T5 converter socket for T8 fittings

[paekakboyz]

has anyone spotted these yet?

http://www.genesisenergy.co.nz/genesis/ ... EE59C3D38B

allows you to plug T5 bulbs into T8 fittings... hmm has possibilities. The new fitting wouldn't be spec'd for aquarium use but it would be one way of upgrading existing T8 fittings to take brighter bulbs.

And as the sockets just plug onto the tubes so they can be reused.

thoughts?

[spoon]

well the adapter may have its uses but i doubt it would be any good for aquariums because its for ordinary t5s not HO or VHO t5s as used on aquariums. basically without upgrading to a newer fitting this enables more effiecent t5 tubes to be used so you can swap a 40w tube for a 28w tube . some of the newer, cheap all in one aquariums use ordinary t5s already. but at the moment most of the aquarium tubes are vho or ho so if you were to use this adaptor on say an old 4ft t8 fitting you would only be able to use cormmercial tubes so warm white and cool white possibly some industrial colouered tubes if you knew where to find them.

[smidey]

the sunsun tanks have t5's with the HO or VHO tubes, they are available through JA Russell but a year ago when i checked their availablility i had to buy 250 of them i think it was to get 1.

[smidey]

organism has t5 HO twin light setups on TM

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Home-living/Pe ... 012236.htm

[fishplants]

My understanding is that T5 require a different ballast to T8. Most T8 setups run on magnetic ballast whereas T5 (HO anyway, I'm not sure about 'standard' T5) require electronic ballast to run them. Maybe someone else could confirm that?