Author Topic: List of most fluorescent tube sizes  (Read 158 times)
Emersyn
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List of most fluorescent tube sizes « on: June 09, 2026, 05:06:38 PM » Author: Emersyn
Not everything here is accurate but this is something that I've found useful!

Please note that this list currently doesn't contain Japanese market specific sizes!

Things that need to be corrected:
-Discharge voltage and current + conditions (tons of them are wrong!)
-Slimline currents especially (I didn't list several for some reason)

Preheat:

LampWattageLength (in)Discharge length (in)Lamp voltageLamp currentYear of releaseNotes
f4t546~4.531~0.2001941
f6t569~648~0.1451940
f8t5812~10.558~0.1371941
f13t52113~19.590~0.1701941-1946
f10t813.510~12~50~0.240
f13t813.513~11.5~37~0.350
f13.5t81313.5~11.5Made mostly by Westinghouse from the 1960's to 1980's.
f14t81415~12~64~0.2341960-1969
f15t81518~16~55~0.3551938One of the og fluorescent lamp size
f18t81824~21.5~48~0.670Early 1960's
f19t81926, 28~23.5, ~25.5f19t8 (26 in) is the same as f26t8
f20t81824~21.5~48~0.670Same as f18t8
f21t82130~27.5Used in older vending machines
f22t82226~23.5~92~0.670Used in older vending machines
f24t81824~21.5~48~0.670Early 1960'sSame as f18t8
f30t83036~33.5~200~0.151938One of the og fluorescent lamp size
f36t83648~45.5~88~0.411980-1938
f58t85860~57.5~110~0.67~1980f19t8 (26 in) is the same as f26t8
f70t87072~69.5~115~0.800Lamp voltage + current from f72t12
f14t121415~12~41~0.3411938Came out a few months later than the og 4 sizes
f15t121518~16~48~0.3301938One of the og fluorescent lamp sizes
f20t122021, 22, 24, 26~18.5, 19.5, 21.5, 23.5~57~0.3801938One of the og fluorescent lamp size
f25t122528, 30, 33~25.5, 27.5, 31.5~69~0.360
f30t123036~33.5~70~0.4251938
f40t124048~45.5~100~0.4301938
f65t126560~62.5~260~0.250
f60t176036~32~1.5001940-1945
f65t176536~32~1.5001940-1945
f90t17 (100 watts)10060~5472~1.4501940

Rapid start:

LampWattageLength (in)Discharge length (in)Lamp voltageLamp currentYear of releaseNotes
f80t58060~55.5Early 1990'sRapid start HO lamp
f40t84048~45.5~106~0.420
f40t104048~45.5~95~0.420
f25t122536~33.5~69~0.360
f30t123036~33.5~70~0.4251938
f34t123448~45.5~104~0.430
f40t124048~45.5~100~0.4301938
f54t1718054~48~124~1.4501956

Slimlines:

LampWattageLength (in)Discharge length (in)Lamp voltageLamp currentYear of releaseNotes
f42t62542~39.5~125~0.200Out by 1948
f64t63064~61.5~200~0.200Out by 1948
f42t82342~39.5~86~0.265'Energy saving' version of f42t6
f48t83048~45.5~113~0.265
f60t85560~67.5~207~0.265
f72t83572~69.5~132~0.2651944
f96t8~5096~93.5~188~0.2651944
f24t122024~21.5~48~0.430Banned from US in 1995
f36t123036~33.5~69~0.430
f42t123542~39.5~81~0.430
f48t123948~45.5~48~0.430
f60t125060~57.5~116~0.430
f64t125060~57.5~120~0.430
f72t125672~57.5~130~0.430
f84t1265, 7584~81.5~151~0.430These lamps come at 75w too (arc voltage, 174)
f96t1260, 7596~93.5~139, ~174~0.430

T5 HE:

LampLength (in)Wattage*Discharge length (in)Arc voltage (lamp voltage)Arc current (lamp current, amps)Year of releaseNotes
f14t51422~19.5~84~0.1651999-2006
f21t52134~31.5~124~0.1651999-2006
f26t52646~43.52009-2016'Energy saving' version of f28t5
f28t52846~43.5~164~0.1701999-2006
f35t53558~55.5~202~0.1751999-2006

Energy saving:

