SunBlaster T5HO 6400K w/NanoTech Reflector – 17W 18 Inch

The SunBlaster T5HO 6400K w/NanoTech Reflector is an 18-inch, 17-watt T5 high-output combo kit designed for seedlings, clones, and early vegetative growth. The kit includes an electronic T5HO ballast, 6400K lamp, power cord with on/off switch, jumper plug, and both hanging and flat-surface mounting clips. The integrated NanoTech T5 Reflector spreads light wider across the plant canopy and penetrates deeper into foliage — increasing effective light output by up to 48% without drawing any additional wattage.

SunBlaster T5HO 6400K NanoTech Reflector Specifications

All specifications below are sourced from the manufacturer’s published data for item SL0900268.

Specification	Value
Item Number	SL0900268
Light Output	1,120 Lumens
Power Consumption	17 Watts
Rated Life	10,000 Hours
Colour Temperature	6400 Kelvin
Lighting Angle	103°
Voltage	110–130 Volts
Nominal Length	474 mm
Nominal Width	46 mm
Nominal Height	36 mm
Weight	1.0009 lb

Why Choose the SunBlaster T5HO NanoTech Reflector?

The SunBlaster T5HO combo is built around a practical problem: most compact T5 fixtures waste a significant portion of their light output by allowing it to scatter in directions that never reach the plant canopy. The NanoTech T5 Reflector addresses this directly. Its geometry spreads light wider and pushes it deeper into dense foliage, so you get better canopy penetration from the same 17-watt lamp — without adding circuits or wattage to your grow room.

According to the manufacturer, the NanoTech reflector increases effective light output by up to 48% compared to operating the same lamp without it. Beyond raw output, the reflector also redirects heat that would otherwise radiate back from the lamp and ballast into the growing area. That heat redirection helps keep the microclimate around tender seedlings and clones more stable, and it can contribute to longer lamp and ballast service life over time.

This is a complete kit. You do not need to source a ballast, lamp, or mounting hardware separately. The included power cord has an on/off switch, which is useful when the fixture is wall- or shelf-mounted where unplugging would be inconvenient. Both hanging clips and flat-surface mounting clips are included, so the fixture works in overhead rigs, propagation domes, cabinet grows, and open rack systems without adapters.

At 17 watts and 1,120 lumens, this fixture is matched to an 18-inch lamp length — the shortest standard T5HO size. It is a focused tool for a specific job: delivering full-spectrum 6400K light to propagation flats, seedling trays, and small clone stations where a larger fixture would be overkill and a standard LED panel might not fit the geometry of the space.

Best Uses for the SunBlaster T5HO 18-Inch

The 18-inch T5HO is sized and specced for early-stage plant work. Its compact footprint, low heat profile, and cool 6400K color temperature make it practical in situations where larger fixtures create problems rather than solve them.

• Propagation and cloning: The 6400K spectrum and wide 103° lighting angle cover propagation trays and clone domes evenly. The low heat output reduces the risk of drying out unrooted cuttings placed close to the light.
• Seedling development: From germination through first true leaves, seedlings benefit from the blue-dominant spectrum at 6400K. The fixture mounts directly over a standard flat without requiring a light mover or additional hardware.
• Vegetative supplementation in cabinet or rack grows: In tiered grow shelves or seed-starting racks, the 18-inch length matches standard tray dimensions and the flat-mount clips allow installation on shelf undersides without drilling.
• Mother plant maintenance: A compact T5HO mounted at close range can maintain a small mother plant in a confined space between cuttings cycles, keeping growth compact and healthy at minimal operating cost.
• Greenhouse and indoor propagation benches: The fixture runs on 110–130V standard household current, so it integrates easily into any bench-level propagation setup without dedicated wiring.

SunBlaster T5HO vs. Standard T5 Fixtures

A bare T5HO strip fixture — ballast, lamp, and housing with a plain white reflector — operates at roughly the same wattage and produces the same raw lumens from the lamp. The difference with the SunBlaster NanoTech combo is in what happens to that light after it leaves the lamp.

