T5 lifespans?

[Tom]

I would like to know the 'real world' life expectancy of HE T5 tubes. I have 2 x GE Starcoat 14w and 2 x 21w Osram 840s in Thorn T5 Arrowslims (what a dissapointment on the build quality) over our kitchen worktops installed in 2006. No issues as yet but I would like to know when I can expect my first failure which will probably be a ballast LOL. The lights get on average 7-10 hours use a day but are always switched off at bedtime which should be a good duty cycle.

So should I get some spare tubes and maybe a ballast in?

Oh and there's also a Fitzgerald Mini Lightpack burning a Philips TL Pro 8w/840, the best fitting in the kitchen!

[Kev]

21W Is a funny one, Not one i come across often however the 14W don't have a fantastic life span probably not much different to a 13W T5 on magnetic gear. They may of improved the lamp life but some of them that i have seen have only lasted a couple years in shops. Ref the ballasts. 2006 Is a funny year, it seems that early fails were more rare from 2006-2007 on!

[Tom]

Ta! The ballasts are multi-watt Helvars that cover 14/21/28/35w T5s! Everyone at home loves the silent running and near instant on but I'm thinking of getting a spare in! I guess the tubes simply just die without warning? You know where you are with magnetic LOL!

[Kev]

I would just rip them out and scrap them because they are crap! I can give you some 4' 36W Switch start arrowslims