LampLength (in)Wattage*Discharge length (in)Arc voltage (lamp voltage)Arc current (lamp current, amps)Year of releaseNot-so energy saving version(s)Notes
f26t52646~44.5f28t5
f13t81813~15.5~37~0.350f15t8, f18t8
f15t82415~21.5~55~0.355f18t8
f25t84825~45.5f28t8, f30t8, f32t8, f36t8, f40t8
f28t84828~45.5~101~0.275f30t8, f32t8, f36t8, f40t8
f30t84830~45.5f32t8, f36t8, f40t8
f32t84832~45.5~137~0.150f36t8, f40t8
f36t84836~45.5~88~0.410f40t8
f40t86040~57.5~150~0.265f50t8, f51t8, f58t8
f50t86050~57.5~137~0.150f51t8, f58t8
f51t86051~57.5f58t8
f17t122417~21.5f20t12
f25t1236, 4825~33.5, ~45.5~69~0.360f30t12 (36 in), f32t12, f34t12, f35t12, f40t12
f32t124832~45.5f34t12, f35t12, f40t12
f34t124834~45.5~104~0.430f35t12, f40t12
f35t124835~45.5f40t12Very early version of the f34t12, made till the mid 1980's
f58t126058~57.5f65t12
f90t126084~57.5~60~1.600f90t17
f90t17 (82 watts)6082~541975-1977f90t17 (85 watts), f90t17 (90 watts), f90t17 (100 watts, f100t17)
f90t17 (85 watts)6085~57.51948f90t17 (90 watts), f90t17 (100 watts)
f90t17 (90 watts)9060~541953f90t17 (100 watts, f100t17)

T5 HO:

CodeLength (in)Wattage*Discharge length (in)Arc voltage (lamp voltage)Arc current (lamp current, amps)Year of releaseNotes
f24t5~2224~19.5~74~0.295Early 1990's
f39t5~3439~31.5~116~0.325Early 1990's
f49t5~3449~31.5Made by GE
f54t5~4554~42.5~118~0.455Early 1990's
f80t5~5880~55.5Early 1990'sRapid start HO lamp

See more below @Beta 5 and @Multisubject 's replies!!
« Last Edit: Today at 02:20:05 AM by Emersyn » Logged
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Re: List of most fluorescent tube sizes « Reply #1 on: June 09, 2026, 05:18:11 PM » Author: Beta 5
Interesting list, hopefully it can grow as more info is added, it would be quite useful to have something like this as a permanent feature to the site, perhaps also distinguishing which ones are predominantly US and EU market lamps and which ones are common across both.

As for T5 HE I believe they came out earlier than 1999, possibly around 1994 (which may also apply to T5 HO too), and regarding the energy saving variants both Philips and GE had their take on them, the Philips wattages differing slightly to the GE ones which can be seen in this PDF on the T5 Wattmiser range :)
https://docs.rs-online.com/501c/0900766b80d11960.pdf
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Re: List of most fluorescent tube sizes « Reply #2 on: June 09, 2026, 05:23:41 PM » Author: Multisubject
OMG OMG thanks so much for sharing these! I have been looking for those larger T5, T6, and T5HO specs for a while, I will add them to my public lamp spec sheet later when I get a chance if that's okay. May I ask if these are measured specs or are they taken from datasheets? If so what datasheets? This is immensely helpful, you are definitely getting credit for this on the front page
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Re: List of most fluorescent tube sizes « Reply #3 on: June 09, 2026, 05:27:56 PM » Author: Emersyn
T-8 to T-12 HO: (Common T-12s are from the mid 1950s)

CodeLength (in)Wattage*Discharge length (in)Arc voltage (lamp voltage)Arc current (lamp current, amps)Year of releaseNotes
f48t84844~45.5~102~0.430
f60t86055~57.5~127~0.430
f72t87265~69.5~151~0.430
f96t89686~93.5~200~0.430
f18t121825~22.5~31~0.800
f24t122435~21.5~43~0.800
f36t123644~41.5~55~0.800
f42t124250~39.5~62~0.800
f48t124860~45.5~75~0.800
f60t126070~57.5~87~0.800
f64t126475~61.5~87~0.800
f72t127285~69.5~106~0.800
f84t1284100~81.5~125~0.800
f96t1296110~93.5~137~0.800
f100t1272100~69.5~90~0.800Streetlighting HO lamp

VHO (and SHO, DHO, etc.) lamps:

