Fluorescent tube LED replacements - why so complicated?

[outnumbered]

My garage is lit with T8 fluorescent tubes. One has failed, and it seems that such tubes are no longer sold in the UK for environmental reasons, and even if I could find some old stock, it seems sensible to go with the flow and convert to LED.

I don't want to install new LED fixtures, so I'm looking for a way to install a LED tube in the existing fixtures. Should be simple, right ? I'll just look on YouTube, and some lamp vendor sites and work out what I need. However, so far I haven't managed to get a clear answer on what I need to buy.

There are some LED tubes that come with a replacement starter cartridge (but is this required, or optional??) , and some that don't. Some that claim to work with some types of existing electronic ballasts, etc. I haven't found any really clear information anywhere on what I need in my situation.

What I'm looking for is a 4ft T8 daylight LED tube that will either work with the existing "Tridonic Non Dimmable Digital Ballast" or without any additional electronics if I just rewire the fixture to be mains only.

Pointers to recommended products greatly appreciated.

[Ham_and_Jam]

Ive replaced about 10 at my business with the LED replacements that come with the replacement starter.

Plug and play and work really well.

They are available at screwfix in many sizes.

This is the one you need. Swap the tube and starter and you’re done.

https://www.screwfix.com/p/lap-g13-t8-led-tube-260...

Edit - just seen you need the 4’ tube

Edited by Ham_and_Jam on Wednesday 5th February 10:45

[outnumbered]

Ham_and_Jam said:

Ive replaced about 10 at my business with the LED replacements that come with the replacement starter.

Plug and play and work really well.

They are available at screwfix in many sizes.

https://www.screwfix.com/p/lap-g13-t8-led-tube-360...

Thanks, but my fitting doesn't have the cylindrical starter though, so I'm not confident this will work. Hence my original question.

[Ham_and_Jam]

outnumbered said:

Thanks, but my fitting doesn't have the cylindrical starter though, so I'm not confident this will work. Hence my original question.

Ah sorry, skim read.

In that case then you will need to rewire or replace.

TBH, if its just one tube then its so simple to just wire in a new LED batten. Literally 2 wires to a plug.

[gmaz]

When I upgraded, I just bypassed the ballast and starter by rewiring the connections in the fitting.

LED don't need anything like a starter, so I expect the replacement starter is just a straight-through connection.

[Belle427]

Instructions will come with the tube.
https://www.tlc-direct.co.uk/Main_Index/Lighting_M...

[Byker28i]

In my loft I swapped out the 4 foot Fluorescent light for a Screwfix 4 foot LED, under £20 took about 10 mins

In the garage, I fitted some batten lights above the car, plus some panel lights. Super bright now. The ones I had came with a simple n shaped bracket
https://wholesaleledlights.co.uk/600x600-40w-led-p...

https://wholesaleledlights.co.uk/plexus-1ft-batten...

[Peanut Gallery]

I've just replaced a 5ft neon tube with a 5ft LED batten, unscrew 2 wires, remove old neon fitting completely, clip in 2 wires, re-attach, much better light output with far less flicker, simple to do, worked well*

• Except it wasn't, whoever installed the neon lights before me managed to coil the cable between the rafter and the plasterboard, so as I screwed the new light fitting into the rafter, I went through the cable. RCD kicked in. Cut off a good length of damaged cable, and still had spare to push up into roof void.

Next neon tube that goes I will do the same, and replace the whole fitting with an LED batten.

https://www.screwfix.com/p/lap-oxbo-single-5ft-led...

[dhutch]

outnumbered said:

Should be simple, right ?

There are so many different fluorescent fittings and ballast/starter combinations, and the needs of making and LED emit light vs mercury-vapor, its at best going too be a bit variable.

See also retro-fit dimmable LEDs.

[ARHarh]

This may not have the best production quality, but it did get the message across and make it look easy.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4hn4MQ0gGfM

[Whoozit]

Ham_and_Jam said:

outnumbered said:

Thanks, but my fitting doesn't have the cylindrical starter though, so I'm not confident this will work. Hence my original question.

Ah sorry, skim read.

In that case then you will need to rewire or replace.

TBH, if its just one tube then its so simple to just wire in a new LED batten. Literally 2 wires to a plug.

