Best T5 fixtures

[Stonefree69]

I was going to get a Tek-Light T5 fixture and a lot of places seem to be out of stock. So I did some resxearch and found the Tek fixtues use a Fulham Workhorse ballast, which is not as good as the Fulham Racehorse ballasts.

I know the Quantum Badboy T5 fixtures are popular and very good fixtures but found they use 2 tubes per reflector, which doesn't reflect as much light back as the Teks do with their 1 tube per reflector. So I found another fixture from HTG Supply called the Slimstar which does seem to have a parabolic reflector for each tube and is about te same price as the Badboys. Also heard Hydrofarm uses the Workhorse as well.

THEN someone mentioned the Fluorgrow Evergreen T5 fixture and I haven't looked back! They use the Racehorse ballast, have the best parabolic reflectors and was only about $200 shipped! Also they are an American company. Fixture also has dual light switches, able to daisy chain, all aluminum housing, multi-volt and ships in a discrete box. What more can you ask?

I know another T5 fixture that may compete - the ATI Powermodule, but that one's almost $700! Anyone else hear of Fluorgrow? I'm not affiliated w/Fluorgrow in any way, shape or form. But HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!

 

[clown baby]

Quantums are good. They can fold down for easy, compact storage. The downside is that they're kinda flimsy.

CAPs maxlume reflective material sucks.

Hydrofarms commercial is alright.

These are the only 3 brands I've got experience with.

 

[PetFlora]

BB reflectors vent directly out. I 'think' the Evergreen has a non venting back cover. You could remove the reflectors and drop BB between plants for side lighting. Also, some aquarium bulbs are available with built in reflectors so all lumens channel through half the bulb

 

[Desert Hydro]

im looking for a couple t5's as well. been looking at all my usual spots. i see a few good deals on ebay now and then. the ballast you pointed out above doesnt come with bulbs so factor that into the price. im not real sure what t5 bulbs cost either lol

 

[Hammerhead]

I'm using Hydrofarm commercial. Going on 1 year no problems with the unit.. First time I'm using it in flower. I have 2 600hps on the left and right with the t5 in the middle...

 

[FlowerFarmer]

I've used the Tek Light & New Wave from Sunlight, Hydrofarm Designer and Sunleaves Pioneer. All pretty much seemed the same to me..

Badboys suck ass in my opinion.. had to return 2 of these things before I just decided to go with the designer. They even feel like crap.

The older New Wave was awesome.. had that nice reflector insert that was more "flat" then mirror like. Seemed a hair brighter. Tek-light was sick looking, but not worth the additional $$ they wanted for them.


Whats the difference between the Commercial and the Designer from Hydrofarm?
I have the designer.. does the commercial have better features?

 

[Hammerhead]

there called EnviroGro now..I think the designer where brown. Specs are the same..

 

[BruceLeeroy]

I went cheap And bought the sunblaze for a semi experimental Fluoro/ScrOG(see sig)... Seems like a pretty decent light, very economical and still has some of the nicer features, dual switch, daisy chain etc... No clue about what ballast it includes. The hanging gear it came with was crap.

 

[LeeROI]

. . . Whats the difference between the Commercial and the Designer from Hydrofarm?
I have the designer.. does the commercial have better features?

The two models seem of equal quality to me but I've only used them a little bit. The Designer vents on the side, Commercial vents on top.

 

[Stonefree69]

BB reflectors vent directly out. I 'think' the Evergreen has a non venting back cover.

Right PetFlora, the Evergreen has no vent. I know someone modding them w/a pc fan. Venting can increase bulb performance and longevity.

Well at least, one thing Badboys have going for them is vertical lighting. I'm mainly looking for a veg-clone-mom T5 w/overhead light.

Desert Hydro: a good triphosphor tube should run about $10 or slightly less, like GE Starcoat, Quantum Badboy & Philips Alto. BTW Desert,
I'm in the desert too (in AZ). Should start gettin' nice next month!

 

[SKUNK420]

I was going to get a Tek-Light T5 fixture and a lot of places seem to be out of stock. So I did some resxearch and found the Tek fixtues use a Fulham Workhorse ballast, which is not as good as the Fulham Racehorse ballasts.

When you say not as good what exactly do you mean? Is one ballast for durable than the other or that one ballast has the ability to maintain it's output specs longer in order for the bulbs to put out their rated specs? Also the Racehorse is a program start vs the instant start of the workhorse (more research on that subject needed).

I have two 8 year old new wave's with four 2 foot bulbs. When the bulbs get old they get replaced and it seems to make 'em like new. I'll notice a faster and more lush growth instantly.

I've been wondering if I should replace the ballasts, they are Workhorse 5 only $25 to $35 each.

I see many are talking about the reflectors as compared to bulbs or the ballasts.