CodeLength (in)Wattage*Discharge length (in)Arc voltage (lamp voltage)Arc current (lamp current, amps)Year of releaseNotes
f95t5~4695~45.5
f24t122470~20~46~1.500Early 1960'sReflector f24t12/vho made for mining applications
f48t1248110~44~73~1.500Early 1960's
f60t1260135~56~90~1.500Early 1960's
f72t1272160~88~106~1.500Early 1960's
f96t1296215*~92~143~1.500Early 1960's*Westinghouse's were 219w
f108t12108125~104~83~1.500Early 1960's
f117t12117132~113~88~1.500
f120t12120135~116~90~1.500

Sign lamps: (U bent lamps are missing)

CodeLength (in)Wattage*Discharge length (in)Arc voltage (lamp voltage)Arc current (lamp current, amps)Year of releaseNotes
f108t12108125~104~83~1.500Early 1960's
f117t12117132~113~88~1.500
f120t12120135~116~90~1.500

Tanning lamps:

CodeLength (in)Wattage*Discharge length (in)Arc voltage (lamp voltage)Arc current (lamp current, amps)Notes
f10t51210~9.5Used for face tanning
f59t125980~56.5
f71t1271100~68.5
f73t1273100~70.5
f79t1279180-230~76.5

Power-Twist:

CodeLength (in)Wattage*Discharge length (in)Arc voltage (lamp voltage)Arc current (lamp current, amps)Year of releaseNotes
f30-34t94830-34~45.5~200 (f30t8), ~104 (f34t12)~0.150 (f30t8), ~0.430 (f34t12)Most likely made from (at least the 1990's) till 2000; Referred to as the Durotest Vita-lite Plus Energy Twist; Uncommon lamp
f36t1048 (unconfirmed)36~45.51961?Most likely made from (at least the 1990's) till 2000; Uncommon lamp, came with cathode shields
f20t122420~23.5~57~0.3801961
f40t124840~45.5~100~0.4301961

PowerGroove lamps:

CodeLength (in)Wattage*Discharge length (in)Arc voltage (lamp voltage)Arc current (lamp current, amps)Year of releaseNotes
f48pg174811060~741.5Mid 1950's to 1960's
f72pg177216072-84~1071.5Mid 1950's to 1960's
f96pg1772160215~1631.51954

Other linear tubes:

CodeLength (in)Wattage*Discharge length (in)Arc voltage (lamp voltage)Arc current (lamp current, amps)'Energy saving' versionYear of releaseNotes
f13t2Very uncommon lamp
f5t57.55~6Used in certain studio lighting
f7t510.57~91960'sMade for certain vending machines during the 1960's
f10t516.510~15
f11t517.511~16
f2t62.252~2?Primarily made for aircraft display lighting
f15t61815~16.5
f20t62420~22.5
f25t63025~28.5
f30t63630~34.5
f40t64840~46.5
f16t82616~63~0.253~23.5~1967?Made for specific appliences including stoves and (clothes) washers
f19t826, 2819~63~0.253~23.5, ~25.5~1967?Very little info on this lamp, 26 in version is 'energy saving' version of f22t8
f22t82619~92~0.160~23.5f19t8 (26 in)~1967?Very little info on this lamp
f35t8~5835~55Very little info on this lamp
f20t92420~55~0.360~21.51980'sMade mostly by Lampi during the 1980's
f30t93630~81~0.370~33.5Primarily made by Hitachi for applications including printers and aquariums
f40t94837~95~0.420~45.5Primarily made by Hitachi

U-bent:

CodeWattage*Discharge length (in)Leg spacing (in)Arc voltage (lamp voltage)Arc current (lamp current, amps)Year of releaseNotes
fb16t816~171-2~80~0.21949-1950Discharge length is dependent on the fact that an f15t8's discharge length is ~15.5 in this lamp would be slightly longer; Lamp length (tip of bend to the endcaps) is between 6 and 12 inches
fb31t8311.625 and 6~1990?6 in leg spacing on fb31t8's is very uncommon;
fb32t831~45.56~137~0.150~1990, pre-Alto?
fb35t835~45.56Pre 2003
fb40t840~45.56~106~0.4201975
fb20t1220~17.56~48~0.330~1950(?)Lamp length (tip of bend to the endcaps) is ~10 inches
fb34t1234~45.56Pre 2003
fb40t1240~45.56~100~0.430~1950(?)
fb65t1265~57.56~260~0.250~1950(?)Lamp length (tip of bend to the endcaps) is ~28 inches

