8, and T5. The T stands for tubular and the number stands for diameter in eights of an inch. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n    \u003cli\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: Arial;\"\u003eT12 are the least efficient tube. They have a high manufacturing cost and are used in rapid start circuits, and ballast systems. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n    \u003cli\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: Arial;\"\u003eT8 are common in commercial and residential settings and are more efficient than T12’s. They have a long life, wide range of color temperatures, low cost, and high output versions are available. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n    \u003cli\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: Arial;\"\u003eThere are two Types of T5 tubes. North American T5 tubes are preheat lamp and requires starters and ballast. European T5 is 2 in shorter than North American and is equal light output to a T8. High output versions are available. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: Arial;\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n    \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: Arial;\"\u003eSHAPE\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: Arial;\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n    \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: Arial;\"\u003eYou have many shapes to consider when buying a fluorescent lamp.  Fluorescents often come in linear shaped tubes, bent shaped U-tubes, and circline shaped.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: Arial;\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n    \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: Arial;\"\u003eBASE TYPE\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: Arial;\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n    \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: Arial;\"\u003eMost common fluorescent base is a medium Bi-pin. Other bases include mini bi-pin, recessed DC, single bi-pin, 4pin, and a 2Gx13.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","products":[],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0682\/3726\/3048\/collections\/apinfxn6y__48905.jpg?v=1752657637","url":"https:\/\/plumlighting.com\/collections\/how-to-select-your-fluorescent-bulb.oembed","provider":"Superior Lighting","version":"1.0","type":"link"}