T-8 lighting

To: Aquatic-Plants at actwin_com
Subject: T-8 lighting
From: Pat Bowerman <bowerman at specent_com>
Date: Thu, 30 Nov 1995 20:01:28 -0800
References: <199611302039.PAA08852 at looney_actwin.com>

Recently, I decided to try my hand at DIY T-8 lighting. Here's my story.
I went to my local Grainger outlet, and picked up an electronic ballast
and 2 4100k T-8 bulbs. (they were out of 5000k and I didn't want to wait
for the order. I got the thing wired up to an El Cheapo "Lights of
America" 4' shop light fixture that I already had laying around. I had a
terrible time trying to get the bulbs to make a good connection with the
fixture. They kept going out, flickering, and sometimes shorting out.
(which produced a nasty electrical smell) This wasn't working, so I went
to my local Wally-world and picked up another El Cheapo shop light. I
bought the same brand and...surprise, I got the same results. No matter
how much I tinker with this fixture it just won't work. If I get one
bulb to light, the other one won't. If, by some miracle, I get both
bulbs to light, then the least jar will cause one or both to quit. I
just don't trust these lights. The endcaps seem to be awful. I now plan
on going back to Grainger, and buying a couple of sets of endcaps. Just
thought I'd share this with the list.