More Lighting Help Needed

[SkiFletch]

Ok, so as some of you know, I lost one of my 96watt 34" straight-pin actinic T5 PC bulbs this week. Troubleshooting has clearly pointed to the bulb itself being the cause of the failure so I'm looking for a replacement. Unfortunately, I can't seem to find one . The owner of the LFS I typically go to looked at me like I had 4 heads when I told her I needed that type of bulb. She claims her supplier only carries square-pins in that size. She can get me straight pin 21" bulbs, but thats not helpful... I then turned to the internet where again I have been unable to locate straight pin bulbs of the above stats in this country (US). If I lived in the UK, I'd be set, but around here, it seems that nobody uses straight-pin bulbs. Contacting the manufacturer of the bulb (Jebo) proved less than successful as their website is a waste of bandwidth. I am therefore left with seemingly 3 options:

Option 1
Pray that someone here knows of a place I can get a bulb for online in the US. If any of you do know where I can get one, point and I will go

Option 2
Re-wire my fixture with a square pin socket. I'm not even sure if this can be done, so again, the help of members on this board would be helpful. It seems to me that the voltages would be the same, but the pins are just in a different order. If that is truly the case, its nothing a quick soldering and shrink tubing cant fix, but as I've come to learn with ballasts, its RARELY that simple.

Option 3
According to my mother there is a mysterious "bulbman" with his own business a couple towns over whom she says can find any lightbulb ever created. This is clearly a challenge for him, so hopefully I can visit him within the next week and see if this supposedly "unique" older gentleman can locate one of these bulbs. Worth a try.

Anyways, if any of you can help with either option 1 or 2, please do... I'm kind of in a bind here and would like to get this fixed

 

[RipSlider]

If you want, and you Paypal me the money, I can order it from the UK//Europe and post it to you?

Or anyone else that you trust on the forum who is in the UK.

I know that my LFS sells a 30" and I think a 36". Not sure about a 32"

Steve

 

[steelhealr]

Try nanotuners.com...email them or call them and see if they can help out. Chris Jung...tell him 'steelhealr' sent you. SH

 

[JJ1234567]

now, Im may or may not be helping here. Im not sure if you want T5 bulbs, or if you want PC bulbs....Im pretty sure that you want a PC bulb. If so here is a link to 34" 96watt powercompact bulbs. I looked and looked online and couldnt find a T5 bulb with a 96 watt rating. And since your talking Square Pin Vs. Straight Pin that sounds alot more like PC fixtures (I have one). Here is a actinic bulb for you (dual is all they have, hope that is good enough): http/www.drsfostersmith.com/Product/Prod...4&N=2004+113346

And here is the main bulb buying page: http/www.drsfostersmith.com/product/NavR...m?N=2004+113346

 

[SkiFletch]

Yeah, the terms are wierd. Some people refer to them as T5 and others PC bulbs. That link you provided was right. Man I must be dense cause I couldn't find straight pin on liveaquaria... Perhaps I need another

 

[JJ1234567]

yea, well thats what were all hear for, to back ya up when youve had to many drinks...

anyways...the next time someone tries to tell you that T5 is a PC, tell them that a PC bulb is a smallish bulb for a different type of fixture. A T - style bulb is a classic looking bulb that is sized based on its diameter. I.E. T-8 bulb is 1 inch around, a T-5 is 5/8s of an inch, and so forth.

 

[SkiFletch]

Yeah, everyone refers to them as different... Some LFS' and some online stores refer to them as T5 while others refer to them as PC. I usually clarify when actually talking to people that they are the twin bulb fixtures. Stupid names

 

[crazyelece]

Actually I believe PC lights are T5 as well as the regular flourescents. T5 is the diameter of the bulb in eighths of an inch. So T5 is 5/8 of an inch in diameter, T8 is one inch, T12 is 1 1/2 inches. Anyway I believe the PC tubes are still 5/8 but the main difference is there are two tubes in a single lamp.

Anyway I'll have to check around but I think a few of my LFSs have PC in both straight and square pinouts.

 

[Aquascaper]

Anyway I believe the PC tubes are still 5/8 but the main difference is there are two tubes in a single lamp.

They are either constructed of one single 5/8" tube bent double into a 'U' or two straight 5/8" tubes connected near to the top with a hollow tube to create one tube in a 'H' shape (more common).

 

[JJ1234567]

interesting

 

[SkiFletch]

interesting

Indeed. Aqua's got it right on the difference between definitions methinks. I also think that tehcnically a T5 only bulb (single tube) has 2 pins while the T5 PC dual bulbs have 4 pins

 

[crazyelece]

I haven't exactly seen a T5 flourescent tube up close, but I was under the impresion that they have four pins as well. 2 on either side like a normal flourescent tube. T5 and PC are very similar, the main difference is the eficiency of the reflectors. You can even use some PC balasts to power T5 flourescent lamps.

 

[SkiFletch]

I haven't exactly seen a T5 flourescent tube up close, but I was under the impresion that they have four pins as well. 2 on either side like a normal flourescent tube. T5 and PC are very similar, the main difference is the eficiency of the reflectors. You can even use some PC balasts to power T5 flourescent lamps.

You may be right... The only pictures I've seen of them have been of one end though, never seen the second side