View Full Version : T8 to T5 convertors
Hi Rob,
Can you tell is when these will be avalable and what they are gonna cost..
I am due an actinic tube change but am hanging on for these so i can make the change to T5 and better tube output...
thanks
Fastlight Distributors
03-04-07, 12:54
Hi Martin.
The high output (Marine Lux) versions 2ft, 3ft, 4ft and 5ft are currently being manufactured and will be with us mid May.
We then batch test the complete delivery, which should take a week, and if they are ok they will be on our site and available for purchase the 3rd week in May.
As for cost the 5ft version will be available complete with a high quality 'Marine Lux' Actinic Blue or 10,000k White T5 Tube for (approx) £39.00 Each
Or £74.00 a pair.
Regards
Rob
Reefer Madness
03-04-07, 18:34
Hi Martin.
The high output (Marine Lux) versions 2ft, 3ft, 4ft and 5ft are currently being manufactured and will be with us mid May.
We then batch test the complete delivery, which should take a week, and if they are ok they will be on our site and available for purchase the 3rd week in May.
As for cost the 5ft version will be available complete with a high quality 'Marine Lux' Actinic Blue or 10,000k White T5 Tube for (approx) £39.00 Each
Or £74.00 a pair.
Regards
Rob
Hello Rob,
will you be giving us the option of selling the units without the "Marine Lux" tubes, just in case someone prefers to use D+D's or Narva's etc.
Got to say i am looking forward to these though,
Pete.
Fastlight Distributors
03-04-07, 19:41
Hi Pete
I have not thought of that but yes i will do that and offer the option of supplying less lamp.
Thanks
Rob
www.marine-lighting.co.uk (http://www.marine-lighting.co.uk)
Reef bloke
10-04-07, 02:16
One more question Rob,how do these units provide enough power to light a T5 vho correctly?Im looking to replace my triple arcadia's T8's after trying Scoobs R&D example you had sent him.I just cant work how it supplies an 80watt T5 from 54 watt T8 ballasts.
Im a nosey git lol.
cheers Tony
ha ha, i knew you had to ask tony, so my explanation 'thar be magic in that little blue dealy' didn't convince you then :D
One more question Rob,how do these units provide enough power to light a T5 vho correctly?Im looking to replace my triple arcadia's T8's after trying Scoobs R&D example you had sent him.I just cant work how it supplies an 80watt T5 from 54 watt T8 ballasts.
Im a nosey git lol.
cheers Tony
Got to admit I am intrigued by this one :confused:
Reef bloke
10-04-07, 13:04
Fraid not Scoob,at first i was quite happy with your blue Voodoo explanation but i have to admit i had a moment of clarity the other day.A Voodoo doctor rubbing chickens feet up and down the unit just gonna do it.
Fastlight Distributors
10-04-07, 13:19
Scoob
Pull the end cap off of the unit you have and please post a picture of the PCB Board............thats the clever bit.
Regards
Rob
just pull it off??? what as in yank it? i can't find the receipt :D
will do :)
Reef bloke
10-04-07, 13:23
So the clever bit increases the wattage for the T5?
so will these fit a arcadia s3 to replace the t8 54 watt pair
yes, exactly that, except, the current T8's are 58w (5ft T8) as opposed to 54w (4ft T5) easy to confuse :)
you would plug this into your s3 in lieu of the 58watters and then plug 80w VHO T5's in instead :D
Excellent, we got a pic of these runnin the t5's yet?
here's a pic reef bloke took when i had it up his. the R&D unit i have from Rob doesn't boost the power so the tube you are looking at is an 80w tube with 58w supply, but it gives you an idea of fitting...
http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploader/2006Q4/conversion.jpg
the unit seperate....
http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploader/2006Q4/con3.jpg
close up of the connection...
http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploader/2006Q4/conv2.jpg
Cheers Scoob, very quick!
