T12 fluorescent tubes

thelawnet

anyone know anything about these? I've got two 5ft 65ws in my kitchen, one is dead, the other is fine, and a single 4ft 40w in the bathroom, which is also dead.

Can I simply replace these with T8s? Or is there something else I should consider?

Nilrem

You should be able to get them at a B&Q* or local proper electrical supplier (the sort that normally seems to operate out of an industrial unit).
They should cost about £4 each

I can't remember the difference, but I think it's width with the T12's being slightly different, which would make the pins likely be different (so probably won't fit).

*You may need to go to a larger store, Homebase might also sell them (but my local one is fairly rubbish for tubes, either not having any stock, or loads of one and none of another).

thelawnet

Nilrem wrote: »

You should be able to get them at a B&Q* or local proper electrical supplier (the sort that normally seems to operate out of an industrial unit).
They should cost about £4 each

I can't remember the difference, but I think it's width with the T12's being slightly different, which would make the pins likely be different (so probably won't fit).

*You may need to go to a larger store, Homebase might also sell them (but my local one is fairly rubbish for tubes, either not having any stock, or loads of one and none of another).

I have read that T8s, although a narrower tube, have the same pins and will definitely fit in a T12 socket, and have slightly higher light output but slightly lower power consumption, the only issue being something about starters or ballasts or some such, which might need to be replaced, not sure.