How to easily replace fluorescent tubes with LED tubes?
LED Tubes – The Ultimate Guide to Replacing Fluorescent Tubes
- Tube Color Temperature. ...
- Understanding Tube Sizes. ...
- LED Fluorescent Replacement Tubes. ...
- LED Fluorescent Replacement Tube Options. ...
- Universal (T12 Magnetic or T8 Electronic) Ballast Compatible LED Tubes. ...
- We Are LED Fluorescent Replacement Tube Experts. ...
- Selecting the Right Replacement. ...
What is better T12 or T8 fluorescent tube?
The difference between T8 and T12 bulbs is that T8 bulbs have a diameter of 1.5 inches, whereas T12 bulbs have a diameter of 1 inch. T8 bulbs are a better choice than T 12 bulbs. This can be easily proved. T8 bulbs have a better color rendering index as well as high efficacy.
Can a T8 led replace a T12?
T12 tubes pull 40 watts, and are frequently being replaced with lower wattage t8 tubes, which operate on 32 watts. When posing the question can a t8 light work on a t12 ballast, the short answer is no.
Why are fluorescent tubes used instead of bulbs?
Why are fluorescent tubes used instead of bulbs? Fluorescent lighting’s energy efficiency is one of its most attractive features. When compared to a traditional light bulb, a fluorescent tube typically saves 25-35 percent of the energy it consumes.
What happens if you use a T8 bulb in a T12 fixture?
The main difference between T8 and T12 tubes is the tube's diameter. T12 tubes are 1.5" in diameter while T8s are just one inch. All other things—socket sizes, lengths, distance between pins—are the same. T8 LED tubes won't fall out if you try to install them in a T12 fixture—they'll fit just fine.May 15, 2019
Can I put a T8 bulb in a T12 ballast?
Waveform Lighting's T8 LED tube lights feature compatibility with all ballast configurations (ballast, ballast bypass single ended, ballast bypass double ended), so they can safely be used in T12 fixtures as long as the T12 ballast is bypassed or removed.
How do you convert a T12 fluorescent bulb to a T8?
0:444:44T12 Fluorescent to T8 LED Conversion, Part 1 - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipAnd down at that end two blue wires two red wires. And you want to connect those together. And thenMoreAnd down at that end two blue wires two red wires. And you want to connect those together. And then over here there's two yellow wires and they're jumpered to the black wires to the other connector.
Can I use a T8 LED tube in a T8 fluorescent fixture?
Type A - LED tube has an Integrated Driver for use on Existing Fluorescent Ballast. Type A LED tubes need an existing T8 electronic ballast to operate. If you have T8 electronic ballasts this makes installation very easy. All you need to do is remove the existing T8 fluorescent lamp and install a new T8 LED Type A lamp ...
Are T8 or T12 bulbs brighter?
The Standard T12 lamp produces 2,650 initial lumens per lamp. The standard T8 produces 2,800 initial lumens per lamp, 6% brighter. But the standard T12 lamp produces 2,300 design lumens and the T8 produces 2,660 design lumens.Feb 1, 2010
How do I know if my ballast is T8 or T12?
If no markings are available, the size in diameter of the tube is the easiest way to determine the type you have installed. T8 tubes are 1-inch in diameter and T12 tubes are 1 1/2 -inch.Jun 3, 2015
Why is a T8 lamp better than a T12 lamp?
Because of their smaller size, T8 lamps trap less light within the fixture and create more usable light. Because a T8 uses rare-earth phosphors, the light emitted has superior color characteristics and the lamp has a higher efficiency compared to the T12, which uses less-expensive halophosphates that typically provide only good color quality ...
When did the T12 fluorescent light stop being produced?
In an effort to promote energy efficiency and protect the environment, the U.S. Department of Energy banned the production of magnetic ballasts for T12 fluorescent lamps in 2010 and the production of T12 fluorescent lamps in 2012. One alternative is to replace or retrofit existing fixtures with more efficient and more environmentally friendly ...
How much light does a T8 lamp produce?
The T8 lamp uses an electronic ballast that produces 265 milliamperes as opposed to the 430 milliamperes magnetic ballast used on T12 lamps. The higher frequencies produced by an electronic ballast create 10 to 12 percent more light output than the magnetic ballast operating a T12 lamp at 60 hertz. The electronic ballast also produces less flicker ...
How many feet to convert a T12 light fixture?
