First, size of lamp T5′s range in size as well as do T8′s, but for this article I will be discussing T5HO’s and T8′s for 4 foot fluorescent  fixtures.  T5 or T5ho’s are measure in metrics and are slightly shorts then 4 feet or about 46 inches long. When buying a T5 fixture usually the fixture will measure 4 feet and the difference in size of the lamp will be made up by a extended sockets.  On T 8 lamps the lamp measures from end of the pins 48 inches altogether and will fit a 4 foot fixture perfectly.  The diameter of the lamps very  T5 are 5 tenths of any hence the 5 in t5 and t8s are 8t tenth of an inch.

Next  wattage, again several T5s out there  varying in sizes which also vary the wattages for the lamps.  T5 4 foot lamps vary from 28 watt non high output to 54 watt High output  and the new 49 watt t5  or T5HO lamp. T8 lamps also vary wattages from length.  Lamps for a 4 foot light fixture  range from 24, 26 watt reduced energy bulb to 32 watt standard output which lumen output is controlled by the ballast.

This brings us to lumen output

T5 28 watt lamp equals about 2800 Lumens per lamp position

T5ho  54 watt lamp equals about 5000 Lumens per lamp position

T8 32 watt with a low power factor ballast equals about 2100 to 2300 lumens per lamp position

T8 32 watt with a normal ballast factor ballast equals about 2500 to 2700 lumens per lamp position

T8 32 watt with a high ballast factor ballast equals about 2800 to 3000 lumens per lamp position

To answer the energy savings question from the research that I have see, head to head, lumen to lumen equality vs. watts output the t8 fixture for the same amount of lumen is more efficient by about 3 percent .

So with this all said here is your fixture break down:

4 lamp 54 watt T5HO fixture equals 20,000 lumen output one to one swap with a 6 Lamp high ballast factor  T8 32 which equals  18000 lumens watt fixture this is comparing a high bay fixture.  6 lamps T5ho fixture approximately equals the output of a 400 watt metal halide when new before the 3 year diminish.

Please Let me know if this help clarify this!

James Abraham

The most common high-bay applications include industrial manufacturing, gymnasiums, warehouses, and other warehouse type retailers. There are several types of lighting systems that can be used in a high-bay system setting. Some of these include:

- Metal halide high-intensity discharge (HID) lamps
- High-pressure sodium (HID) lamps
- High-output linear fluorescent T5 (HO T5) lamps
- Electrode-less induction fluorescent lamps

The HO T5 lamps use the least amount of mercury. This helps to reduce health risks in case of a lamp breakage during some point in use.

Since energy efficiency is an important aspect of today’s manufacturers and consumers, it is important to consider which high-bay lighting systems are the most energy efficient. Here is a good example of what we mean:

Four HO T5 lamps or two induction fluorescent lamps are required to run the exact same amount of light as just one metal halide HID lamp can run. This use of lighting will not only save you money in the long run, but it provides the exact same amount of light. It is a good place to start when you are trying to be energy efficient with your high-bay lighting systems.

Before a buyer purchases a high-bay lighting system, it is important for them to consult a professional. This will help the buyer analyze the entire system for energy efficiency, lighting levels needed, and appropriate color rendering.

What is High Hat Lighting?

High hat lighting, or recessed lighting, gives a sleek, contoured look to your living space. It provides a larger amount of light, can spotlight special pieces or features of your home, and tends to open up spaces so that they seem larger. It is efficient lighting conveniently placed out of the way. Whether you’re building new or fixing up old, recessed lighting can be a crucial component to the look and livability of your space.

How Should High Hat Lights be Installed?

Once you have decided on high hat lighting, you will need to give some consideration as to placement. Generally speaking, you should follow these rules of thumb:

• Be sure to allow enough space between lighting fixtures. Typically, 4 inch fixtures should be approximately 4 feet apart; 6 inch fixtures about 6 feet apart. Lights closer together make the room seem cluttered.
• Avoid placing lights in rows down the center of a room. This gives an industrial look.
• Center fixtures 1 to 1 ½ feet in front of special features you are trying to highlight. Consider using several lights shining on an object from different angles.
• Be careful when installing recessed lights intended for reading; your head and shoulders might block the light if high hats are improperly positioned.

Where Should High Hat Fixtures be Used?

Really, the sky is the limit. Think outside the box when imagining how you will utilize this clever way of lighting. Here are a few suggestions:

• Put fixtures around the perimeter of a small room in order to make the space seem larger.
• Think about using high hat lights in your kitchen. They work well when placed above the sink, along counter tops, and/or underneath your cabinets.
• Use recessed lighting in your renovated basement. This type of lighting is perfect for low ceilings and gives sufficient lighting without casting shadows and creating unpleasant dark corners.

