One of the most popular linear fluorescent bulbs used over the past decades have been this lamp.  There are many places where they're used which include warehouses, production facilities and places that need a lot of light in an even illumination.  These can be identified by a single pin at each end of the lamp.  These are almost always used in spring loaded socket, making them easy to install and remove.  The most common type are the F96T12, but there are also F96T8 versions which use the same socket.  Although these are the most common, you will find these in almost any length as they have many different lighting applications so they can be as little as 2 feet long and as much as 8 feet long.  Probably the most common is the 8 foot cool white which has a code of F96T12/CW.  Some of the other codes are F24T12, F36T12, F48T12, F60T12 and the 8 foot version mentioned before, the F96T12.

The operation of these lamps, as with all fluorescent bulbs, rely on ballasts in order to make them work. The ballasts for slimline fluorescent light bulbs are usually larger than the standard types, and put out a lot more heat unless it is an electronic ballast.  The old style ballasts are very heavy if they have large windings inside.  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.  Most of the time the ballast and the lamp are matched electrically and so it's good to make sure the ballast you have is the right one for the lamp you choose.

You can get the slimline in almost any color you want including the more desirable full spectrum light, which is our Sylvania Design 50.  The typical choices in the past have been cool white, warm white and daylight, which are the least expensive.  The full spectrum has special phosphors that give it a similar color to daylight or natural sunshine.  It produces light the way our eyes naturally use it, giving better visual acuity and reducing problems like eyestrain.  The term full spectrum is primarily used when referring to those lamps that fall into the white to blue/white color temperature range.  It's these colors that are great for slimline bulbs because they appear so much brighter and cleaner.  If you have a sign or a cooler which sells product, the full spectrum or daylight color brings out the great colors of product making them more attractive.  That could mean more sales or turning food inventory faster in a grocery store.

Remember that there are many lengths of slimline light bulbs, we describe some of the most popular here.  We have a large inventory of fluorescent bulbs of all types for nearly every type of light fixture in the field.  It's never a problem to get what you need and Sylvania is our preferred brand of this type of lighting.  If you need help identifying a bulb, our customer service representatives can help you determine by length or wattage what you have.