4' LED Light Tubes to replace flourescent

[Junkman]

I am thinking of converting a 4' x 4' fluorescent fixture with LED bulbs, and was wondering if anyone has any experience with these. I found this auction, and it seems like what I am looking for, just don't know much about the quality of these. Changing out the fixture for a new fixture, isn't an option, so I will be retrofitting these to replace the old 40 fluorescent tubes. I know that I have to remove the old ballasts, and change over the wiring.

 

[Sneeze357]

They will work, but at only 1890 lumens, they will be dimmer than the fluorescent tube was.

 

[Mustang51js]

Once you put them in it's all you can use since you need to remove or disconnect the ballast that's in the light.

 

[Fueler]

Before bidding I suggest digging and studying further.
Expower seems to be a ghost company popular with the aquarium sellers.
I kind of question the high amount of leds listed at 196. This is a lot more than most but the same output?
Most 18w are listed to replace 32w bulbs.

Now, you can get LEDs with higher wattage.
Some places to start.

http://www.1000bulbs.com/category/t8-retrofit-led-tubes-5000k/
http://www.t8tubes.com/

 

[gatchel]

I would convert to T-8's before LED's in the tube configurations. Especially at $191 for a tube..... and with a CRI of >85...

Is there a reason you want to convert to LED over T-8?

 

[paranoid56]

I would convert to T-8's before LED's in the tube configurations. Especially at $191 for a tube..... and with a CRI of >85...

Is there a reason you want to convert to LED over T-8?

its $191 for 8 tubes.

 

[gatchel]

its $191 for 8 tubes.

My bad. Saw the qty and it said 1. Didn't read much more...

 

[600SL]

That's still $24 a tube. That buys a lot of electricity. Any idea of the payback time.

 

[tfi racing]

That's still $24 a tube. That buys a lot of electricity. Any idea of the payback time.

You will never see the payback on one fixture,alson make sure they have a good warranty-you will need it.

 

[Junkman]

I put new fluorescent bulbs in for the time being. I had gone to the electrical supply house to see if they had them, but they didn't. While I was there, they had 10 watts 3000K GE LED 700 lumens bulbs for $5.00 each. Limit was 20, and you had to live in the service area. It was a "special" in conjunction with the local utility. I can't believe how bright they are compared to the incandescent bulb that they replaced. The package claims that they will cost $1.20 per year to operate, based on 3 hours a day. Life expectancy is 22.8 years.

 

[Hantke]

There are some benefits of LED's, less eye strain, healthier etc. (Also if you know anybody with tourettes, LED's will be much less of an irritant that flourecents). I think they produce a nicer more solid (filling?) light that i can work more comfortably in, less bright glare (and above mentioned reason). They last longer, and operate on less electricity, I say LED all the way. If you happen to be good at wiring, you can build your own LED light bars (also popular with aquarium guys, good source to learn) and get exactly what you want for cheaper.
I upgraded the lights in my room to LED one day, flipped the switch and practically went blind, i have a 4 bulb fan and i removed two so that i can see comfortably, always more than plenty bright for my tastes.

 

[ghiradelli777]

any pics of your setup?

 

[Shelterman]

I also had considered LED lighting in the new shop that I'm building until I read about them causing all sorts of radio interference...AM, FM, Shortwave, garage door openers, WiFi, etc. I use ALL of these in my garage. This problem scared me off of LED.

I'm sure there'll be advancements/improvements in the technology that will correct this. I'd be interested if anyone knows a solution to this problem.

 

[paranoid56]

I dont think thats a problem at all. old fluorescents would do that, but nothing LED will cause those issues. my whole house has LEDs now and i also do all that (other then shortwave) and never have a issue.

 

[rsanter]

Those are very cool. We have 3 different types on display at my work.
With that said they are not worth the money that they cost verses the energy they save.

There are 3 types out there
1 the type that still uses the ballast....don't like these because when the ballast goes bad you still have the cost of replacing the ballast and they are a little lower in efficiency

2 the type that you remove the ballast and then the tubes are direct powered through the pins. This is the one to get if you do get them

3 the type that the pins just hold the tube up and there is a seperate wire out the back that you wire up to power them to work...cheeeeezy....

If you really want to use something like that. Do a search on the web for LED strip lights.
They are a flexible strip of LEDs that you can glue onto anything. This is often the same strips that you will see used in some of the tubes you are looking at and they are just putting into a tube for you.

You can make your own fixtures by taking aluminum or lexan. Cutting 4 or 5 or 6 four foot strips off the roll of 50-100 feet that you buy. Glue them onto the backing material ( then aluminum or lexan) wire them up and the wire them to their little transformer and attach them to the ceiling.
Put a cover over them if you want....or not
Way less money and you can make something that looks totally cool

Those same strips are great for gluing under your cabinets to make under cabinet lighting.
Put one strip....not enouh light for you....add anger strip next to it

Bob

 

[LS6 Tommy]

Expower stuff is junk. I know too many aquarium guys & gals that got screwed buying them, even at lower prices than they're being offered for on the ebay ad. This is one situation where you really do get what you pay for. I can get REALLY good LED replacements for fluorescent tubes like that for about $70.00 a pop...

Tommy

 

[Falcon67]

Thanks for the link on the 1000bulb LEDs. No, I would not pay $20/bulb for use in the shop. But I dang sure would spend $80 to poplulate two 4' x 2 bulb fixtures in the race trailer. How much brighter do you think that will be - than two 1003 incandescents.

 

[Fishplate]

I've installed a heap of these at work:

http://www.1sourceled.com/products-page/tube-lights/tl-series-led-tube-lights

Most of these went in fixtures that are on all the time. I expect them to pay back pretty quickly. first lot was $50 each, last lot was 100 at $30 each. Replaced a lot of T-12 lamps and some T-8s with these, they are great for area lighting or offices.

 

[Mickster144]

I have installed Cree LED's in my garage and they are like having skylights installed. The light is easy on the eyes and I didn't hear anyone mention that they do not attract insects like other bulbs. I bought mine at EarthLED. They were pricey, but each fixture is 4000 lumens.
Cree MicroMixing™ technology
Room-side heat sink
Delivered Light Output: 4000 lumens
Input Power: 55 watts
CRI: >80
CCT: 3500K
Input Voltage: 120 VAC
Warranty: 10 Years
Lifetime: Designed to last 55,000 hours
Mounting: Surface or suspended
Dimensions: L 40" x W 5.65" x H 2.25"
Weight: 3.4lbs