This is why I don't like 'native' LED lighting

[PassnThru]

So the picture here is part of a Lithonia fixture I installed in the garage when I built it about 20 years ago. It's basically two fixtures joined at the factory holding 2 four foot bulbs each for a total of four bulbs so it's actually eight feet long. It was a fluorescent fixture that I converted to LED about 4 years ago. It was a ballast delete and there are eight of these in my 24X32 garage for a total of 32 bulbs. At the same time basically, I converted the lighting in my detached garage for a total of eight bulbs so I have 40 of these.
As you can see - one of the bulbs has lost about two thirds of it's LEDs. Not a big problem really as I ordered an extra six bulbs for replacements - we all know things fail. I can replace it easily. Even if I didn't order extra bulbs I can find replacements with the same specs all day long. Maybe it's a little brighter - maybe the color is off a little - but those issues are minor compared to replacing the entire fixture.
If you buy LED fixtures - will you be able to buy the exact same ones 5 or 10 years from now? What if you have eight or ten or twelve lights on your ceiling and they all match but now you can't buy a replacement for the one that just died? Even a little OCD says they have to match so when one dies do you have to replace all of them?
If I built a new structure today I would probably buy fluorescent lights for it - convert them immediately and throw the ballasts away so that I could easily replace the one part that's guaranteed to fail.
I understand that the time may come where they don't make the retrofit bulbs anymore but I can probably hoard more bulbs at a lower price and less space than I can fixtures.
I like LEDs - I'm firmly in that camp but I'm not seeing a lot of options to relamp fixtures that were LED to start with.
I want to keep the fixture and replace the 'bulb' and that seems to be getting harder these days.

 

[The Cobbler]

I totally agree with you. and I think retrofits will be around a long time. at least I hope so .

 

[PassnThru]

So I forgot to attach the picture. In my defense the pizza arrived while I was typing this so I got distracted a little.

 

[billconner]

And you're certain there is no difference in lifetime of retro fit lamps and their integral drivers versus LED fixtures (whose driver can be replaced)?

I'll skip the efficiency differences between the two.

 

[racecougar]

Whatever floats your boat.

 

[dougf]

I have a friend who is retrofitting fixtures for his shop and follows the same logic as you. I decided to buy the LED integrated fixtures to save time and for simplicity. Time will tell which method will give the most headache down the road, but i'm pretty certain both fixture types ultimately will have the same amount of lifespan and maintenance requirements so I am not too concerned with it.

 

[reader2580]

I have had at least one Sylvania fixture with integrated LEDs fail. I couldn't figure out how to get it replaced under warranty. I have no idea if they could even replace it as they are discontinued.

You can get strip light fixtures that take LED tubes with no ballasts. I was able to find really cheap new fixtures with electronic ballasts that I removed and put in direct wire LED tubes.