A nice basic question about old fluorescent tubes

Moley · 2024-12-04T09:15:42+0000

A nice simple (I hope) question. The Mother in Law has an old strip fluorescent light in her kitchen. The tube is starting to show it's age (starting to blacken on the ends) so I've been thinking of converting her to LED. Is it just a case of taking the ballast and starter out of circuit and wiring direct to the tube socket? One end or both?

The lamp in her bathroom failed yesterday. I popped over to replace it for her and she produced a 60w incandescent replacement. Oh well.....

westward10 · 2024-12-04T09:28:15+0000

If it has a conventional ballast with a starter the ballast can be left in just replace the starter with a dummy LED starter.

littlespark · 2024-12-04T13:51:29+0000

You not got a few spare fluo tubes and starters sitting in storage for such jobs?

Moley · 2024-12-04T15:34:27+0000

Not got much need for one on top of a 400kV transformer.

littlespark · 2024-12-04T16:38:04+0000

Moley said:
Not got much need for one on top of a 400kV transformer.

Does it light up by itself if you’re on top of a transformer?

Next time you’re passing, I’ll give you one of mine…. At CEF prices!

Moley · 2024-12-04T17:36:35+0000

Bloody hope not. I don't want to be on top of a 400kV transformer when it's live

As for CEF price, give me time to get a bank loan

SparkySy · 2024-12-04T18:46:50+0000

I've been using the Fusion ones CEF keep.
They are reliable and not overly expensive.
Just need a L&N to one end cap.
They come with a replacement for the starter but I always remove the choke as it's not needed and continuing to have it in circuit is not efficient and if it goes and fails it will most likely trip the protection and not be resettable.
Sy