Actual T5 bulb size?

[rwrussom]

trying to layout a canopy with some 48" t5 lights but I do not have the bubs in hand yet.

Can anyone tell me the required spacing of the end caps, say from face of cap to face of cap where pins enter cap, or some other measurement that is easy to descibe.

Thanks

 

[DarG]

The bulbs are 5/8" diameter. Minimum Spacing depends on whether you float the end caps or you use the mounts. The Mounts are 2.5" wide. So center to center if using the mounts right next to each other is 2.5" MINIMUM. If Floating the end caps and using clips to mount the bulbs, 1 7/8" approximate is minimum spacing. That's with the end caps touching each other. However, you may as well use the good reflectors to maximize your output. The Ice Cap SLR reflectors are 2.5 inches wide so again, minimum center to center would be 2.5". Tek reflectors are 2 1/8" ( I think) for the old ones and 3" for the Tek II's. There are some generic reflectors that I have seen that are 2" even, from memory. Not too great though I don't think. So anyway, 1 7/8" minimum floating the endcaps and using a one single reflector for all the bulbs. 2.5" minimum for the Ice Cap SLR individual reflectors.

Does that do it?

 

[rwrussom]

Thanks but no. I was so focused on on dimmension, I forgot the question could be percieved that way. What I am looking for is actual length of bulb for a 54w 48" nominal bulb. I am using TEK II's and have those in hand.

So my question remains.

 

[DarG]

45 3/16" ... that's not pin end to pin end, that's tube length. There is a little play in most of the endcaps. The contact housing is usually spring loaded. You actually ahve a couple of MM each way. But 45 3/16" should put both bulb ends right on the contact housing. That's the measurement I used for the canopy I am in the process of building. It's from an ATI bulb and should be universal give or take a mm or 2.

 

[rwrussom]

Right on!, Thanks, just what I needed.