Circline:

CodeWattage*Discharge length (in)Diameter (in)Arc voltage (lamp voltage)Arc current (lamp current, amps)Year of releaseNotes
fc6t915
fc8t922(55-65)?~8.25~80~0.21949-1950Discharge length is dependent on the fact that an f15t8's discharge length is ~15.5 in this lamp would be slightly longer; Lamp length (tip of bend to the endcaps) is between 6 and 12 inches
fc10t9/t1022
fc16t9/t1040

PL:

PL lamp typeDescriptionLamp wattagesBase type
PL-SPL-S stands for short plug-in lamp (5-13 watts)5, 7, 9, 11, 13gx23
               
PL-LPL-L stands for long plug-in lamp (18-80 watts)18, 24, 29 ('energy saving' version of 40 watt pl-l) 36, 40, 55, 802g11
PL-T3 compact fluorescent turns (16-57 watts)16, 18, 24, 26, 27, 28, 32, 33, 34, 42, 54, 57gx24-qx
PL-CPL-C stands for cluster of fluorescent lamps (10-27 watts)10, 13, 18, 26, 27g24d-x, g24q-x, gx23
PL-RPL-R stands for radius model, these plug in lamps unlike the lamps listed above have round bases (14-17 watts)14,17gr14q-1
PL-HPL-H stands for high output lamp (120w)1202G8-1
PL-QPL-Q stands for quadrant lamp (these are also called 2d lamps and are referred to as 2d lamps here).10, 14, 16, 21, 24, 28, 31, 38, 55GR10Q (4 pin), GR8 (2 pin)
« Last Edit: June 09, 2026, 05:51:57 PM by Emersyn » Logged
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Re: List of most fluorescent tube sizes « Reply #4 on: June 09, 2026, 05:35:21 PM » Author: Emersyn
I'm glad yall like it! I added more as you can see, I just couldn't fit it all in one post!

@Multisubject Yes please feel free to add it! No need to give me credit this is all information that I've found online. Unfortunately I am unable to find the origin for a lot of this information. Most voltage stuff were from LG and other common lighting sources and some Philips spec sheets possibly. A lot of slimline, HO, VHO, etc. lamps voltages were calculated from their amperage since they're all about the same.

This list is from long ago but I'm happy to see it will be useful!

Please feel free to give me corrections/information (like @Beta 5 did) and I will add them eventually! For some reason the circline parts were not complete so I just added a little bit of information.
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Re: List of most fluorescent tube sizes « Reply #5 on: June 09, 2026, 10:27:29 PM » Author: LightBulbFun
OMG OMG thanks so much for sharing these! I have been looking for those larger T5, T6, and T5HO specs for a while, I will add them to my public lamp spec sheet later when I get a chance if that's okay. May I ask if these are measured specs or are they taken from datasheets? If so what datasheets? This is immensely helpful, you are definitely getting credit for this on the front page

you can find pretty most common Linear T5/T8/T12 etc specifications in various IEC, ANSI, & JIS standards, thats where I get all of mine from, pretty sure I did link to a few the last few times subjects like this came up :)

IEC straight and compact fluorescent

https://www.doc88.com/p-90159314455861.html

https://www.doc88.com/p-11861696039144.html


ANSI straight and compact fluorescent

https://www.nema.org/docs/default-source/about-us-document-library/ansi-c78.81-2016-(r2022)_aspublished.pdf

https://www.doc88.com/p-51499045262529.html

JIS straight and compact fluorescent

https://kikakurui.com/c7/C7617-2-2009-01.html

https://kikakurui.com/c7/C7618-2-2009-01.html

Interesting list, hopefully it can grow as more info is added, it would be quite useful to have something like this as a permanent feature to the site, perhaps also distinguishing which ones are predominantly US and EU market lamps and which ones are common across both.

As for T5 HE I believe they came out earlier than 1999, possibly around 1994 (which may also apply to T5 HO too), and regarding the energy saving variants both Philips and GE had their take on them, the Philips wattages differing slightly to the GE ones which can be seen in this PDF on the T5 Wattmiser range :)
https://docs.rs-online.com/501c/0900766b80d11960.pdf

that PDF is for the Watt-miser version, GE's HE/HO T5's are the same wattage as everyone else's





I'm glad yall like it! I added more as you can see, I just couldn't fit it all in one post!