Commonly used as industrial lighting, a 4 foot 6 lamp T8 fixture provides an excellent option for illuminating a large area. In this fixture, the T8 bulbs are 1 inch in diameter, 4 feet in length and the fixture contains a total of 6 bulbs. This type of lighting is best used in extremely large spaces with high ceilings that must be sufficiently illuminated such as:

• Schools
• Stores
• Warehouses
• Gymnasiums
• Factories
• Garages
• Workspaces

When selecting lighting for such a large space, energy efficiency is an important consideration. In this 4 Foot 6 Lamp T8 fixture, the wattage per lamp is 32 watts and for the fixture as a whole 226 watts. To understand what this means and how it relates to energy costs, we need to first understand a few terms:

• Wattage: a measurement of how much power the lamp uses.
• Kilowatt-hour (kWh): a unit of energy that represents the use of 1000 watts of power for 1 hour
• Cost per kWh: the amount your energy provider charges you for 1 kWh – this rate is typically found on your bill

Now we can determine the cost of running a light fixture using this simple method:

• Multiply the total wattage (note that 1000W=1kW) by the time the lamp is used to get kilowatt-hours (kWh)
• Multiply the kWh by the cost per kilowatt hour

In this fixture, the total wattage is 226 watts. Let’s say that you use this one fixture for 10 hours a day, giving you a daily energy use of 2.26 kilowatt-hours. If you pay 15 cents per kWh to your electric provider, each day you would pay 33.9 cents to use this fixture.

High bay lighting is the most common type of lighting used in areas that have high ceilings or need to be illuminated from a great distance of fifteen feet or more. You most commonly find bay lighting in such places as arenas, stadiums, gyms, factories, warehouses, loading docks and more. While high bay lights have traditionally used High Intensity Discharge lights or florescent lights, many places are changing over to LED lights. Here is why.

• LED high bay lights are more energy efficient. They use smaller watts of power than other lights and a savings up to 80% can be seen in electric bills.
• They last for a longer time period and therefore need to be changed less often. Up to ten times the duration of other light bulbs.
• They do not heat up when they are on, like other lights do. This can decrease the need for air conditioning by as much as 20%. Another way to save on the electric bill.
• They are more durable and withstand the test of time. They are very resistant to damage and are basically maintenance free. They do not break easily if bumped or dropped.
• LED high bay lighting is flicker free, where florescent lighting, for example, can emit a great deal of flickering.
• Less light distortion is noticed with LED lighting.
• Static buildup is minimal with LED lighting.
• Light uniformity is greatly improved when high bay LED lighting is used. As much as 8% better light distribution is reported.

Initially, the cost of using LED high bay lighting is higher, but the improvement in quality and the cost savings later on makes the lights worth it. In the end LED lighting is more environmentally friendly and provides higher light quality than other high bay lighting options.

Full Spectrum Industrial Lighting

Full spectrum lighting provides lighting that is closest to the natural light of the sun. It is the type of lighting that is usually the most beneficial to those that work in office environments. Swing arm lamps are often used as the fixture for full spectrum lighting as they allow the individual using them to be able to direct the light right to the task at hand.

Halogen Lighting

Halogen lighting is known for producing white light that is very bright. Halogen lighting is perfect for some people and terrible for others. It can either produce a glare or provide a great contrast, depending on the person who is using it. The one thing to be careful about when using halogen lighting is how much heat the lights generate.

Florescent lighting

Florescent lighting is the best type of lighting to use when you are trying to illuminate a large area. The light is a blue white color and is able to disperse without leaving shadowy areas. It also is a great choice for energy efficiency and is very often used in industrial light fixtures in public places like grocery stores.

Incandescent lighting

Incandescent lighting is more yellow in tone and provides a direct light making it very useful in areas where assembling items is taking place. These types of lights are also commonly found in regular table and desk lamps.

High Intensity Discharge Lighting (HID)

HID lighting is similar to halogen lighting. Yet, industrial light fixtures that use HID lighting do not get as hot and tend to use less energy.

If you have ever been to an event after dark, in an outdoor stadium have you thought about all that goes into making the lighting just right? Most people haven’t and would be surprised at the science behind it. Every outdoor stadium, in order to provide good quality lighting, must be set up just right and utilize a variety of industrial light fixtures. Whether the lighting is for a sports event a concert or some other type of event, lighting must be installed just right for the athletes, performers, audience, etc.

Here is a look at some of things that impact how industrial lighting is installed and utilized inside outdoor stadiums:

• Lighting must be without glare or shadows and must illuminate the entire playing field, stage or and any other area that is being utilized by the players or performers. If it is not, safety could be an issue.
• In the audience there must be enough lighting to allow spectators to feel safe, yet at the same time it must also be without glare and shadowy areas must be non-existent.
• The lighting balance between the playing field, stage, etc must work well with the audience lighting.
• The industrial light fixtures must provide illumination that allows audience members to be able to see the game or whatever else they are watching. Audience members will want to be able to see uniform colors, numbers, costumes, etc. easily so they can distinguish between one person and another or one team and another.
• If the event is being broadcasted on television another entire element is added to the lighting criteria. Additional industrial lighting may be needed in order to provide good quality light for filming.
• Industrial lighting inside outdoor stadiums must also meet all local ordinances. Stadium lighting is more often than not governed by local ordinances and only so much light is allowed to spill outside the stadium.

