fluorescent tube brightness / number of tubes

[sm_jamieson]

Right, I have space for a 4 foot fluorescent tube (36w) above 2 runs of wall cabinets (72W in total). They will be shining upwards onto a matt white ceiling about 2 foot above and can probably have a reflector underneath (silver foil). They will be controlled by a dimmer, so at their full wattage want to be fairly bright. The room is about 4 x 5 metres. Question 1: how bright will this be ? (perhaps in relation to incandescent bulbs). I could get double ballasts and double up the tubes if required. Question 2: if you have a double ballast, do you have the option of only using one tube ? If so, I might as well get double ballasts for flexibility.

Cheers, Simon.

[meow2222]

cabinets (72W in total). They will be shining upwards onto a matt white ceiling about 2 foot above and can probably have a reflector underneath (silver foil).

fairly bright. The room is about 4 x 5 metres.

It varies, but in the region of roughly 4x the efficacy of incandescent, so about 300w

one tube ? If so, I might as well get double ballasts for flexibility.

depends on the ballast. Traditional electromag ballasts won't run just one tube.

NT