Switching lights

[Reg1952]

Thinking of taking out my 12 4' double tube t8s and installing just the standard bulb holder and screwing in some Noma 60w A19 LED bulbs. Any pro or cons to doing this. I wanted to switch out to LED tubes but there still pricey. I can get a 3 pack at Canadian tire for .99 cents. Even if I had to do double bulbs in each fixture that would still be way cheaper than buying LED tubes.

 

[ctgoodman]

You would need 6 of them to equal two led tubes. You can do a ballast delete and replace the fluorescent tubes with LED tubes for about $20. I would imagine by the time you got the wire and the boxes and holders you would be close or over that.

 

[Reg1952]

My boxes are already in the ceiling. I would just need the bulb holder for about $2.50 and then maybe the splitter if two bulbs where needed. Wouldnt I need 2 4'bulbs in each fixture? That would be $40 x 12 fixtures.

 

[Bert_]

WHY would you want to do this? You want to remove a nice lighting install and cobble together some set up using medium base LED's, for what? just to say you have LED's?

I'd be willing to bet your current fluorescent's are MORE efficient than the LED's your talking about. And probably longer lasting too.

1- F32T8 lamp ~2500 lumens
1- 60W lamp ~750 lumens

Sorry to be so negative, it just really frustrates me when someone "thinks they need to switch to LED" and is willing to rip out a perfectly adequate fluorescent installation and install poor quality LED's that will not last long and never pay for themselves.

Rant over...

 

[Shiftless]

to what Bert said.

 

[Reg1952]

Opps just seen that you said I would need 6 bulbs to replace each fixture. Dont think they make a splitter to hold 6 bulbs. Thanks.

 

[Reg1952]

Dont mind anyone ranting. Just looking for helping making a decision. Always good help here. Thanks

 

[ctgoodman]

My boxes are already in the ceiling. I would just need the bulb holder for about $2.50 and then maybe the splitter if two bulbs where needed. Wouldnt I need 2 4'bulbs in each fixture? That would be $40 x 12 fixtures.

I am using the Hyperikon dual ended LED tubes off Amazon. In quantity they are around $10 a bulb so it would be $20 per fixture. Just remove the ballast and wire direct to the tombstones. Keep your existing fixtures.

 

[American Locomotive]

Those NOMA LED bulbs are less than 80 lumens per watt. A modern higher-end 32W T8 bulb is close to 92 lumens/watt.

You'd lose a ton of slight switching to those bulbs.

 

[ctgoodman]

Those NOMA LED bulbs are less than 80 lumens per watt. A modern higher-end 32W T8 bulb is close to 92 lumens/watt.

You'd lose a ton of slight switching to those bulbs.

The Hyperikon LED tubes I mentioned are 2200 lumens per bulb. At 18 watts when you delete the ballast it puts them at about 122 lumens/watt. So they are a pretty good bump I've a T8 fluorescent.

 

[06switchback]

You might be able to switch to a lower watt t8 without changing your ballast like a 25w vs your current 32w it would be a pretty cheap easy conversion if the existing ballast can handle it it should be printed on the label

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I537 using Tapatalk

 

[Reg1952]

I am using the Hyperikon dual ended LED tubes off Amazon. In quantity they are around $10 a bulb so it would be $20 per fixture. Just remove the ballast and wire direct to the tombstones. Keep your existing fixtures.

You wouldnt happen to have the Amazon number for those bulbs? If the ones I am looking at are them there $528 for a 24 pack in Canada.

 

[ctgoodman]

You wouldnt happen to have the Amazon number for those bulbs? If the ones I am looking at are them there $528 for a 24 pack in Canada.

These are the ones I'm using. I am in the US and they are like $260 for the 24.


https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00S5O83BG/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[ard]

These are the ones I'm using. I am in the US and they are like $260 for the 24.


https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00S5O83BG/?tag=atomicindus08-20

Those are the exact ones I used as well. I had 16 dual tube T12s that were upgraded to LEDs

 

[tfi racing]

Is this for real?

 

[ctgoodman]

Is this for real?

Is what for real?? I'm not understanding your question.

 

[yeldogt]

I like the light from quality T8 bulbs -- When I was looking the energy difference was not all that great when looking Lumen to Lumen ... under 20%. The T8's put out more light per tube -- and better light IMO.

So, I was getting less light and paying more for the bulb?

Am I missing something ?

 

[ctgoodman]

I like the light from quality T8 bulbs -- When I was looking the energy difference was not all that great when looking Lumen to Lumen ... under 20%. The T8's put out more light per tube -- and better light IMO.

So, I was getting less light and paying more for the bulb?

Am I missing something ?

In a perfect world yes, but there are other advantages with moving to LED. Consider what is the light output of a T8 about halfway through it's life? Then there is the removal of the ballast. To me once it gets to needing a ballast you are just as well to go LED. The LED tubes I used where way brighter than the T8's I took out of the fixture. Plus with a building going up that may have 48 of these or more I don't want to keep up with the constant replacement of these as they start getting to the end of their life. Plus fluorescent lights are notorious for their cold start issues that are more evident as the bulbs and ballasts age.

 

[American Locomotive]

Modern T8 flourescent bulbs have over 90% lumen maintenance over the life of the bulb, and upwards over 80,000 hour life spans.

A lot of people are going to be really disappointed when their "forever" LED drop in tubes start burning out well before their rated lifespan. I already see LED bulbs burning out all the time in commercial installations. They usually stay burnt out too, since they're in hard to reach spots because "LED bulbs last forver".

The LED dies themselves may be good for 50,000 hours, but the electronics sorrounding the LEDs fail much more frequently, and the issue is only getting worse as manufacturers are using cheaper components and lower quality designs that run hotter.

 

[nsula_country]

Modern T8 flourescent bulbs have over 90% lumen maintenance over the life of the bulb, and upwards over 80,000 hour life spans.

A lot of people are going to be really disappointed when their "forever" LED drop in tubes start burning out well before their rated lifespan. I already see LED bulbs burning out all the time in commercial installations. They usually stay burnt out too, since they're in hard to reach spots because "LED bulbs last forver".

The LED dies themselves may be good for 50,000 hours, but the electronics sorrounding the LEDs fail much more frequently, and the issue is only getting worse as manufacturers are using cheaper components and lower quality designs that run hotter.

This is the reason I chose to use T8 in our 2016 built shop. T8's are still the workhorse of linear lighting.

Quality, US made fluorescent high bay fixtures, 1.15 GE program start ballasts, MIRO4 reflectors, brand name 850XL tubes. I will bet more of these will last 50,000+ hrs than import James LED retrofits. Just my $0.02...

Running 24, 4 lamp fixtures in a 40x60x17. Maybe in 10-15 years IF we need to relamp, LED will be as reliable as fluorescent. T8's also will start in all but the coldest of climates.

CT

 

[ptgarcia]

Modern T8 flourescent bulbs have over 90% lumen maintenance over the life of the bulb, and upwards over 80,000 hour life spans.

A lot of people are going to be really disappointed when their "forever" LED drop in tubes start burning out well before their rated lifespan. I already see LED bulbs burning out all the time in commercial installations. They usually stay burnt out too, since they're in hard to reach spots because "LED bulbs last forver".

The LED dies themselves may be good for 50,000 hours, but the electronics sorrounding the LEDs fail much more frequently, and the issue is only getting worse as manufacturers are using cheaper components and lower quality designs that run hotter.

I have to agree with this. I've had multiple LED bulbs fail after being in service for only a year or two. Pisses me off to no end, too, because I paid more for the LED for their life expectancy.