Standard T5 fixtures use a stamped or powder-coated aluminum reflector that bounces some light downward but also allows significant scatter at the sides. In a sealed cabinet or propagation dome this can mean uneven coverage across the tray, with bright spots directly under the lamp and dimmer zones toward the edges. The NanoTech reflector geometry is designed to address this: it spreads light across a wider angle (the rated 103° beam) and reduces the concentration of heat reflected back into the growing area. The manufacturer claims up to 48% more light reaching the canopy compared to the same lamp without the NanoTech reflector.

For growers comparing options, a multi-tube T5HO fixture like the T5 Designer 4-foot 4-tube fixture delivers substantially higher total output across a larger footprint — but at a larger size and higher price point. The SunBlaster 18-inch combo is the right choice when space is the constraint rather than output per square foot. If you need supplemental lighting or a starter kit for propagation but do not need to cover a 4×4 canopy, the single-tube 18-inch kit is the more practical match.

Compatibility & Setup

The SunBlaster T5HO 17W runs on standard 110–130V AC power — the same voltage as a household outlet in North America. No step-down transformer or special wiring is required. The included power cord with on/off switch plugs into any grounded standard outlet.

The jumper plug allows multiple SunBlaster T5HO units to be daisy-chained together end-to-end, extending coverage across longer propagation benches without running separate power cords to each fixture. The fixture supports both hanging installation (via the included hanging clips attached to ratchet hangers, wire, or chain) and flat mounting directly to a shelf underside using the included flat-surface clips.

This fixture is not a dimmable unit and does not require an external ballast — the electronic ballast is integrated into the combo. It is not compatible with external ballast controllers and does not accept replacement ballasts or lamps from third-party T5HO fixtures without verifying pin type and ballast compatibility separately.

Growers running full-scale propagation operations may want to compare this compact kit with higher-output options. The Super Sprouter Premium Heated Propagation Kit with T5 Light is a complete propagation system that pairs a T5 fixture with a heated dome for environments where bottom heat is also needed. For growers scaling up from a single 18-inch fixture, the T5 Designer 4-foot 4-tube fixture covers a larger footprint with multiple lamps for established vegetative areas.

How to Get the Most From Your T5HO

The following usage guidelines are based on the manufacturer’s included documentation and standard T5HO practices for propagation and early vegetative lighting.

1. Mount at appropriate height for the growth stage. For seedlings and newly struck cuttings, position the fixture 2–4 inches above the canopy. As plants develop, raise the fixture to 4–6 inches to reduce the risk of bleaching tender new growth. The 103° beam angle provides good coverage across standard propagation tray widths at these distances.
2. Use the on/off switch for daily cycles. The included power cord with on/off switch lets you manage photoperiod manually. For seedlings, 18 hours on / 6 hours off is common; clones often do best under 24 hours of light until rooted. Connect to a timer for consistent scheduling.
3. Daisy-chain multiple units for longer benches. Use the included jumper plug to connect additional SunBlaster T5HO combos in sequence. This extends coverage without adding extra power cords, keeping the bench wiring tidy.
4. Keep the NanoTech reflector clean. Dust and residue on the reflector surface reduce light transmission over time. Wipe the reflector with a dry or slightly damp cloth when the fixture is powered off and cooled. Avoid abrasive cleaners that can scratch the reflective coating.
5. Monitor lamp hours. The 6400K lamp is rated for 10,000 hours. Track installation date or operating hours and replace the lamp before output degrades noticeably — typically when lumen depreciation becomes visible as reduced stem elongation or slower seedling development. SunBlaster replacement lamps are available separately.
6. Position for flat-mount installations. When mounting the fixture to a shelf underside using the flat-surface clips, verify the clips are fully seated and the fixture is level. An uneven fixture creates uneven coverage across the tray below.

Sources & Further Reading