Length of fluorescent tube?

JohnB47

One of the two tubes has gone in our bathroom cabinet. The tube is marked ?MC T4-22w/865. (the ? could be a 3 or a B or an E).

I know that it is a T4 type and is 22 watt and daylight colour balance (that's what 865 means apparently - 6500K).

The thing is, how is the length measured? Mine is around 723mm from tip of pin on one end to tip of pin on the other, or 709mm from one end of the tubular fitting to the other (ie the length minus the pins).

What length should I be looking for on the internet and does anyone know what the make might be?

Ta.

EssexExile

In these situations I take it along to CEF & say "Can I have one of these please?"

Moss5

Oddly, T4 never became an international standard. It has been superseded by T5, which is.
Each manufacturer of T4 lighting had their own specification and replacement tubes must come from the original supplier.
Take the advice from EssexExile.
My own T4 lighting came from: -
https://www.tlc-direct.co.uk/Products/LLT20W.html
and they have continued to stock the tubes to fit.

JohnB47

Thanks folks.

Just my luck eh? That's why I can't find many T4 tubes on the web.

I've looked at the CEF site and they don't have the correct colour balance of tube, even if I bought two at the lower wattage.

Is it likely that I could find a compatible T5 version - or would the pin layout be different?

I suppose I need to contact the people who supplied the bathroom equipment, although we ended on bad terms. There is no manufacturer or model info on the cabinet, which is odd. Makes me suspicious.

Any ideas about the ID of the tube?

Moss5

https://www.tlc-direct.co.uk/Products/KLL5CW.html

http://cpc.farnell.com/c/electrical-lighting/light-bulbs-tubes/led-bulbs/led-tubes-striplights?searchref=searchlookahead

Seems like your chance to change to LED

JohnB47

Thanks. The trouble is, the missus will have got used to the 'daylight' colour of the existing tubes and the brightest LED light wouldn't be the same.

Still, I might have to convert in the end.

Does anyone know where I can get an actual specification of the various tube types - eg T4, T5 etc. I'm wondering if a T5 replacement might actually fit.

The trouble is, I can't identify the original tube manufacturer from the writing on the tube (see first post).

I think this one is the closest to my measurements:

https://www.nationallampsandcomponents.co.uk/fluorescent-tubes/t4-fluorescent-tubes/t4-712mm-22w-daylight-fluorescent-tube?gclid=Cj0KCQjw1NzZBRCoARIsAIaMwusXMhpATQ_h7QrDLrb4Dc3iPN3SCzRR0_lcMSDE3RPVuyosA1HZQ0QaAlzTEALw_wcB

coffeehound

JohnB47 wrote: »

Thanks. The trouble is, the missus will have got used to the 'daylight' colour of the existing tubes and the brightest LED light wouldn't be the same.

Still, I might have to convert in the end.

Daylight colour is very harsh; warm white is a lot more forgiving when looking in the mirror at 6 am

.

JohnB47

Well, yes but there's daylight tube colour and there's is cool white LED and they are not the same, I think.

It's what we have got used to.

I think I'll order two of the ones I mentioned and if they fit and are a good colour match with the original, I'll fit one. If the colour is significantly off, I'll replace both.

Cheers all.

JohnB47

Just thought I'd round this thread off.

I went ahead and bought two of the tubes I posted a link to earlier. They arrived quickly and I fitted one today. It was definitely a bit tighter than the original but needed only a bit of gentle persuasion to slot into place. The colour balance is an exact match to the one on the other side of the mirror.

So I've fixed that and have a spare for the future (P&P for two was the same as for one).

So, a result. (And I gave it a well needed clean at the same time!)

ClareC65

Thanks John.
I have obviously got exactly the same bathroom cabinet as you, and was having difficulty replacing a fluorescent tube. I followed the link you gave and ordered the Lyvia tube. It was slightly too long but, as per your experience, some gentle persuasion eventually worked. I think these tubes may be hard to get in the future so I am going to order a couple more for spares. Much cheaper than replacing the cabinet!
Thanks again.

Nanz

JohnB47 wrote: »

Just thought I'd round this thread off.

I went ahead and bought two of the tubes I posted a link to earlier. They arrived quickly and I fitted one today. It was definitely a bit tighter than the original but needed only a bit of gentle persuasion to slot into place. The colour balance is an exact match to the one on the other side of the mirror.

So I've fixed that and have a spare for the future (P&P for two was the same as for one).

So, a result. (And I gave it a well needed clean at the same time!)

Hi John, can you please tell me what model bathroom cabinet you have. I have a HiB parity cabinet with a similar tube light. One of them has a problem where it turns on and off so I am looking to replace it.