Before comparing the T5 & T8, let us begin with the introduction of these two items.
The “T” in T5 & T8 stands for “tube”. It is a simple way to identify this form of lighting from other fluorescent bulbs. The numbers “5” and “8” represent the size of the lamp.
5 = 5/8 inches (16mm)
8 = 8/8 inches (26mm) = 1 inch
T5 and T8 are two of the most commonly used lighting throughout every industry. You can use them in an office, a supermarket or even in your own home. The length of T5 & T8 are expressed in feet (ft), and the standard length is 4ft.
However, some of the users are confused with T5 and T8 tube. What are the differences? Here are the 5 points for you to differentiate between T5 and T8 tube.
- Size
From the physical view, the difference between T5 and T8 would be the diameter of the tube and the length. T5 is smaller in size, it tends to be slightly shorter than T8 as well as smaller in diameter. Hence, T5 can be used with thin lamps. This factor is crucial to consider when looking at your fixture as these 2 tubes are not interchangeable.
- Energy Saving
T5 tends to save more energy compared to T8. T5 has a higher lumen output. 2 units of T5 tube will be emit more brightness than 3 units of T8. This fact makes T5 a cost-efficient choice. Same length, similar level of brightness, but T8 consumes much more energy.
- Lifespan
T5 has a longer lifespan than T8, which is about 20,000 hours.
- Ballast
T5 uses a smaller ballast, which can be used with thin lamp. This will be an advantage for you if the installation area is not big enough to fit in a T8 tube.
- Lumen
Lumen maintenance value of T5 is about 95%, which is higher than T8. To give an example, imagine a standard 4ft T5 tube of 36 watt and a 4ft T8 tube with a wattage of 36. The lumen of the T5 will be around 3,600 lumen whereas the T8 will only yield around 3300 lumen.
When choosing this type of linear fluorescent tubes, there are several other factors that need to be considered. For example, both T5 & T8 are available in various color temperatures (K). This factor is as important as the lumen output. Different areas of installation will require different color temperatures. To list down a few, for a working area, it is suitable to use Cool Daylight (6500K) and in an area meant for relaxation such as a living room, Warm White (3000K) is a great choice. Sometimes, the color temperature of the tube will slightly affect the lumen output. If you do not need as much lumen, a smaller tube will be a better option since it offers lower lumen and wattage consumption.
