Need Advise for cooling of T5HO

[jiahe88]

Hi while i was reading of the PDF format of cooling down T5. Can anybody take some picture for me to see which side should i place my fan to cool down my T5. My fan will be on for 24/7 and my T5 will on 8hrs per Day (24hrs). thanks who reply my thread

[tawauboy]

you can place the fan such that it is blowing directly at the tubes.
alternatively, you can use the fan to extract hot air that has accumulated at the roof of your light fixture.
as long as you have air movement around the tubes ...

[jiahe88]

Thanks Thomas

[cairocks]

I used to stick a fan on one side the T5 where there are ventilation grids to blow air across the tubes and the ballast. The fans are on the same timer as the lights so they both turn on and off at the same time.

[jiahe88]

thanks for your cairocks for your guidance.

[Anthen]

is there a need to install a fan for the lightset?? not very hot compare to PL light..

[ljsg]

all depends on environment. my living room is quite warm in the afternoon, and when no one is around the room fan will not be on. The lightset gets very hot, and i mean very hot til the acrylic panel that covers the tubes nearest both ends can melt. However, if your room is well ventilated/air conditioned, then of cos there is not much need to add fan.

[valice]

The heat is dependent on the eballast. The Osram and Elbiru ones I used were not very hot. So should be no problem. Even the China brand eballast I bought was pretty cool compared to the iron core ones.

[jiahe88]

oh i see. . me also recommanded by NA boss to change to osram. but i still on my fan for 24/7 for my light n plants.

[tawauboy]

fluorescent light emits IR so the light set will heat up over time.
having fans will help to keep the light set cool. if the fans are blowing across the tank surface, there is sufficient air movement to cools the light tubes as well.

[jiahe88]

but now i using T5 consider fluorescent light ?

[valice]

Of course it is fluorescent light. The 5 in the T5 refers to the diameter of the tube if I am not wrong. The FL we know as fluorescent tube is also known as T8. The PL is also fluorescent light, btw.

[jiahe88]

Oh i see thanks valice. get to know and more to improve myself. hehe

[tawauboy]

T5 means the diameter of the fluorescent tube is 5/8 inch.
older tubes are T8, having 8/8 inch diameter. most commonly used for lighting fixtures.
even older tubes are T12, having 12/8 inch diameter.

[jiahe88]

thanks too tawauboy