Under unit lighting

[greenhut]

Apologise in advance if this has been asked before. I did use search function bit no joy.
I have under units strip lights which are T4 12W 3400k 370mm.
They are available on line but not in great numbers.
However there are lots of T4 12w 370mm and in packs of 5 cheaper then a x2 of 12w.
Can I just use the 10W tube instead of the 12W tube without issue ?
TIA

 

[motorbiking]

Have a look at these https://www.tlc-direct.co.uk/Main_I...hting_Kitchen_Index/Ultra_Slim_KBU/index.html

My only regret is they are very bright and I probably should have gone smaller to reduce output.

 

[greenhut]

Thanks for the reply. However I am sticking with tubes for now and was asking about the compatability between 12w and 10w T4 tubes.

 

[ericmark]

There are two types of control gear, the magnetic type is normally quite restrictive in tube size, there is some leeway but depends on supply voltage, I used 58W tubes in a 65W fitting and it worked but tube life was reduced. The electronic ballast is more forgiving and I have a 30W tube with a 40W electronic ballast which the tubes last around 10 years.

Likely it will work, but for how long is another question.

 

[JohnW2]

I used 58W tubes in a 65W fitting and it worked but tube life was reduced.

Is it really that critical? Most of the chokes I have seen in recent times are called "58W/65W", so one would not even know whether one was using a 'correct' one or not.

Kind Regards, John

 

[333rocky333]

However there are lots of T4 12w 370mm and in packs of 5 cheaper then a x2 of 12w.
Can I just use the 10W tube instead of the 12W tube without issue ?
TIA

Im confused, why not just by the 5 pack of 12w, why do you want the 10 watt that are likely to be shorter and not fit anyway

 

[333rocky333]

There are two types of control gear, the magnetic type is normally quite restrictive in tube size, there is some leeway but depends on supply voltage, I used 58W tubes in a 65W fitting and it worked but tube life was reduced. The electronic ballast is more forgiving and I have a 30W tube with a 40W electronic ballast which the tubes last around 10 years.

Likely it will work, but for how long is another question.

T4 tubes have neither, they are a long printed circuit built in the fitting, theres likely no way telling what there designed to run,other than the supplied tube.
Electronic ballasts on the other hand as fitted in batten fittings do sometimes have leeway, and often nowadays do a range of lamps

 

[JohnW2]

Im confused, why not just by the 5 pack of 12w, why do you want the 10 watt that are likely to be shorter and not fit anyway

I think there was a typo in the OP. I think he meant that the 5-packs were 10W.

Kind Regards, John

 

[greenhut]

I think there was a typo in the OP. I think he meant that the 5-packs were 10W.

Kind Regards, John

Yes sorry about that and thanks John
Ive not seen 5 packs of 12w they seem to be a lot rarer to source.
Both 10w and 12w are available in 370mm

 

[333rocky333]

In my limited experience of T4 fittings, it has been the fitting failed rather than the tube, if you have other same lamp fittings it may be worth carefully swapping a lamp over to check, as you may well order the lamps, even if the 12 watt, only to find they still dont work.
Also id add that the fittings are best turned OFF when changing lamps, I have seen brand new fittings, fizzle amd smoke, where the lamp was fitted to a powered up fitting.