@Multisubject Yes please feel free to add it! No need to give me credit this is all information that I've found online. Unfortunately I am unable to find the origin for a lot of this information. Most voltage stuff were from LG and other common lighting sources and some Philips spec sheets possibly. A lot of slimline, HO, VHO, etc. lamps voltages were calculated from their amperage since they're all about the same.

This list is from long ago but I'm happy to see it will be useful!

Please feel free to give me corrections/information (like @Beta 5 did) and I will add them eventually! For some reason the circline parts were not complete so I just added a little bit of information.

@Emersyn while I do appreciate it must of taken a fair bit of effort to put the list together, and I appreciate the willingness to help educate the fellow enthusiast im afraid theres quite number inaccuracies in that list (a fair number of which are rather egregious and baffling as to where that info came from!)

I mention this just because if theres one frustrating thing about this hobby, is people repeating/perpetuating incorrect information that then becomes a PITA later!  perhaps you can improve the information with the standards documentation I have provided above :)


and in general that if your not sure about some bit of info its best to leave it out then to add it and potentially miss lead someone


it would also be good if you could cite sources and the such like





« Last Edit: June 09, 2026, 10:31:36 PM by LightBulbFun » Logged

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Re: List of most fluorescent tube sizes « Reply #6 on: Today at 01:46:44 AM » Author: Medved
@Emersyn:
Wait a minute, what the "lamp current" means?
I see there many discrepancies:
With F18T8 you wrote 0.65A, but the lamp is rated at 0.37A arc at 50Hz. 0.67 would then be about right for a preheat current (that is supposed to be larger than the operating, as the ballast choke is expected to slightly saturate when operating into an essential short circuit load).
In fact with F20T12 you wrote 0.38A, but the F18T8 is designed to be a direct replacement for the F20T12 at preheat ballasts, so there is no way it would have so different rated current.
Similar the F4T5 has rated arc current in the 0.165..0.17A range (don't remember exactly, but it is definitely designed to operate on the same ballasts as the rest of this miniature T5 family, so something in the 0.15..0.17A ballpark). 0.2A is way too much for an arc, maybe about correct for preheat.

But then with F8T5 you wrote 0.145A, that corresponds more to a current in HF operation, at 50/60Hz it is rated at 0.155A arc.
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Re: List of most fluorescent tube sizes « Reply #7 on: Today at 02:00:43 AM » Author: Beta 5
@Emersyn You could also list the generic names for PL-S, PL-C, 2D etc. which are TC-S/TC-SE (PL-S), TC-D/TC-DE (PL-C), TC-T/TC-TE (PL-T), TC-DD (2D), TC-L (PL-L), the ones with the E at the end denote they are the 4 pin versions for electronic gear.

Also regarding PL-S/TC-S the cap for 5-7-9-11W is G23 whereas only the 13W US lamps are GX23.



that PDF is for the Watt-miser version, GE's HE/HO T5's are the same wattage as everyone else's

Yes I know GE's standard T5 HE/HO are the same as everyone else's but their wattmiser range is different to Philips, for example their wattmiser version of 28W HE is 26.4W whereas Philips are 25W and GE's wattmiser 35W HE is 33W while the Philips TL5 Eco is 32W, only a small difference but worth noting as there must have been some differences between the two ranges? :)
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Re: List of most fluorescent tube sizes « Reply #8 on: Today at 02:11:29 AM » Author: Emersyn
@LightBulbFun That's very true, I think I had a bit too much faith in this list. I made this list when I was much younger and didn't think to include sources or cite inaccuracies. I'm very busy right now (only posted this during a bit of free time), but I will correct things as soon as possible! If you wouldn't mind, could you point out a few of the biggest ones? And also are there any wrong in the years/notes columns?

@Medved Those are some really good points! Unfortunately the voltage and currents came from a lot of different places (spec sheets, LG, etc.) and some were wrong/found in different conditions.


Would it be smart to divide the voltage/current columns into their voltages in different conditions (ballasts/hz)?

Here is a link to a Google Sheets please feel free to comment anything that needs to get corrected and I will add it!

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1d-gcY8v07y0ZyGBGUnOvOYo-JNs3kJJCM7Xmv6h7q64
« Last Edit: Today at 02:26:38 AM by Emersyn » Logged
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