Converting Fluorescents into LEDs

[alex kane]

Has anyone had any experience with LED Fluorescent light fittings (strip lights).

A customer of mine wants all of the lamps in her property replaced with LED ones. A few wholsalers seem to think you can just swap over the lamps and they will work without having to install new drivers etc.

Is this possible or will I have to buy whole new light fittings with the LED lamps.

 

[Marvo]

Usually you remove the existing fluorescent ballast and make a couple of minor wiring changes then the LED tubes work in the existing light fittings.

 

[Johnuk]

as above

 

[Leesparkykent]

Some have built in drivers. If the existing light fitting has an electronic ballast it will need bypassing if it has a magnetic ballast then the led tube with built in driver would normally be a direct replacement for the standard fluorescent tube.

 

[Dave OCD]

Some have built in drivers. If the existing light fitting has an electronic ballast it will need bypassing if it has a magnetic ballast then the led tube with built in driver would normally be a direct replacement for the standard fluorescent tube.

But you then need to bypass the starter I think [very simple to do].

 

[Leesparkykent]

But you then need to bypass the starter I think [very simple to do].

Yeah i think looking in to it a bit more it depends on the manufacturer of the led tube you buy. Electronic ballasts require bypassing. magnetic ballasts require the starter to be replaced with an LED starter or inline fuse and some don't need the starter replaced or removed at all.

2 x Auralum® 4 Ft White 2835 120 LEDs T8 Milky White Cover LED Tube with LED Starter: Amazon.co.uk: Lighting

T8 24W LED Tube Light - 1500mm (5ft) - LED Tube Lights - Commercial LED Lighting


T8 4Ft 1200mm 18W Ballast Compatible LED SMD Tube light - No rewiring or starter replacement: Amazon.co.uk: Lighting

 

[Farmelectrics]

Read the manufactors instructions

 

[alex kane]

Thanks for all the help guys. I think I'll need to do some more research on my own before I get back to my customer!

 

[Doomed]

are they any good yet? the last ones I saw about 18 months ago were dismal.

 

[ImpededLoop]

are they any good yet? the last ones I saw about 18 months ago were dismal.

Some are ok. You need to check the light output and the colour to make sure that they are suitable to replace the existing fluorescents and give a similar quality of light. The ones I've seen only provide light from one side of the tube, so they will affect the photometrics of the luminaire. I've used them in fluorescent fittings with prismatic diffusers and they've been fine, but I've never used them with any other controller such as Cat 2.

Some of the LED tubes take line on one end and neutral on the other whereas some tubes take line and neutral to the two pins on one end only with the other end not electrically connected. The latter is said to be safer as you can't get a shock from the pins if one end is in the live lampholder whist the other end is in your hand.

 

[vjsmarwick]

i have replaced a few tubes with LED ones now my own kitchen included and i think they are great !! equivalent in light output but none of the flashing or slowly warming up.

 

[123]

If a switched start fitting it's just a case of changing the tube and taking out the starter and putting in what the manufacturer gives you (BG). Light output is very good and a 3 year warranty as well. High Frequency fittings require some internal rewiring however.

 

[Midwest]

Why bother with faffing around changing drivers, internal wiring etc. If the customer wants to replace her fluorescents with LED, give her a price for a new LED fitting, their not cheap (about twice the price), but by the time you've bought all the bits and less labour.