A group of F40T12 fluorescents... sure they're boring Cool-White, and Plilips Alto's, but they're 40w lamps (not that 34w energy-saver crap) 40w Alto's really aren't that bad.
I've always like the green endcaps too I believe Philips has some sorta copyright-type thing on green for endcaps?
Two dozen lamps should last me a long time .. even If I use a few for "tests" like overdriving on a HO or VHO ballast LOL
There were a couple that were EOL (broken filament on one end...but not blackened, I think it was probably due to rough handling after being removed from service)
A couple weeks after getting these I got some others from another place (and some of them were new/unused F40 Daylight's )
I'm fine with most big three lamps for fluorescents and CFLs but I tend to use GE and Sylvania's incandescents.
HID I have no real preference for since they're a bit harder to find...I can get Sylvania HID the easiest since Lowe's sells them, Philips is a bit harder to find since only some smaller hardware places sell them (HD only has a 70w HPS). GE is almost impossible to find from retail here.
I've had problems with GE's T12 EcoLux lamps. I had a F20T12 ecolux that refused to even make the starter strike on a preheat ballast and won't stop flickering on a RS ballat. It's not small flickering either it's annoyingly noticeable. I put the lamp in my brother's closet light since it wouldn't work in mine and my parents didn't like the blueish flickering light it put out. The T8 ecolux lamps seem alright. They do have some pretty cool EOL shows, for a few seconds at least. One died in my american fluorescent wrap and it tripped the EOL protection. It was glowing a bright purple at one end and went totally BLACK.
I've noticed that the GE T8s tend to blacken quickly on instant start so I mainly run them on RS and PS ballasts. Oh and I've had the most trouble with Alto lamps, I've had to return three since they were DOA they were a F32T8 5000K, a F96T12/HO/CW/EW (fun time taking that sucker back) and a F20T12/CW.
Two dozen lamps should last me a long time .. even If I use a few for "tests" like overdriving on a HO or VHO ballast LOL
A couple weeks after getting these I got some others from another place (and some of them were new/unused F40 Daylight's )
HID I have no real preference for since they're a bit harder to find...I can get Sylvania HID the easiest since Lowe's sells them, Philips is a bit harder to find since only some smaller hardware places sell them (HD only has a 70w HPS). GE is almost impossible to find from retail here.