One of the more unusual lamps in the lighting industry has been used in many types vending machines and some task lighting.  F25T12 bulbs were a variation which had more to do with length and less to do with wattage.  Because they're not a standard size, many people have not been able to find them in their local hardware store, that's why we carry them in the various lengths.  You can tell the difference between a T12 and a T8 by measuring the diameter of the bulb. The F25T12 bulb will be 1 1/2 inch in diameter in several lengths, compared to 1 inch for the F25T8 bulb.  The T12 is the standard cool white or warm white lamp that's been used in offices throughout the world.  As with all fluorescent bulbs, they rely on ballasts inside of the fixtures in order to make them work.  Almost all fixtures for these bulbs come with ballasts already mounted and wired. The ballast is important because it is specific for each type of lamp, this is especially true for the F25T12.  The F25T12 fluorescent light bulb typically operates on a magnetic ballast which is less efficient than it's electronic counterpart.  Look for this lamp commonly used in vending machine or task lighting situation.  So the number you may see is something like F25T12/CW/28, F25T12/CW/30, F25T12/CW/33, F25T12/WW/33 and F25T12/D/33.  You can always determine the length of the bulb by the number at the end of the code which could be 28, 30 or 33 inches.  That measurement is taken for the overall length including the pins. 

Some people have wanted alternatives to the F25T12 which would be more energy efficient and common.  But most of the time, the length of the lamp prevents any viable retrofit working in that situation.  If it's in a vending machine, there is almost no room for anything but the lamp itself, and then changing position of the sockets is very difficult.  So if you have this lamp, you're probably stuck with it unless you change to a new fixture completely, but for some cases, even that is impossible.  But not to worry, we have these lamps available to you and will be in stock for many years to come.  If you're going to buy one, you may want to buy several so you will have them on hand.

Because it's still very common in many old vending machines and task lights across the country, we make the F25T12 fluorescent light bulbs a substantial part of our offering. There will probably never be a time when these will not be in use. Remember that there are many types of fluorescent lighting, we describe some of the most common used in commercial lighting here.  The F25T12 fluorescent light bulb is an older style and technology for vending or task lighting.  Whatever type of fluorescent you choose, you will be getting the lamp you need to fill the socket and provide good light.  We have a large inventory of fluorescent bulbs for nearly every type of light fixture in the field.  If you need help identifying a fluorescent bulb, check out our web site or call us.  Our customer service representatives will be happy to help you determine what you have.