Is it brighter AS IS or will there be a way of getting the full power if you get me?
the final product which i think Rob says comes out in May, will be much much much brighter straight from the box :)
Any update on the T8 to T5 convertors please Rob???
these sound good, never seen them before and i am very very intrested in them
any more news?
whiterabbit93307
28-06-07, 10:00
Are these out yet, looked on the website but couldn't see them.
ironic timing :D :D :D
these were due in on May the 10th, they arrived but Rob wasn't fully satisfied with the units so he has decided to do futher testing and make some tweaks, I believe they will be out in the near future, i imagine a couple of months.
Personally I think he's cruel, get everyone excited, show them the rainbow then keep it all to himself :D
Not fully satisfied :eek:
Get him to send me a couple, i'll be the judge of that :whistling:
:laugh:
Fastlight Distributors
29-06-07, 10:40
Hi all
I will assure you all this product will be available within the next few months. It is a brand new product and we will only release when it is 100% ready, i accept on reflection!! we should have not released any info. untill it was available.
That said we are currently working on a number of new products including dimmable T5 units and a very slick T5 unit with some built in LED's but that's all the info you're getting untill they are available later this year.
Rob
whiterabbit93307
29-06-07, 12:33
I think we should now open a new thread called Dimmable T5s and builtin LEDS.
Then we can just keep posting "Are they ready yet?" & "When will they be instock?" for the next few months. Like annoying kids on a car journey:D
Hi all
I will assure you all this product will be available within the next few months. It is a brand new product and we will only release when it is 100% ready, i accept on reflection!! we should have not released any info. untill it was available.
That said we are currently working on a number of new products including dimmable T5 units and a very slick T5 unit with some built in LED's but that's all the info you're getting untill they are available later this year.
Rob
You done it again Rob. Youv'e given everyone another snippet of info to another fantastic product..I want one.. :D
well whats happening are they out yet :whistling:
:D i dont believe they are yet :)
Fastlight Distributors
17-07-07, 20:29
Hi all
I can assure you all we are not delaying the launch of this product a day longer than we have to.
It is a unique product which has to be 100% right to satisfy the discerning reefer.
I will have next week some examples of the finished product which i intend to free issue to some UR members for evaluation.
2ft
3ft
4ft
5ft. Scoob?
I would like Scott (Scoob) to select some suitable testers to try one of each of the available sizes. All i ask is an honest unbiased opinion.
Regards
Rob
no problems Rob. I'm still happy to test the 5 footer :)
will now search out those with 4,3 and 2 foot T8 lighting and give you some proposed names :)
suddendly Scoobs PM box is much fuller than normal.... and that's some going!
Does this mean we are somewhere near with these? cant wait great idea
I just recieved my 2 foot T5 convertors for evaluation... very impressed iwth the build quality, i will be taking photos and doing a mini write up of the installation process :thumbsup:
urban_hippie
18-09-07, 14:26
Sorry to drag up an old thread but i'm way over due to replace the T8's in my 70cm series3. I don't really wanna keep T8's so these converters seem great. Are they available yet?
Cheers
Paul
bump :)
i'd be very interested in these too
Fastlight Distributors
25-09-07, 11:28
Hi
Just a mail to keep you all posted with regard to this new product.
Firstly a big 'Thank You' to all of the testers who have helped so far in trialing the latest version. The converter does not work as we had expected and in some cases does not work at all !!. The problem we have is producing a single product which will work reliably with various types of magnetic ballast as fitted to current and obsolete marine pendants. It's a tolerance thing but we are working now to produce the next version which will be available to the testers in a few months.
Regards
Rob :( :( :o :o :o
hey, happy to help :)
the tough bit sounds like finding the problem but if you now have that part sorted, onwards and upwards :)
instantsquid
25-09-07, 11:46
...we are currently working on a number of new products including dimmable T5 units and a very slick T5 unit with some built in LED's...
Any news on these, Rob?
Hi Marine Lighting....
Just a quick question from SA - I have heard of "converting T8's to T5's" before, BUT does the "conversion" justify the cost? What are we looking at in the UK for "original T5" ballasts? (cost-wise - Retail)?? And when compared to T8 ballasts?
Is it worthwhile to use "T8 to T5" converters?
