Failing kitchen fluorescents - T8 or T4?

[Kes]

The main lighting in my kitchen is 2 x 30w and 2 x 18w fluorescents mounted on the top rear of the wall cabinets, with the light bouncing off the ceiling. I am perfectly happy with this.

The fittings are Eterna electronic ballast T8's. I bought these because they were the only make available from either *&* or the local wholesalers. They are a nice design and I would be happy with them except that around one a year fails. As there's not much else to fail I assume it's the rather cheap and nasty ballast that goes.

It's all very well having efficient lighting but it's not so efficient if I have to replace a fitting a year.

I also have four Eterna T4 cabinet lights under the cabs. They as just as old and none have failed. I don't know what the ballast is on these but it appears to be more reliable. Would there be any disadvantage (from the point of light oupout) if I replaced the failed T8's with T4's? I know the fittings are about 50% longer but I can accomodate that. Also is there any reason why the T4 fittings have lasted longer than the T8's, or is it just luck?

 

[Steve]

Most T4 fittings come with 827 tubes - very warm white. You might not like these, it depends what colour tubes you have now. For reflected light you might want something cooler.

Eterna are a budget brand AFAIK. Try something from Philips or another good brand. The last I saw at B&Q, they were only selling switch-starts anyway. Bought a couple for the shed, they hum like crazy.

T5 are more common than T4s, and your more likely to find a branded T5 fitting than a branded T4. Most T4s are link lights.