T5 HO fixture question

Being a complete dummy when it comes to lighting, I'm wondering if it's safe to use a normal output T5 bulb in a high output T5 fixture?

Yes.

T5HO bulbs require higher current than normal T5s bulbs so you have to have a T5HO fixture to properly drive T5HO bulbs.

A T5HO fixture can easily drive T5 bulbs - you just won't get as much light as you would with a T5HO bulb.

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Thank you.

It'll just be temporary, but I wasn't sure if there would be something in that HO fixture that would be too much for a NO bulb to handle.

On the contrary, I believe T5NO fixtures can run T5HO bulbs, but T5HO fixtures cannot run T5NO bulbs - the power the T5HO fixture tries to pump into the bulb will blow it up, or at the very least ruin the bulb.

Whatever you do, be very careful...

Gizmo wrote:... the power the T5HO fixture tries to pump into the bulb will blow it up, or at the very least ruin the bulb. ...

This is the sort of thing I was imagining happening and with my luck with lights/bulbs -- -- it wouldn't surprise me. Someone posted in that link that they had done it and it worked, but if there is any doubt, I don't want to take the chance. What I really don't want to do, is ruin the fixture somehow. Maybe I'll just leave the tank dark until I can get a bulb ordered.

More data supporting the ability to run T5NO in a T5HO fixture:

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It seems that the answer may differ between ballast makers. Regardless, don't mix T5HO and T5NO on the same ballast.