Choosing Fluorescent Tubes
This page is designed to help you find the correct fluorescent tube you require quickly and easily. Please take a moment to read the information before clicking the relevant fluorescent tube.
Fluorescent tubes generally have a two-pin fitting at both ends of the tube.
T2 (7mm)
The ultra slim T2 (7mm) tubes use a fitting called a W4.3 with 4.3mm wide push fit fitting. View our full range of T2 tubes.
T4 (12mm)
The undercabinet T4 (12mm) tubes use the G5 fitting with 5mm between the two pins. View our full range of T4 tubes
T5 (16mm)
The small T5 (16mm) tubes use the G5 fitting with 5mm between the two pins. View our full range of T5 tubes
T8 (25mm)
Standard size T8 (25mm) tubes use the G13 fitting with 13mm between the two pins. View our full range of T8 tubes
T12 (38mm)
The largest size T12 (38mm) tubes also use the G13 with 13mm between the two pins. View our full range of T12 tubes
Easy Reference Colour Table
The following table shows which codes relate to which colour.
Standard (Halophosphate) fluorescent tubes have a colour rending index of 50-70% whereas the Triphosphor fluorescent tubes have a colour rendering index of 85%.
| Colour | Standard (Halophosphate) |
Triphosphor | Suffix |
|---|---|---|---|
| Extra Warm White | N/A | 827 | EX-WW |
| Warm White | 29/30/129 | 830 | WW |
| White | 23/35/135 | 835 | W |
| Cool White | 20/33/133 | 840 | CW |
| Daylight | 10/54/154 | 860/865/765 | D |
The numbers in the above table show the colour code reference that your bulb will say on it. eg. F18W/35 refers to the 18 watt halophosphate fluorescent tube with the colour 35 (White).
Colour Rendering Definition
The Colour Rendering Index is an industry standard reference to a bulb on how well it renders colours of objects it is illuminating. Codes range from 0 to 100, the higher the number the more vivid and lively things look under that light. The lower the CRI rating the more ghostly (faded, dead) objects appear.
If you want your items and people to look good, then high CRI is required. High CRI bulbs generally cost more to buy and cost more to operate as they have low lumen output per watt consumed. Low CRI bulbs put out low quality light, but are very cheap to operate as they have high lumen output per watt consumed.