Can i assume though that this product simply burns out the bulbs quicker? so although the T8's work at T5 standard they dont last as long?
instantsquid
15-10-07, 19:37
Okay, I'm no expert - but...
JacquesB - the main use for these converters is where someone has a luminaire (for example an Arcadia unit, etc.) which has metal halide lamps combined with a pair of T8 tubes. With these converters, they can replace the T8 tubes with T5 tubes without replacing the entire light unit.
MikeyG85 - you've missed the point slightly, I'm afraid. These converters allow you to use T5 tubes instead of T8 tubes.
Any updates on if this got to another stage of testing the new ones ?
I was pretty interested in these ?
Cheers:)
paulandbarb2007
22-01-08, 23:38
yes, any news?
any news on t8s to t5s. hope they work as im due to change my t8s soon fingers crossed:thumbsup: :thumbsup:
Blue_Peter
30-01-08, 12:28
Yeah C'mon Lads
There's plenty of Peeps out here waiting for these converters :worship:
Picking up a Arcadia S3 at the weekend with T8's so will be interested in these too please!
Fastlight Distributors
30-01-08, 13:06
Hi
Just a mail to keep you all posted with regard to this new product.
The original converter does not work as we had expected. The problem we had is producing a single product which will work reliably with various types of magnetic ballast as fitted to current and obsolete marine pendants. It's a tolerance thing but we are working now to produce the next version which will be available but i cannot give you an accurate timescale.
Sorry
Rob
Blue_Peter
30-01-08, 21:31
Hi
Just a mail to keep you all posted with regard to this new product.
The original converter does not work as we had expected. The problem we had is producing a single product which will work reliably with various types of magnetic ballast as fitted to current and obsolete marine pendants. It's a tolerance thing but we are working now to produce the next version which will be available but i cannot give you an accurate timescale.
Sorry
Rob
Nice one Rob at least we know your on the case :thumbsup:
Regards
Pete
Blue_Peter
25-02-08, 03:57
Some updates on this product would be nice :rolleyes:
Just had to buy new T8 replacement tubes :(
Rob
Sorry to be pushy.... is there any news on the converter?
Only I am in the same boat as others and I am due a T8 bulb replacement
Martin
Hi, everyone. I'm Christina and glad to know you here. For the T8 to T5 adapter(converter) you talk about, I know something about it because we produce such product. It's indeed a perfect replacer to the old T8(10,12) light fixture for both energy saving and installation cost saving. It only takes miniuts to finish the install work.
Reef bloke
03-12-08, 14:33
Do the convertors upscale the wattage to match the new T5 tube?
1.) What is T8-T5 Retrofit Kit?T8-T5 Retrofit Kit is a product for users currently using T8 luminaries looking at reducing energy consumption.
2.) What is T8 and what is T5?T8 is the standard for conventional Fluorescent Tube that we are generally using in our environment. The length of the tube is generally 120cm (4 feet) or 60cm (2 feet). As for T5, it is the new standard that is set to replace T8 Fluorescent tube.
3.) Why is there a need for T8-T5 Retrofit Kit?As T5 tubes are shorter in length and smaller in the diameter, hence a direct replacement is not possible. In addition, T5 uses Electronic Ballast instead of Magnetic Ballast to ignite the tube.
4.) What does the T8-T5 Retrofit compose of?The T8-T5 Retrofit composes of a Convertor, an Electronic Ballast and a T5 Tube.
5.) Can we change the T5 Tube when it is burn out?Yes you can. When the tube is burn out, you can buy one off the shelf and replace it directly.
Any more questions,.pls feel free to contact me.
orinfzz@lmenergysolution.com
waterfalls
17-02-09, 09:03
A comprehensive Technical Statement No. 41 from Lighting Industry Federation on T8 to T5 converters.
http://www.lif.co.uk/dbimages/doc/techstatements/TS%2041.doc
A few installations in Germany and in UK tried this path to upgrade the lighting and had to rip out all the converters within a year. Most manufacturers of tubes will not guarantee the tubes when operated on such converters. But I suspect since in reefing folks tend to change tubes 6-12 months it may not matter.
But there are safety issues. A good read.
Dhiru
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