Fluorescent light to LED conversion ballast question

[Alienbaby17]

Had a ceiling light in our basement go out recently. The light bulb in it was a 13 watt small fluorescent bulb. My first thought was to get a new bulb for it. So I went to Home Depot and bought a direct replacement. I got home put the new bulb in but it still didn’t work. I assumed I was in for something a bit more complicated and decided to get back to it when I had a bit more time to look into it.

I was still slightly optimistic that I maybe just got a bad new bulb so when I happened to be in Home Depot again a few days later I picked up what was advertised as an LED conversion to replace a 13 watt fluorescent light bulb. I tried the LED bulb and it still didn’t work. I got out my meter and tested voltage into the ballast. It was good. I didn’t have voltage out of the ballast so I concluded the ballast was bad.

I started reading the directions for the LED conversion bulb. On the package it said, “PLUG + PLAY or REWIRE.” My quick reading of the directions implied that I didn’t need the ballast anymore with an LED bulb so I cut it out and connected the wires straight to the socket. I tried the light and it worked. I was pretty happy.

It’s now been a few days and everything is working fine but I made the mistake of doing a bit more reading and now am second-guessing my work. On the directions included with the LED bulb it shows diagrams for lights with an electric ballast and lights with a magnetic ballast. I’m not sure which one I had but I think it may have been the magnetic ballast as it says 60 Hz on it. The directions tell you to remove and bypass the electric ballast. However, the directions show the magnetic ballast being left in place. The directions say, “If the ballast is magnetic no need to remove.” I assume it says that because this LED conversion would work fine with a functional magnetic ballast so there’s no need to monkey with it or the wiring. However in my case the ballast was bad so I removed it and bypassed it.

I know the LED “plug + play” bulbs don’t need a ballast but I just want some reassurance that removing it was a safe thing to do. I know with an electric ballast it is totally fine but the way it was worded in the directions I’m not entirely confident it was safe to remove with a magnetic ballast. I’m 95% sure what I did was fine but would just love some reassurance from someone in the know.

Thanks.

First attached photo shows fixture in original condition (minus bulb).
Second photo shows LED conversion bulb package and instructions.
Third photo shows finished working fixture.

 

[cybrdyke]

You did it right.
Carry on.....
CD

 

[exranger06]

When they say to leave the magnetic ballast in place, what they mean is, you can leave it in the fixture, but disconnected. It's the same thing as removing it completely. They say that because some magnetic ballasts have hazardous materials in them, and by leaving them in the fixture, you don't need to deal with disposing of it properly.

 

[Alienbaby17]

Thanks for the input fellas. I can finally breathe easier knowing this little repair isn’t going to burn the house down.

 

[Platonic Solid]

When they say to leave the magnetic ballast in place, what they mean is, you can leave it in the fixture, but disconnected. It's the same thing as removing it completely. They say that because some magnetic ballasts have hazardous materials in them, and by leaving them in the fixture, you don't need to deal with disposing of it properly.

I respectfully disagree. The bottom wiring diagram pictured clearly shows the magnetic ballast in the circuit. The bulb is advertised as "plug and play" or direct wire.

 

[NORDFORD]

Leaving the ballast in requires it to be working. You aren’t going to burn your house down. You did it correctly.

 

[Innovate1]

I know the LED “plug + play” bulbs don’t need a ballast but I just want some reassurance that removing it was a safe thing to do.

You are fine with what you did but that statement is dead wrong. Plug + play is NOT removing the ballast and some bulbs require the ballast to remain. "Ballast bypass" means exactly that - you take the ballast out of the circuit. This bulb calls that "rewire" which isn't as clear IMHO. Some bulbs like this one can be done either way. Hooking the bulb directly to power is the same whether the ballast was electronic or magnetic - the drawing with it still in place is just one of the options showing can (but don't have to) leave the bypassed ballast in place.

60 Hz refers to the power line frequency and has nothing to do with if it is magnetic or electronic.

Your situation is why I don't like non-bypass LED bulbs. If the ballast is bad or noisy you still have the ballast issues.

 

[Platonic Solid]

- the drawing with it still in place is just one of the options showing can (but don't have to) leave the bypassed ballast in place.

Not quite. The lamp is universal "plug and play" (with magnetic ballast only) or direct wire. The bottom drawing showing the magnetic ballast in place is for the "plug and play" option. It has nothing to do with leaving the bypassed ballast in place. The top drawing shows the schematic to remove an electronic ballast from the circuit and wire the lamp directly to AC.

 

[Innovate1]

Not quite. The lamp is universal "plug and play" (with magnetic ballast only) or direct wire. The bottom drawing showing the magnetic ballast in place is for the "plug and play" option. It has nothing to do with leaving the bypassed ballast in place. The top drawing shows the schematic to remove an electronic ballast from the circuit and wire the lamp directly to AC.

I agree that the bottom picture has nothing to do with bypassing the magnetic ballast or physically removing it. I never said it did. I stand by everything I said. If the bulb can be wired directly to the 120V power what difference does it make what kind of ballast used to be in the circuit?

It would help if the pic of the instructions was clearer. Hard to see what it says but it's obvious it can be wired either way. The ballast must be removed from the circuit if electronic. Magnetic ballast can be removed or not.

 

[cybrdyke]

This LED lamp is rated for use with a magnetic ballast. It's a 2pin lamp. There was no electronic ballast available back then for 2pin CFL's. So, the wiring diagram shows you how it works with the existing magnetic ballast in place, and also how you can bypass it. Yes, the diagram for bypass says "electronic" on it, but it should say "magnetic" or "existing".


Alienbaby- you've done it right. Dont let all of our techno-babble rekindle your concerns.
CD

 

[Innovate1]

This LED lamp is rated for use with a magnetic ballast. It's a 2pin lamp. There was no electronic ballast available back then for 2pin CFL's. So, the wiring diagram shows you how it works with the existing magnetic ballast in place, and also how you can bypass it. Yes, the diagram for bypass says "electronic" on it, but it should say "magnetic" or "existing".


Alienbaby- you've done it right. Dont let all of our techno-babble rekindle your concerns.
CD

 

[exranger06]

I didn't notice the picture at first, and when I read this part:

The directions tell you to remove and bypass the electric ballast. However, the directions show the magnetic ballast being left in place. The directions say, “If the ballast is magnetic no need to remove.”

I interpreted that as the directions were saying to bypass the (magnetic) ballast but there's "no need to remove" it. Misunderstanding on my part.

 

[Platonic Solid]

Alienbaby17 - It would be real easy to double the light output of that fixture as it has the rectangular holes for a 2-lamp setup.