• The actual lifespan of T5 lamps.

  • Stacy6866

It's time to replace the bulbs. But after reading the specifications provided by the manufacturers, I started to think... Usually, we change bulbs once a year, but manufacturers set a lifespan of 20,000 hours. This means the bulbs should last 4-5 years. So I wondered who is smarter, us or the scientists (engineers) who design and produce the bulbs. What does everyone think about this?

Alexander

I can say that the intensity of the light flow (I'll refrain from discussing the spectrum, as it's difficult to measure with the naked eye) of one-year-old bulbs and new ones is visibly different. Therefore, they will probably last a long time, but their efficiency decreases exponentially.

Diana7891

We go to the Osram website, select a lamp, and see something like this. Off-topic Rated LLMF at 2,000 h 0.95 Rated LLMF at 4,000 h 0.92 Rated LLMF at 6,000 h 0.91 Rated LLMF at 8,000 h 0.90 Rated LLMF at 12,000 h 0.90 Rated LLMF at 16,000 h 0.90 Rated LLMF at 20,000 h 0.89 This is the coefficient of the new lamp's output. When using good electronic ballasts with cathode preheating.

Heather6148

So, after 20,000 hours, the lamp loses 5 percent? Did I understand correctly?

Noah1632

1-0.89=0.11. 11 percent.

Stephen5841

I don't know, I use Sylvania. I have four of them, and when you change a pair, the difference is very noticeable.

Todd

It turns out that after 4 years of use, the lamp deteriorates by 10 percent. This gives you something to think about. Today, I replaced one white lamp with a new Coralstar, and I didn't notice any difference compared to the one that had been in use for 8 months.

Joseph6461

The bugs will notice.

April3499

Dim, you are wrong. Check the manufacturers' websites for lamps; they have technical specifications that indicate the approximate lifespan. T8 lamps are rated for 8,000 hours, while T5 lamps are rated for 20,000 hours (these are average figures). Users will notice the replacement of the lamps because they have already adapted to the old ones. If you remember, it's highly undesirable to replace all the lamps at once.

Monica

Well, I personally used T5 in freshwater for up to 2 years... They work. And there is still potential. But when you install new ones, you are amazed at how much brighter they are...

Jade

Again, I change all the bulbs in the freshwater right away, and everyone is always satisfied.

Chelsea

I don't know, I've been using T5 for 4 years and it's fine. I install new ones, and you can't tell the difference by eye. The only problem is that the electronic ballasts like ELT don't ignite the old lamps, but the well-known German ones do just fine.

James5103

What kind of lamps are they? Could it be the manufacturer?

Robert800

Or in the type, for example, if it's NOT but NOT - then I fully believe that they will work for 5 years, but what's the point?

Michelle13

Well, maybe so...