Most kits come with all material needed to convert a 4-foot or 8-foot T12 light fixture and complete instructions, which vary by fixture size and lamp count. Some parts are pre-wired and will require only ballast leads to be connected.
What happens if you use a T8 ballast with a T12?
Using a T8 lamp with a T12 ballast will result in premature lamp failure due to overheating. Using a T12 lamp with a T8 ballast will result in premature ballast failure due to overheating. Advertisement. references.
How many lamps can an electronic ballast operate?
One electronic ballast can operate up to four lamps. A magnetic ballast typically operates only up to two lamps.
What is the diameter of a T8 tube?
T8 tubes are simply 1 inch in diameter versus the 1.5 inch diameter of T12 tubes. In an effort to make LED tube lights compatible with the internal dimensions of most fixtures, you will find that most LED tube lights feature a T8 or 1 inch diameter. They can indeed be used in T12 fixtures. With this said, T12 fluorescents for ...
Can T12 fluorescents be used with LED?
They can indeed be used in T12 fixtures. With this said, T12 fluorescents for the most part use magnetic ballasts therefore, the only way to use LED tube lights with this type of fixture is to either purchase an LED ballast bypass tube light and bypass the ballast wiring or purchase a universal magnetic ballast compatible tube light.
What size LED tube is used for T8?
Now the LED Tubes T8 are available for all those base and 8ft, and also 2ft, 3ft, 4ft, 5ft, 8ft too. So it's quite convenient to use a T8 LED Tube to replace the old T10 and T12 tubes. While the size is the main difference there are other differences that are worth mentioning. In general, T8 use electronic ballasts while T12 use magnetic ballasts.
What type of tube is T12?
One more point need to emphasize. The T12 old tubes, the T12 sockets of the "Non-Shunted Rapid Start" type, which require the tubes to be single-end power feed type . There are single-end power feed and dual-end power feed tube, most of the LED T8 tube are default to be dual-end power feed type.
How big is a T8 tube?
The T8, T10 and T12 tubes are mainly difference in the diameter of the tube. The main difference is in size…the T8 is one inch in diameter and everything else is divisible by that number: T5 = 5/8 inch, T6 = 6/8 inch, T8 = 1 inch, T10 = 1.25 inches (10/8), T12 = 1.5 inches in diameter (12/8).
Do LED lights have a magnetic ballast?
but, in general, the older the fixture, the more likely it is to have a magnetic ballast. You can purchase the ballast-compatible LED Tubes if do not want to make any change in your old tube fixtures.
What type of ballast is used in a T8?
In general, T8 use electronic ballasts while T12 use magnetic ballasts. Opening the fixture and examining the ballast will give you the ultimate answer as to what type of ballast you have; but, in general, the older the fixture, the more likely it is to have a magnetic ballast. With the ballast and tube type considerations out of the way, ...
How big is a T8 ballast?
T8 tubes are 1-inch in diameter and T12 tubes are 1 1/2 -inch. If you have a tube that is very small in diameter (5/8 inch) you have a T5,and thus the remainder of this discussion will not be of use in terms of helping retrofit this application. Now that you know what type of tubes you have, the next key is to understand the type of ballast.
Why are hybrid tubes used in mixed facilities?
This is an advantage for mixed type facilities because the same tube light can be used with a quicker implementation time. Hybrid tubes also allow for the tube light to quickly bypass the ballast if the ballast fails due to their dual operating nature.
What is the least expensive LED replacement tube?
The oldest but also least expensive and most widely installed option is the ballast bypass or direct wire LED fluorescent replacement tube. Instead of building expensive circuitry inside to enable the function with a ballast, this option instead allows the user to bypass the ballast entirely and run directly off of the line voltage at the installation.
Can LED fluorescent tubes work without ballasts?
As their name might suggest, they are meant to work with electronic ballast installations and therefore will not function with magnetic ballasts nor will they function without ballasts.
Can LED tubes work with T8 ballasts?
Some manufacturers have recognized the opportunity to provide LED tube lights that work with Electronic Ballasts (T8) or have the ability to bypass ballasts when the ballast no longer works. This has given rise to a new category, the hybrid tube light.
Can a hybrid tube be wired to a T8 ballast?
Hybrid tubes work with T8 electronic ballasts but can also be wired directly like a ballast bypass tube light should the ballast fail or if a facility has a mixed environment with T8 and T12 that require both wiring types.
