[APD] Power Compact Lighting in the UK

[Andrew McLeod <thefish at theabyssalplain_freeserve.co.uk>]

On Tue, 25 Nov 2003 21:17:16 -0600, william ruyle <inquartata at comcast_net> 
wrote:

> (cut) at least 2 watts per gallon of compact fluorescent lighting such 
> as AH Supply (or Brit equivalent:). The T8s, over a  year old? Probably 
> overtasked for these plants, a couple of my favorites. (cut)

What exactly are power compacts? I do not know of any UK equivalent to AH 
supply, and although I have never looked through non-aquatic sources, all 
I seem to see is reasonable (?) T8s (£14 for a single ballast, £20 for a 
two tube ballast and <£10 for a 3'-4' 20W-30W tube), and some horribly 
overpriced T5s from Arcadia (over £45 for a ballast).

Wait - I have just found "ASL lighting" seem to do 'T5 compacts' at £20 
for a 20" 55W. Shame I can only see tubes and kits costing over £75 for 
fit-inside-a-hood 2x55W (not including tubes), so no separate ballasts, 
although the kits come complete with electronic ballasts, two switches and 
reflectors.

If I had two dual ballasts (2x£20), and four 4' 30W Triton tubes at £8 
each, this would only cost £76, and give me 120W instead of 110W (although 
I would need to make/acquire my own reflectors to anything like the light 
output). Lighting is really expensive, isn't it? How do these prices 
compare with the US?

Since the ASL kits are looking better value, does anybody have any 
experience of them?

--
Andrew McLeod
thefish at theabyssalplain_freeserve.co.uk
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