Product Questions
Q. What type of filter should I buy; tube or overlay cover?
A. NaturaLux™ fluorescent light covers are designed to sit atop existing plastic panels or metallic louvers. Once they are properly installed, they will stay in place and filter the light for many years to come, from re-lamping to re-lamping.
NaturaLux fluorescent light tube covers are designed to work in fixtures where there is no supporting panel or louver. The fluorescent bulb simply slides in the NaturaLux Tube Guard Sleeve, an end-cap is attached at either end of the tube, and then the bulb is twisted back in place into the fixture.
Q: How can I tell what size fluorescent bulb I have?
A: Good question. Bulb diameters are measured in 1/8” increments. Therefore, a T12 is 1-1/2” (12/8 of an inch); a T8 bulb is 1” in diameter (8/8); and a T5 is 5/8” in diameter.
You can find the size of the bulb either on the outside of the box that the bulbs are sold in, or on one end of the bulb. It will either say “T12”, “T8” or “T5” mixed in with other bulb information like “F32T8SP35.” In this example, the F32 relates the wattage;T8 refers to the diameter, and the SP35 refers to the color temperature (3500K).
Q: Will my lighting be much darker with the filters?
A: One of the most common reasons customers purchase our NaturaLux Filters is because their existing lighting is too bright. Overly bright lighting causes glare, and glare causes headaches, eyestrain, visual fatigue and blurred vision. NaturaLux filters only reduce light output by 20%, allowing 80% of the light through. By reducing the over-abundance (20%) of light, the glare is eliminated.
Learn more about reducing eyestrain.
Q: How do I know if I have glare in my office?
A: A very simple, yet effective way to determine if you have glare in your visual environment is to place your open hand, like you are saluting, over your eyebrows. If it becomes much easier on your eyes when you do this, you most-likely are dealing with glare.
Learn more about eliminating fluorescent light glare.
Q: I have lupus; will your filters help protect me from UV exposure?
A: NaturaLux Filters eliminate 100% of UV up to 380nm, up to 99% up to 390nm, and up to 80% up to 400nm. Many lupus patients have told us that they can now be under the NaturaLux filtered light for an entire work shift with no effects from the UV rays.
Learn more about lupus light filters.
Q: How long do NaturaLux Filters last?
A: Our NaturaLuxTM Filter Overlay Lenses are designed to filter out UV rays, color correct the light and reduce glare for over 10 years. Our NaturaLuxTM Tube Guard Sleeves perform the same functions for a period of about 6-7 years.
Q: What color temperature bulbs should I use with NaturaLux Filters?
A: To achieve optimal color balance, we recommend using either 4100K or 5000K bulbs. Our experience has taught us that 3500K lights are too orange, and 6500K bulbs are too bluish-green to permit proper color rendering.
Q:What is the difference between using NaturaLux Filters and full spectrum bulbs?
A: So-called “full spectrum” bulbs use a mixture of red, green and blue phosphors to obtain a better color rendering index (CRI) value for their bulbs. Colors viewed under a higher CRI are more accurate than viewing them under a lower CRI light source. While many of these bulbs may initially be full spectrum, the red phosphors decay at an accelerated rate, and cause the bulb to lose its full spectrum capabilities. NaturaLux Filters, on the other hand, use special colored pigments that are embedded within a plastic material to achieve a more natural, color- accurate and color balanced light. The UV absorbing material we use also helps prevent the fading or discoloration of our products over time.
Learn more about full spectrum light.