In Sainsbury's today and noticed the strip lights over one area had 2 very small diameter tubes (about 15 mm). They seemed very bright and were in an attractive fitting (metal mesh sides and diffuser grilles)
I wondered if they were a new 'normal' tube - or some sort of high frequency type.
They will be T5HO. That's T5 (5/8" diameter) High Output tubes.
There's also a T5HE (high efficiency) version. They are significantly lower power and dimmer than the T5HO tubes.
Both types are always run from electronic control gear.
They are increasingly common in commercial environments. The thinner tube (smaller light source) makes it possible to design optics/reflectors to more accurately direct the light where it's wanted with less spilled wastage elsewhere.
I have used both types for kitchen lighting; T5HE for under cupboard light, and T5HO for over cupboard lighting bouncing off the ceiling. (The T5HO tubes get rather hot, and you wouldn't want them under a food storage cupboard, besides being too bright for that location.)
Were they normal length and width of the fitting itself? There are fittings used for emergency lighting that look like normal fittings but contain 12V battery back-up for mains failure lighting. They use very thin 12V tubes with internal power supply and charging gear inside what looks like a normal fitting. Did you notice if they had a red or green LED on somewhere?
The guys are good for all types of lighting
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