Fluorescent Tube Type

Electrically they are all the same, and can be swapped from one fitting to another, the only problem (like I found) is that if you have a number of tubes of one type in a part of your home, a tube of a different type will cast a noticeably different light. I put a "daylight" garage/basement tube in our dining room and my wife said it clashed with the kitchen tubes which are "cool white". I could see a slight difference but she said "no way".

Thanks. After posting I got to work on the 4 tube fixture in our kitchen. For the past two days, the outer two where sometime on, sometimes off. Since they work together, and they both worked when I got the cover off, I had to replace one at a time and wait until it failed again. It was the second one I swapped with a know good tube. With the diffuser off, the older 3 definitely look pinker than the new "shop" light I put it, but I usually don't look up at the ceiling anyway. I definitely like the cooler, natural daylight light better, and will replace the others with the "shop" lights as needed (and eventually daylight LEDs).