what is VHO lighting?

Im a little confused on the VHO part of this hobby.
Is a VHO a bulb or a fixture?
I have seen a few sites advertise VHO fixture that use t5 bulbs

PFO Lighting Polyplight 36" 4-VHO

Can my t5 fixture be made into a VHO?

I really havnt seen a true VHO fixture, so what im a missing that makes it diffrent than a t5 fixture. thanks

 

T-5s and VHOs are definitely not the same.

VHO = Very High Output: Standard size fluorescent bulb that runs at a much higher wattage than a normal lamp.

T-5 = Fluorescent bulb that is 5mm in diameter. A standard bulb is 12mm in diameter.

T-5s are much newer technology and are more efficient at providing light than a VHO.

 

There are 3 types of bulbs. Normal output, high output and very high output. T5s normally fall under high output, being about twice as strong as a normal output bulb of comparable size. To achieve a very high output, you need to over drive the bulbs. This is done usually using an Icecap 660 ballast, but can be done with other ballasts. By overdriving a bulb you get more output, For example, a 54w T% HO bulb when over driven will put out about 80w. Other size flourescent bulbs can achieve VHO as well, it just depends on the ballast.

 

I don't believe this to be true. Many people still use VHO, usually a T12 bulb. T5s are just a smaller bulb, but can achieve the same effect as VHO too.

 

The "T" designation is 1/8" increments, so a T5 is 5/8" or just under 16mm. T8 is 1", 25.4mm and T12 is 12/8" or 1.5", about 41mm

They're not JUST a smaller bulb, they have a higher light density. Because the arc is closer to the walls and they use a special phosphor they achieve a higher over all lumen per watt output than a standard T12 bulb, and because they're smaller you can fit more into the same space. In general they are the same design, just more efficient.

Also, they're finding use in my MH/HQI fixture. Forget VHO's. Check out the Maristar fixtures. 3x 250w DE HQI, 4x 39w T5. For me it's not as much about PAR, but about being able to tune a spectrum of bulbs to my liking.

 

The reason that VHO T12's are used to supplement Halides, as I understand it, is because pure actinic T12's work much better than pure actinic T5's, and that is what you're normally supplementing.

From what I've seen T5 pure actinics don't have much par at all, however, there are some Blue bulbs that have actinic spectrum in them that will put out way more par.

 

Well, the old school T12 VHO bulbs were the standard for supplementation to MH for years. PC came out as the next new thing, but were so inefficient that they quickly faded from the spot light. T5ho came out, and because they are so thin, a proper reflector can be made for them that you could actually fit a nice reflector on the bulb and not use a ton of space.

When icecap found out that their 430 and 660 ballasts made for running VHO t12 bulbs will overdrive a t5ho 954w ho to 80w when overdriven) they called it VHO t5.

it's a little confusing for newer folks, but since this all happened over the course of many years, it's fairly easy to understand when you find out what came first, and the progression from there.

 

how would someone add a 660 ballast on their existing T5HO setup.. I think I want to do this.

 

As long as your wiring harness is standard pin configuration it's pretty much plug and play.

 

The one thing to keep in mind is that overdriving a bulb will result in a shorter life and more heat, so just be aware of that.