Cheap T5 @ Home Depot

So I've seen all the name brand fixtures but was in HD and saw a 2ft 2tube t5 with bulbs for like $25 and a 4ft 2bulb for $35. I just thought I'd let ppl know cause I haven't seen info on them!!

I do have a question tho, how would I make reflectors? Cause they don't come with any, just the fixture and bulbs. I was thinking soda cans cut down or horizontal window blinds taped together with reflective tape. Do you guys think it'll work??

You can buy a desk lamp and a screw-in CFL and that will "work". HO T5's with quality reflector work well.

Yes def think that might work for the spirals!! Thanks!!

what about for the t5 tho? The fixtures I found dont have reflectors.

That's what I meant - the difference between barely working and working well. Sure, you can make a reflector out of some shiny stuff. It will probably do the job to a slight extent, but it won't come close to a well engineered (and perhaps costly compared to DIY) reflector.

Also, T5 HO (High Output) bulbs are a good choice for a grow. Regular T5 bulbs only give you half the wattage and are probably not so good a choice.

Finally, what is the color temp of those bulbs - that matters as well. If it is just some under-counter kitchen or shop light, it might not have the right temp for veg or flower.

There is a lot that can be done diy with fluoro's, although I rarely bother myself. I grow with hid and use cfl for cloning as that works well for me.
However, one of my hobbies is reptiles and my mate runs a shop so i get to see lots of his diy lighting efforts.
This is what I've learned.......
You can buy t5 end caps and bulbs and make your own cheaply (in the UK you get the end-caps at CEF and the bulbs anywhere)
HO fluoro is simply a fluoro running a more powerful ballast. (i.e., take a 20w fluoro, put a 40w ballast on it and you have a 40w HO light.)
Ballasts can be scavenged from CFL's. 23w cfl's are about £1 in the UK. 1 needed per 2 ft (20w) bulb.
Look into UVB bulbs for towards the end of flower.
DIY reflectors depends upon your tools/abilities. I know, given a half-decent workshop, I could knock-up something better than my £25 piece of crap in 10 minutes.

cheechako said:

That's what I meant - the difference between barely working and working well. Sure, you can make a reflector out of some shiny stuff. It will probably do the job to a slight extent, but it won't come close to a well engineered (and perhaps costly compared to DIY) reflector.

Also, T5 HO (High Output) bulbs are a good choice for a grow. Regular T5 bulbs only give you half the wattage and are probably not so good a choice.

Finally, what is the color temp of those bulbs - that matters as well. If it is just some under-counter kitchen or shop light, it might not have the right temp for veg or flower.

Click to expand...

yes, regular T5's put out only 200 or so more lumens than a 32w T8. And I'm willing to bet the fixtures u found arent high output bulbs

Glad I just landed a t5 ho from craigslist for $100! So glad!
you can find really cheap CFLs that'll get the job done until you come across a good price on a t5ho.

t5 also lose light intensity on both ends!

The Home Depot T-5s are 54 watt and put out around 5000 lumens. A 32 watt T-8 around 2800 lumens. Color temp of the bulb is 5000k same as most so called HO . Dont dis them just because they dont have a big price tag and fancy name cause they work just fine. As far as the reflector goes some sheet aluminum and mylar would make a dandy reflector.

Edit:remember though Bleezy that price does not include bulbs. Lowes has a much wider selection of T-5 bulbs than Home Depot.

Alexander Supertramp said:

The Home Depot T-5s are 54 watt and put out around 5000 lumens. A 32 watt T-8 around 2800 lumens. Color temp of the bulb is 5000k same as most so called HO . Dont dis them just because they dont have a big price tag and fancy name cause they work just fine. As far as the reflector goes some sheet aluminum and mylar would make a dandy reflector.

Edit:remember though Bleezy that price does not include bulbs. Lowes has a much wider selection of T-5 bulbs than Home Depot.

Click to expand...

if its 54 watts, then its high output, a 28 watt t5(not HO) only puts out 2900 lummens, which isnt substantially different from a T8. Ive seen the T5HO fixtures advertised online but not in stores. not "dissin" anything, Im all for cheap if it gets the job done

Thank you guys for the info!! It'll ALL help out!! Happy growing!!

Mr.Marijuana420 said:

if its 54 watts, then its high output, a 28 watt t5(not HO) only puts out 2900 lummens, which isnt substantially different from a T8. Ive seen the T5HO fixtures advertised online but not in stores. not "dissin" anything, Im all for cheap if it gets the job done

Click to expand...

Mine are 95w per bulb. Is that very high output or something?

found this, not sure if its what your talking about, but this fixture doesnt come with a plug, you are supposed to wire it into the existing electric
http://www.homedepot.com/h_d1/N-5yc1v/R-203137160/h_d2/ProductDisplay?catalogId=10053&langId=-1&keyword=T5&storeId=10051

Home made reflectors? Paper plates covered (or not) with aluminum foil.

Mr.Marijuana420 said:

found this, not sure if its what your talking about, but this fixture doesnt come with a plug, you are supposed to wire it into the existing electric
http://www.homedepot.com/h_d1/N-5yc1v/R-203137160/h_d2/ProductDisplay?catalogId=10053&langId=-1&keyword=T5&storeId=10051

Click to expand...

The price is different on those than what I saw but it looks similar. Ill go down and try to talk to someone as I just saw them in passing. And you don't have to wire it to the wiring in your house(you can but do NOT have to) I wired a 3 wire vanity mirror to a 3 prong extension cored and its been working perfectly for months so I could easily so the same here. I'm really more worried about the reflectors cause I've got an 'idea' on how ill implement these but have seen first hand the diff a reflector can make(even one made from cardboard and a safety blanked, high tech engineering ya know?) and want to make sure I have a fully thought out plan and end goal that's realistic.

plus I wanted to get this info out just in case it could benefit someone here on RIU.