Linear Fluorescent Tubes

Quick Guide

Price Guide $5.00-20.00 per bulb

Where to Buy DIY Outlets and Specialty Lighting Stores

Energy savings CFLs use 80% less energy than traditional incandescent light bulbs.

Lifespan 10,000 hours.

Features Common linear shapes. Various wattages. Various 'whites' plus many other primary colours.

Use them Hidden task and feature lighting. Small diameter versions are particularly suitable for under cupboard task lighting in the kitchen. Store rooms, pantries, wine cellars, garages. Some feature lights. In places where light is on for many hours.

Don't use them Not particularly attractive so any exposed applications need careful thought. With dimmers (unless special dimmer versions). With sensors and other electronic switches. For task lighting other than in garages and workshops.

Brief description

Linear fluorescents lamps – the type you often see in offices – work differently from incandescent light bulbs since light is produced by electricity flowing through a gas. Available in three 'whites' – warm white (2700K), cool white (4000K), and cool daylight (6500K) – linear fluorescent lamps can bring a great colour lighting affect to specific decorative designs.

Unlike their CFL cousins that contain the electronic control gear they need to work in their base, for linear fluorescent tubes this functionality is contained in the light fitting and is known as the ballast or choke. Light fittings containing older magnetic ballasts are often far less efficient than newer electronic fittings now available.

 

Advantages

Fluorescents are much more efficient at converting electricity into light than standard incandescent light bulbs: up to eight times more efficient. Long tubes evenly spread the light across the room so they are more suitable for lighting large open spaces like kitchens, storerooms, workshops or garages.

 

Disadvantages

When operating 26mm (T8) lamps using magnetic control gear (control gear is also known as ballasts or chokes), the tubes do not instantly switch on like traditional incandescent light bulbs. They take a second or two to “strike” and this can make them less suitable for places where the lights will be switched on and off frequently. However 26mm (T8) lamps can be operated using high frequency electronic control gear in place of the conventional magnetic gear and the lamp will switch on more or less instantly and will appear to be flicker free. The modern 16mm (T5) lamps only work on high frequency electronic control gear and are equally free of flicker and delayed start characteristics.

Most are not suitable for dimming by conventional household dimmers but can be successfully dimmed when using suitable electronic control gear with dimmable capabilities. These dimming options are probably more suitable to the ‘working’ environment rather than residential applications. Fluorescent tubes are also less suitable for spot lighting.

 

Ongoing development

Linear fluorescents tubes have progressed markedly – a standard 1200mm ('four foot') tube that used to be 40 watts is now 36 watts, with no loss of light output. There's also a new generation of 16mm tubes commonly known as T5 on the market and the High Output (HO) versions of these tubes can provide even more energy savings than the traditional 26mm (T8) tubes and fittings. These 16mm fluorescents are fast evolving into very high efficiency versions that provide more and more energy savings and increased light output.