 

[PetFlora]

Right PetFlora, the Evergreen has no vent. I know someone modding them w/a pc fan. Venting can increase bulb performance and longevity.

Well at least, one thing Badboys have going for them is vertical lighting. I'm mainly looking for a veg-clone-mom T5 w/overhead light.

Desert Hydro: a good triphosphor tube should run about $10 or slightly less, like GE Starcoat, Quantum Bad Boy & Philips Alto. BTW Desert,
I'm in the desert too (in AZ). Should start gettin' nice next month!

Grown under an 8 bulb 4t BB with aquarium bulbs.

Late in flower aphids overwhelmed the primary & secondary leafs

 

[Stonefree69]

When you say not as good what exactly do you mean? Is one ballast for durable than the other or that one ballast has the ability to maintain it's output specs longer in order for the bulbs to put out their rated specs? Also the Racehorse is a program start vs the instant start of the workhorse (more research on that subject needed).

I have two 8 year old new wave's with four 2 foot bulbs. When the bulbs get old they get replaced and it seems to make 'em like new. I'll notice a faster and more lush growth instantly.

I've been wondering if I should replace the ballasts, they are Workhorse 5 only $25 to $35 each.

I see many are talking about the reflectors as compared to bulbs or the ballasts.

Well for one SKUNK420 to quote Quantum Badboy's site: "The BadBoy coupled with Fulham's latest and greatest Race Horse ballasts put out 28% more light than the competitions fixtures with the Work Horse 7 with NO additional power consumption!." That may be a bit overhyped. But I've heard the Workhorse ballasts are not nearly suited as well for T5s as the Racehorse.

I'm not sure (don't have Tek-Light fixtures) some older Teks may have an Advance/Universal T5 HO ballast instead of the Workhorse. Kind of surprises me Tek even thought of using a pretty cheap ballast considering their prices.

A lot of aquarium hobbyists say the ATI Powermodule puts the Teks to shame. Could be also the Workhorse are under driving the bulbs somewhat as well, and are not really speced for T5s.

 

[the gnome]

don't know the brands but I'm running 4 8bulbs units and 1 6-bulb
they're using workhorse 7 ballasts+wh-5s in tandem

Ive had to replace 2 ballast in 2 years.. WH-7s
now I keep an extra on hand so there's no down time.

mine run min. 18 hrs a day 7days a week

 

[SKUNK420]

A lot of aquarium hobbyists say the ATI Powermodule puts the Teks to shame. Could be also the Workhorse are under driving the bulbs somewhat as well, and are not really speced for T5s.

I've checked out aquarium sites before and those guys really break it down and try out different things (over-driving and ballast combos) when it comes to T-5 lighting.

I was looking at the Fulham website and from looking through their catalog they don't make a RaceHorse ballast that I can use to replace the Workhorse in my fixtures. My eyes freaking hurt from that catalog. Too much to look at.

Anybody using VHO's yet?

 

[Hank Hemp]

In veg I got a 8 bulb sunflower unit. What I like about it is you can turn off 4 bulbs when 4 while do. Save more money, which is important to me as cheap as I am.

 

[pearlemae]

I use a New Wave by Sunblaze. Its a 2 ft 8 lamp fixture. I don't know what brand the ballasts are by by set up has been run constantly for the past 2 and a half years with no problems at all. My box stays at 74 degrees heated by the light. Heres some pics of the last run . I grow with a scrog, with my limited space a scrog increases the out put dramatically. Veg and flower with T5 just change the tubes from 6500K to 3000K. they work fine for me.

 

[Stonefree69]

I also heard from aquarium forums it's beneficial to cool T5s for about a 20% increase in performance if they're not already air cooled. The ideal temp should be 35C or 95F.

Also cooling should be done at the label end where it's hottest (110-120F). Some of those hobbyists mod a Tek light w/a dremel or hole saw and install 2-3 120 mm pc fans w/speed controllers. There's even 4 channel fan controllers for that (about $35). Just do a search on Tek light mod and you can do it with just about any noncooled fixture.

Just watch you don't cool the bulb centers too much as you'll lose PAR (as the ideal operating temp designed for T5 fixtures is about 35C). Your bulbs can run too cool as well as too hot. Some forgo the mod and just use a clip on fan (or fans) to do the trick. Guess a small oscillating fan would work too. Here's one example: Sunlight Supply Air King 6 inch Clip on Fan.

 

[jay-toker]

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[LEDNewbie]

Has anyone ever put a meter or a "Kill A Watt" gauge on these T5 HO lights to see the actual draw? Does a 4ft light bulb actually draw 54W? Or is it more or less? Trying to get a 100% accurate wattage as I'm trying to calculate my total daily wattage draw for my new grow, thanks