Outdoor stadium industrial lighting installation requires a great deal of expertise. Professional installers should be consulted. If even one light fixture is installed incorrectly or a wrong fixture is chosen, above listed criteria might not be met.

Lighting in sports arenas is especially tricky to get just right and experts are needed to asses lighting needs. Illumination of the entire stadium must be perfect. The following should be considered when installing industrial lighting fixtures in these venues.

• For the players, glare must be at a minimum. If there is glare on the playing area players safety and performance are at stake.
• For the players, no shadowy areas can be present on the playing area, as this can cause players to trip, fall, become injured or just not be able to play to their full capacity.
• For the spectators glare also needs to be at a minimum so that they are able to see the game from wherever they are sitting inside the arena.
• For the spectators there also can be no areas with shadows that would prohibit them having a great view.
• Spectators pay money and they have certain expectations of what they are paying for in regards to the ability to view the game. They expect to be able to recognize the players, easily pick out their team’s colors and at the same time be able to view entire play by play action. Perfectly installed industrial light fixtures are necessary for this to happen.
• For the players and the spectators, there must just the right amount of lighting to illuminate the score board for all to see.
• For the viewers at home, if the game is being broadcast, lighting must also be set up for filming.

The next time you are at a sports arena to see your favorite team play, look around and take notice of all the different industrial lighting fixtures that all play a part in making the game enjoyable.

Good night time lighting in mall parking lots can make or break customer volume after dark. Malls that have properly lit parking lots tend to bring in more business after dark, showing just how important it is for malls to install and maintain good industrial light fixtures.

Mall parking lot lighting needs to first and foremost make customers feel safe. When a parking lot is dark and not properly lit, customers tend to shop elsewhere. Parking lot lighting should provide good visibility with light levels being as close as possible to natural day time lighting. Glare control is also important.

Good industrial lighting fixtures will provide lighting that not only allows pedestrians in the lot to see where they are going but also helps motorist. Motorists need to be able to easily judge the distance from where they are to other fixtures like poles and structures as well as moving pedestrians. If parking lots are poorly lit the area is prone to more accidents. Pedestrian’s chances of slipping and falling increase and the chance of a motorist hitting a structure or a pedestrian are also multiplied.

Good Industrial lighting fixtures in mall parking lots will also provide angled lighting that will enhance the ambiance, which in turn can increase business. Proper lighting can showcase the outside of mall stores, showing off decorations and/or store displays almost beckoning to potential customers. It can also enhance outdoor landscaped areas and just make the overall outside of the mall more appealing to the eye.

Industrial lighting specialists are able to easily analyze mall parking lots and lay out a lighting plan that will be ideal. High poles usually provide the best lighting range, but must be within code limits for spill lighting. Bright white industrial light fixtures are also commonly used as they provide light that is close to natural day lighting.

When installing industrial lighting fixtures there are different options available. If you want to keep some money in your pocket and be environmentally conscious, then consider the following for your high bay lighting and industrial lighting fixtures. Review the pros and cons listed here so you can make an educated choice.We all want to reduce our impact on the environment and even now there are choices to help reduce electricity consumption. The choice between light emitting diode (LED) industrial lighting and fluorescent lighting are two of the more common choices.

When choosing between LED and fluorescent industrial light fixtures, consider the following:

Life Span

LED lighting can last around 60,000 to 100,000 hours of continuous use, depending on the situation and of the materials used to construct the LED. The more pure the materials used in construction the longer life the LED will have.

During the life of an LED industrial lighting fixture, the light radiated will remain consistent throughout its surface. During the last approximately 30% of its life the intensity will gradually fade throughout the entire surface. As the light intensity fades it is an indication that new LED industrial lighting fixtures should be installed.

Compare this to the average fluorescent light fixture. Fluorescent lighting used in industrial lighting fixtures last around 10,000-15,000 hours. When a fluorescent light is installed it is very efficient and offers an even distribution of light. Unlike an LED fixture that gradually fades throughout the entire surface, as the bulb ages in a fluorescent tube, it becomes darker at the ends. This gives an uneven lighted surface.

Energy Efficiency

LED lighting generally uses about half the energy of a fluorescent bulb.

Cost Considerations

Initial purchase of LED industrial lighting fixtures is higher than most other lighting options due to the construction of LED lights. LED lights themselves are not ‘bulbs’ but are solid and reflect the light. Because they are solid makes them superior for shipping as there are no breakable parts to be worried about.

The light is made from electrons that are moving and release energy that creates the light. Originally LED were manufactured as single diodes to be used in small flashlights or as a light source as in a dashboard of a car. Now manufacturers cluster the diodes together to create a light source.

LEDs are very energy efficient and although they cost more upfront, the cost benefit can be realized over the life of the LED itself. Couple this with the fact that fluorescent light bulbs contain Mercury having LED lights makes disposal of spent lights easier.

Mercury is a poisonous element and is difficult to dispose of. Only authorized toxic waste handling facilities should be used for disposal of Mercury and items contaminated with Mercury.