Led tube lights and the cold

[bcoke]

I am contemplating putting 4 ft led tube lighting in an unheated storage barn will the cold temps bother it [ I am in southern Vermont] I will want to do this as I have the supplies on hand so no out of pocket costs.........thanks for you input ......Bobbycoke

 

[American Locomotive]

Almost all LED lights are rated to function down to 0°C at the minimum, but most will function reliably at far far lower temperatures.

 

[dogdog]

Almost all LED lights are rated to function down to 0°C at the minimum, but most will function reliably at far far lower temperatures.

Not if they have an electrolyte capacitor inside that is not up for the fidget temp... 1 battery charger dead , 1 motherboard dead, few LED bulbs dead.... the Battery charger and motherboard went out with an explosive bang...

 

[Stuart in MN]

It will really depend on the specific light. I often see them rated for operation down to -20C / -4F, but you have to look at the spec sheet for the one you're buying.

 

[DetachedGarage]

I don't have much experience with the LED tubes, but from a previous life I know LED's themselves love cold temperatures. It is the circuitry that does not like it. I can't make a recommendation, but it is mainly in the circuitry that is the limiting factor.

Just my $0.02 USD

 

[pbon]

In my last garage, unheated in NH, I had 9 Feit 4’ LED shop lights that turned on immediately in 0F temperature. Quality of parts could be a factor. No name, no quality control Chinese copies of copies of copies might not start as well in cold.

 

[cybrdyke]

Common LED tubes are rated to -20c . If it's colder than that, you shouldn't be in your barn.
Beware of junk products from ebay or amazon. They might not be able to handle extreme temps.
CD

 

[exranger06]

Never had a problem with my LEDs turning on in the cold weather. For a while I had a mixture of T8 fluorescents and LEDs, some of them mixed in the same fixture. The T8s were very dim in the cold, and took several minutes to warm up to full brightness. The LEDs have always been full brightness from the moment they were turned on. Bulb life has been much better than the T8s so far, too.

 

[Falcon67]

We don't get "that" cold, but the T8s that I was using in the shop would dim in the high 40F~low 50F range. After some run time, things would brighten up. After switching everything to 48" Utilitech LED tubes, it's all bright from switch on.

 

[walta]

Not if they have an electrolyte capacitor inside that is not up for the fidget temp... 1 battery charger dead , 1 motherboard dead, few LED bulbs dead.... the Battery charger and motherboard went out with an explosive bang...

I think you will find the standard electrolyte capacitor are rated for use from -30°C to +70°C

Is to why your stuff failed may have more to do with condensation or try Goggling reforming electrolyte capacitor.

https://www.electronics-tutorials.ws/capacitor/cap_3.html

Walta

 

[Platonic Solid]

Rated to -30°F (spec sheet link)

Greentek Energy Systems GT-T8-18W1200 BIXX(5000K)(3000K) 48" 18W LED T8
2520 Lumens per bulb, 120° Beam Angle
Universal Ballast Compatible / Ballast Bypass via Single End or Opposing End Wired
5000K or 3000K - 120-277V - 140 Lumens/Watt - Frosted Lens - Extruded Aluminum Body
$7.99 ea. (link) - no minimum - Free Shipping $99

OP - you say you have supplies on hand. If that means you have the bulbs, check their spec sheet.

 

[theoldwizard1]

My Costco work fine done to 0F !

 

[CJ7VFR]

Common LED tubes are rated to -20c . If it's colder than that, you shouldn't be in your barn...
CD

If you put LED retrofit tubes into an old fluorescent fixture that still uses the ballast, does that temperature rating still apply?

I was always curious about that.

Jim

 

[tfi racing]

I use Phillips Instant Fit LED T8 lamps in walk-in coolers and even freezers on a regular basis. The only issue I see is where condensation gets into an enclosed fixture and then freezes due to the lack of heat generated by the LED lamp, have seen them partially lit even fully enclosed in ice.

 

[cybrdyke]

If you put LED retrofit tubes into an old fluorescent fixture that still uses the ballast, does that temperature rating still apply?

I was always curious about that.

Jim

Fair question.
Typical electronic T8 ballasts have something called a "starting temperature" that's more relevant to how they would start fluorescent lamps and not relevant to LED tubes. Folks sometimes confuse that.

The listing for Philips' InstantFit "ballast only" tubes is -20c . They know that those lamps will be used with ballasts, and they still claim -20c.
CD

 

[CJ7VFR]

Fair question.
Typical electronic T8 ballasts have something called a "starting temperature" that's more relevant to how they would start fluorescent lamps and not relevant to LED tubes. Folks sometimes confuse that.

The listing for Philips' InstantFit "ballast only" tubes is -20c . They know that those lamps will be used with ballasts, and they still claim -20c.
CD

Thanks.

I have a few 4 foot fluorescent shop lights left in my garage and shed, and I found some LED retro fit tubes for sale cheap, but they are the type that require the ballast to remain in the fixture.

Since these fixtures are exposed to the cold, I was curious if the LED tubes would have a hard time lighting up like the fluorescent tubes always did.

Jim

 

[cybrdyke]

Thanks.

I have a few 4 foot fluorescent shop lights left in my garage and shed, and I found some LED retro fit tubes for sale cheap, but they are the type that require the ballast to remain in the fixture.

Since these fixtures are exposed to the cold, I was curious if the LED tubes would have a hard time lighting up like the fluorescent tubes always did.

Jim

Just check to see if the new lamps are compatible with the old ballasts. The lamp manufacturer should provide a compatibility list.
CD