55 65 whats the difference

[krackel]

I was told that 55 and 65 watt PCs run in the same ballasts, if this is true, what are the main differences, I know that 65s are a bit longer, do they put out more or less light?
Or am I completely wrong and someone has just been blowing smoke up me bum?

[110galreef]

I've seen the same info....www.hellolights.com explanation


Q. Are these bulbs 55W or 65W?
A. (Note: This applies to both Compact Fluorescent and Fluorescent bulbs only.) Actual wattage to the lamp is primarily a factor of the lamp electrical characteristics and the ballast driving the lamp. Without getting too technical, the wattage marking on the lamp does not necessarily determine the actual wattage to the lamp. (i.e. you could have 100W to a lamp that is marked 55W!!) Fixtures with different ballast will have different wattage to the lamp and as such the wattage marking on the lamp is for reference only.
Actual wattage to the lamp operated by electronic ballast can only be measured using special high frequency wattage measuring equipment. Input wattage to the ballast is not a direct indication of wattage to the lamp.
Simply put, 55W and 65W lamps have same or similar electrical characteristics and therefore if one replaces either lamp into a given fixture (either a 55W or 65W system) then the wattage to the lamps will be driven by the ballast(s) of such system. Wattage to the lamp determines lumen output or total light output of the lamp.
Conclusion: Lamps marked 55W or 65W can be interchanged with similar or equivalent light output performance. The ballast drives the bulb.

[krackel]

ahhh I see, thank you

[gbhil]

Short version (for future reference)
PC lamps (all flourescents really) have few electrical parts inside the tube itself.

The contacts and inside the 65 watt tube and the 55 watt tube are the same.
The amount and chemistry of the gasses inside the two lamps are the same.
The voltage coming from the ballast determines how much energy will be used for light and heat.
Electrical energy is described as watts.


Dont try this at home disclaimer!!
I've worked for many years as an R&D engineer for a company that made computer aided vision systems to sort anything from pills to potatoes. A big part of these systems is lighting, so I've had experience jimmy-rigging and playing unsafely with light fixtures. That being said -

A 96 watt PC tube will take well over 800 watts of energy before it explodes. At 500 watts, the lamps have a useable (debatedly) life, at 30-45 days. Using this info, I've been running 28 watt PC bulbs at 65 watts on a small tank in my office for quite a while, changing the bulbs every 6 months. The lumen output of the smaller bulbs doesn't quite equal the longer 65 watt bulbs, but they are quite bright. A current project has me messing with t-5 and t-6 bulbs, and rest assured if I can find a SAFE, dependable and economical way to overdrive them I'll certainly let the more adventurous reefers here know.

[webdr]

ill tell you from experience....I ran 65 watt bulbs on a 55 watt ballast no problem BUT it is less bright than if you ran 55s on a 55 ballast

I did tests and had friends compare the brightness of the two to get a nonbias opinion and they agreed. I guess the 55 watt ballast just doesnt give it the power a 65 would (on a 65 watt bulb)
im now using 55s and am happier with the light intensity