time to change out bulbs

PaulF · December 4, 2016

It has been three or four years since new tubes have been put into my shop light fluorescent system. In the past the tubes have been replaced a few at a time with either cool white or warm white whichever brand and wattage I can find.

This has not seemed to have been a problem with how plants have grown. I have tried to keep up with all the lighting threads but I am not ready to replace my lighting system. Tube replacement seems the way for me to go.

Questions: the T-12s probably need to be replaced by T-8s. Do I need to stay with my old system of one soft and one warm bulb per shop light? Will the new T-8s fit into my shop light fixtures? These do not have ballasts to retro, so will the new tubes work? Will the replacement LED bulbs I see at Costco work as a grow light? They are certainly a lot brighter than the old fluorescents we replaced in a regular lighting fixture.

I only have six-4 ft. 2 bulb shoplights as my growing system so I don't need a lot of bulbs but I would like to do it right. Let me hear so ideas, please.

Paul

KarenO · December 4, 2016

For seedlings only, not attempting to grow to flower and fruit? If so and if you always had success before, stick with the cool/ warm regular tubes. Inexpensive to buy and use and works just fine for seedlings. Use the money you save for heat mats, timers or other things that make growing easier and fun.

December 4, 2016	#1
PaulF Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Brownville, Ne Posts: 3,295	time to change out bulbs It has been three or four years since new tubes have been put into my shop light fluorescent system. In the past the tubes have been replaced a few at a time with either cool white or warm white whichever brand and wattage I can find. This has not seemed to have been a problem with how plants have grown. I have tried to keep up with all the lighting threads but I am not ready to replace my lighting system. Tube replacement seems the way for me to go. Questions: the T-12s probably need to be replaced by T-8s. Do I need to stay with my old system of one soft and one warm bulb per shop light? Will the new T-8s fit into my shop light fixtures? These do not have ballasts to retro, so will the new tubes work? Will the replacement LED bulbs I see at Costco work as a grow light? They are certainly a lot brighter than the old fluorescents we replaced in a regular lighting fixture. I only have six-4 ft. 2 bulb shoplights as my growing system so I don't need a lot of bulbs but I would like to do it right. Let me hear so ideas, please. Paul __________________ there's two things money can't buy; true love and home grown tomatoes.

December 4, 2016	#2
KarenO Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Vancouver Island Posts: 5,931	For seedlings only, not attempting to grow to flower and fruit? If so and if you always had success before, stick with the cool/ warm regular tubes. Inexpensive to buy and use and works just fine for seedlings. Use the money you save for heat mats, timers or other things that make growing easier and fun.