Why Are F36T8 Tubes Almost Non Existent in North America? « on: August 14, 2022, 08:33:53 PM » Author: 108CAM
Been wondering this since I started collecting and using the site. North American countries seem to use 32w tubes instead of 36w tubes. I'm fairly sure it has something to do with the difference in voltage and the use of rapid start ballasts.
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Fluro starter pings combined with a 50hz ballast hum and blinking tubes is music to my ears.

Rest in Peace Electronic Lamp Manufacturers of Australia
1925-2002

Bring back the AJF Zodiacs!

Total incidents since joining LG: 18
Lamps accidently broken or smashed: 15
Ballast explosions/burnouts: 3

	Re: Why Are F36T8 Tubes Almost Non Existent in North America? « Reply #1 on: August 14, 2022, 11:04:40 PM » Author: WorldwideHIDCollectorUSA
I think that by the time that F36T8 fluorescent tubes were developed for the European market, North American preheat ballasts and fixtures designed for F40T12 fluorescent tubes were mostly discontinued in favor of rapid start ballasts and fixtures with the exception of some single tube fixtures that have a tendency to underdrive F40T12 fluorescent tubes and that F36T8 fluorescent tubes have a hard time starting or holding arcs on rapid start ballasts, but start and run better on single tube F40T12 preheat ballasts and most 1940s-1950s brick style 2 lamp lead lag F40T12 preheat ballasts, but have problems running on later 2 lamp lead lag F40T12 preheat ballasts that use smaller casings.
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Desire to collect various light bulbs (especially HID), control gear, and fixtures from around the world.

DISCLAIMER: THE EXPERIMENTS THAT I CONDUCT INVOLVING UNUSUAL LAMP/BALLAST COMBINATIONS SHOULD NOT BE ATTEMPTED UNLESS YOU HAVE THE PROPER KNOWLEDGE. I AM NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY INJURIES.

	Re: Why Are F36T8 Tubes Almost Non Existent in North America? « Reply #2 on: August 15, 2022, 12:07:30 AM » Author: Medved
At the time the T12 was "targeted" to be replaced by something more efficient, the RS was the most common type in the 120V regions, while the preheat (series choke) in the 230V ones. As it was possible to design a more efficient replacement 120cm T8 lamp for the preheat ballast style (with sufficiently high ignition peak from the starter), the markets using preheat circuits as the most common ballast got such lamp, a F36T8, even when that arc voltage/current wasn't that optimal for the tube dimensions (it ended up brighter, so only 10% power saving), the compatibility with existing gear was very strong motivator to compromise a bit. Drawback was, there was not 100% performance compatibility (new lamp was brighter) and so not that much power saving (just about 10%) in existing installations. However the standard RS ballasts had just too low voltage so it became impossible to design the replacement T8 to reliably ignite on that. That meant the more efficient T8 had to come with its own ballast anyway. So when there was no compatibility possible, the 4' T8 was optimized completely (for tge lowest power for the given size and required light output), allowing 20% power reduction so ending up as F32T8.
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No more selfballasted c***

	Re: Why Are F36T8 Tubes Almost Non Existent in North America? « Reply #3 on: August 17, 2022, 02:30:58 AM » Author: bulb_tester2009
I think in North America, it may be the use of e-Hf high-frequency special fluorescent tubes, which have higher light efficiency, relatively more power saving, and longer life.
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I've been collecting light bulbs since I was 2 years old and I've been collecting them ever since.
 
One of the few Chinese users here
Note:
Bulb base in China:E12(CES) E14(SES) B22d(BC) E27(ES) E40(GES)

	Re: Why Are F36T8 Tubes Almost Non Existent in North America? « Reply #4 on: August 25, 2022, 12:21:23 AM » Author: 108CAM
I'm assuming these same reasons would also explain why F58T8 tubes are uncommon in North American countries.
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Fluro starter pings combined with a 50hz ballast hum and blinking tubes is music to my ears.

Rest in Peace Electronic Lamp Manufacturers of Australia
1925-2002

Bring back the AJF Zodiacs!

Total incidents since joining LG: 18
Lamps accidently broken or smashed: 15
Ballast explosions/burnouts: 3

	Re: Why Are F36T8 Tubes Almost Non Existent in North America? « Reply #5 on: August 25, 2022, 12:50:40 AM » Author: xmaslightguy
Here in the US, there was a period where  F36T8's were somewhat common sold as aquarium lighting (advertised as a brighter/more efficient retrofit for F40T12's that would work on existing ballasts) ------------ Quote from: 108CAM I'm assuming these same reasons would also explain why F58T8 tubes are uncommon in North American countries. 5-foot anything was never common in North America
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ThunderStorms/Lightning/Tornados are meant to be hunted down & watched...not hidden from in the basement!

	Re: Why Are F36T8 Tubes Almost Non Existent in North America? « Reply #6 on: August 25, 2022, 12:56:59 AM » Author: WorldwideHIDCollectorUSA
F58T8 and F70T8 fluorescent tubes were mostly found in commercial refrigerators at grocery stores.
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Desire to collect various light bulbs (especially HID), control gear, and fixtures from around the world.

DISCLAIMER: THE EXPERIMENTS THAT I CONDUCT INVOLVING UNUSUAL LAMP/BALLAST COMBINATIONS SHOULD NOT BE ATTEMPTED UNLESS YOU HAVE THE PROPER KNOWLEDGE. I AM NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY INJURIES.

	Re: Why Are F36T8 Tubes Almost Non Existent in North America? « Reply #8 on: August 26, 2022, 11:43:22 AM » Author: funkybulb
The  18 watt T8 2 footer is most common to find however It was sold as Applince lamps  for Stoves and dryers The be labeled as F24T8 or F18T8.    If your looking old school  Cool whites that where u would find it.
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No LED gadgets, spins too slowly.  Gotta  love preheat and MV. let the lights keep my meter spinning.