El oh el im a newb!

[Skerp]

Hey so how do you find out what wattage a light bulb is if you tossed the receipt and the box? Teeheehee. I was going to get back into the hobby about a year ago(but wasn't able to) and I ordered a few things including two 48" Super Actinic fluorescent bulbs. And now that I'm just starting to go through all the equipment I've got and see what else I need, I'm caught in a pickle. I definitely want to use these bulbs and so I need to find out what type they are so i can buy a fixture/ballasts ect. I do know I put them in the light fixture in my basement to make sure they worked when they were shipped to me, and they did work and still do but there are no wattages stamped on either the new bulbs i got or the ones in my basement. Anyone know what i can do to find out?

Thanks

Matt

 

[gwenvet]

Is there any writing on one end of them?

 

[WaterKeeper]

On normal output lamps the number following the F is the wattage so for a so a 48" it will be a F40T12 with the number following the T the diameter in eighths of an inch. That would be a 40 watt and one half inch tube. See The lighting article for details.

 

[Skerp]

yea it's FR40T12. Thanks for the help and also that article is a big help too.

Matt