The latest technology in fluorescent lighting are the Pentron lamps which have an even narrower bulb diameter than any other kind of light used for general illumination.  It operates off an electronic ballast which is much more energy efficient than the old magnetic ballast technology.  In fact, it's the only kind of ballast that operates these lamps, there are no magnetic alternatives.  Electronic ballasts have solid state circuitry which makes them very reliable and energy efficient throughout the life of the system.  These can operate lamps of the standard T5 variety and the high output or HO versions as well.  You'll often see these lamps used in office indirect lighting but also in high bay warehouse lighting.

As with all fluorescent bulbs, T5 lamps rely on ballasts inside of the fixtures in order to make them work. Electronic ballasts for our T5 lamps are available from Universal Ballast among others. All fixtures for T5 bulbs come with electronic ballasts that will properly operate the lamps. The ballast is important because it is specific for each type of lamp.  You can't change from one type of fluorescent to another without changing the ballast in most cases.  The good news is that many of the T5 lamp length are interchangeable making them a great choice for reducing the number of ballast types in a building or new construction project.  Saving energy is not the only feature of the T5 bulb. In addition to this, the color rendering index (CRI) is better than older technology bulbs. CRI is the technical term for the way a bulb makes colors look to the human eye. The higher the CRI, the more subtle variations of the shade of color are seen. You can also get the Sylvania Pentron T5 in various colors such as 3000K, 3500K and 4100K.  This makes it possible to match up your current lighting with the newer energy saving standards.  You'll be impressed with how colors look more vibrant under this lamp!

With the advent of higher electrical costs, many businesses are looking for ways to save energy with lighting.  There are many choices in this area right now and one of the most popular type of lamps are the T5 fluorescent lights with matching electronic ballasts. This combination has been a standard for saving energy and many times has electric utility rebates associated with it.  What makes them such a natural is that the sockets used for less efficient T12 or T8 lamps are exactly the same making it an easy retrofit.  Another nice feature of the T5 electronic ballasts is that we provide them in a universal voltage.  That means that you buy one ballast for both 120 or 277 volt and the ballast has special technology which recognizes the voltage and operates accordingly.  Now there won't be a time when you wonder if you got the right voltage, you have it in one ballast!  We also have 347 volt ballasts for our Canadian friends who sometimes have a hard time finding these from US companies.  In either case, we make it easier for you by providing the correct one, without having to keep multiple voltages on the shelf.

Remember that there are many types of T5 electronic ballasts, we describe some of the most common used in commercial lighting today.  Whatever type you choose or have, you will be saving energy while getting the most light you can for your money.  We have a large inventory of ballasts for nearly every type of fluorescent light bulb in the field.  If you need help identifying yours, our customer service representatives can help you determine what you have.