Been there, done that in my garage. Unfortunately the fitting will need replacing.

[ThunderSpook]

outnumbered said:

My garage is lit with T8 fluorescent tubes. One has failed, and it seems that such tubes are no longer sold in the UK for environmental reasons, and even if I could find some old stock, it seems sensible to go with the flow and convert to LED.

I don't want to install new LED fixtures, so I'm looking for a way to install a LED tube in the existing fixtures. Should be simple, right ? I'll just look on YouTube, and some lamp vendor sites and work out what I need. However, so far I haven't managed to get a clear answer on what I need to buy.

There are some LED tubes that come with a replacement starter cartridge (but is this required, or optional??) , and some that don't. Some that claim to work with some types of existing electronic ballasts, etc. I haven't found any really clear information anywhere on what I need in my situation.

What I'm looking for is a 4ft T8 daylight LED tube that will either work with the existing "Tridonic Non Dimmable Digital Ballast" or without any additional electronics if I just rewire the fixture to be mains only.

Pointers to recommended products greatly appreciated.

Lots of posts from people who haven't read your post or looked at your photo unfortunately.

The standard tubes from somewhere like TLC will work, but because you have what is effectively a commercial ballast you will need to do some re-wiring. The fake starter that comes with the tube is for replacing those in normal residential type lights, not the ones you've got. You will need to google some instructions on bypassing the ballast.

[dhutch]

ThunderSpook said:

You will need to google some instructions on bypassing the ballast.

Or just take the old fitting off the ceiling, and fit an of the shelf LED based unit.....

[Whoozit]

dhutch said:

ThunderSpook said:

You will need to google some instructions on bypassing the ballast.

Or just take the old fitting off the ceiling, and fit an of the shelf LED based unit.....

That's what the electrician said when I asked him to bypass the internal ballast in the older fittings. TBF they were probably 35+ years old so messing about with them probably wasn't the wisest idea.

[outnumbered]

dhutch said:

Or just take the old fitting off the ceiling, and fit an of the shelf LED based unit.....

I'd thought about doing this previously, but couldn't easily find any LED units that had concealed central entry for the wiring, they all seemed to be on the end. Perhaps this has changed now.

[bimsb6]

I’ve just changed an ancient strip light , it was 2nd hand 30yrs ago and the unit had “made in great britain” stamped into it ! When was the last time you found something like that ? Anyway moving on, i just stripped all the wiring and ballast units out bought a bag of stainless clips to suit the new tube and a bag of tails to suit the tube ( all from aliexpress) . Wired the tails to the mains chocky block and all done . Cost next to nothing .

Edited by bimsb6 on Thursday 6th February 18:22

[netherfield]

One end of the tube will be the power end, in the fitting choose one end and use the two wires connected to that end.

At the choc block connector in the fitting remove all the internal wires, leaving the live and neutral from the incoming wire connected, now fit the two wires from the chosen end one to live one to neutral in the choc block, if the lamp does not light change to two wires around in the choc block.

I've done 6 in the garage two in the utility and two in the shed without problems, optional if you want to remove the ballast inside the fitting.

I have to say the early ones in the garage had a live one end and neutral the other end of the tube, but nowadays it's all at one end.

I'm sure there is a explanation on the TLC website, or there used to be

Edited by netherfield on Thursday 6th February 18:15

[Griffith4ever]

outnumbered said:

dhutch said:

Or just take the old fitting off the ceiling, and fit an of the shelf LED based unit.....

I'd thought about doing this previously, but couldn't easily find any LED units that had concealed central entry for the wiring, they all seemed to be on the end. Perhaps this has changed now.

V-TAC LED Batten c/w Tubes IP20 Single 20W 1500mm 2100lm

These have central concealed cable access. INstalled 3 of them yesterday. They have a 5 year warranty which is why I buy them

[Mazinbrum]

outnumbered said:

I don't want to install new LED fixtures,

Why not? This is surely the answer.

[Griffith4ever]

Mazinbrum said:

outnumbered said:

I don't want to install new LED fixtures,

Why not? This is surely the answer.

Because it's hassle. Power off at fuse box ,remove fitting , install new one. