<<
> Ron,
>
> Oh, I didn't mean to sound hostile to the new lamps. I'd read a long time
> ago about new energy-efficient ballasts and had been looking forward to
>them.
>
> But I beg to differ on one point. At our local mega-hardware store they
> have some big posters and displays indicating that if you have
> "ballasts for residential or home use" you must switch to 25W 4' bulbs.
> Yes, that's 25Watt. I think by ballasts for residential use they are
> describing your standard old fashioned ballast meant for 40W CW.
> Indeed, I almost bought some fixtures until i noticed they had imprinted
> on the side, "not for use with 34W bulbs."
>
> Only the new E-types were allowed to be used with 34W bulbs. Was your
> use of "32W" an error on your part? Or maybe there are some strange
> differences in terminology here... I'm looking at my new bulbs now and
> they say 34W instead of 32W.....
> >>
>
Barry,
No hostility received or perceived at all. Sorry if my response came across
like that. The 'new' energy efficient T-8 48" bulbs are 32 watt. To make sure
I didn't lose my mind, I ran to my basement and grabbed one. It's a GE
F32T8-SPX50 USA 32Watt. This is specifically the lamp recommended by Karen
Randall, who regularly publishes articles in Aquarium Magazines on aquatic
plants. The color temperature is 5000K (reference to the light spectrum).
Is your 34watt the same diameter as the old lamps? If so, this again is not
the lamps you want - these are T-12's and to my knowledge, there are no
energy efficient lamps manufactured in that size. Yes, you'll see 34 watt
lamps labelled as energy efficient or energy misers or ...
I haven't followed what the retail industry has decided to do about the cease
production mandate on the old lamps. I'm continually amazed about the
differences between what is available to industry vs the home market. It
almost does seem that there is a conspiracy 8^). I know that our local Home
Depot stores have none of the energy efficient stuff yet and the sales people
look at me like I'm daft (how right they probably are...)
I saw the weeks-long ongoing discussion in the aquatic plants newsgroup, and
although I chimed in a few times, there were some 'true' experts in the group
who really knew what was going on (actual lighting industry people ?). I
can't and won't profess to have anywhere near that amount of knowledge or
time. That's why I haven't brought this up before - I can't be the one who
champions this cause.
As a sidenote which would only add more confusion for most people: in an
actual lumens per watt contest (light output vs energy used), another type of
lamp and ballast assembly is even more efficient - metal halide. There are
other even better units (ie: high and low pressure sodium) but their light
spectrum output does not grow plants well (look at the color in most parking
lot lights - yellowish tinge).
Sorry I don't have all the answers to eliminate the confusion about what the
retail industry is saying. The phase out schedule of the old 40watt cool
whites was published more than 3 years ago and they're only now reacting.
Figures.
Access to Grainger or some other industry lighting store would give you the
best options currently available at the best costs. I've seen a retail pet
shop mark up an energy efficent ballast over 100% what you would pay at
Grainger. Also $4 lamps at Grainger can go for $15 retail. Sad.
Good luck with your info gathering.
Ron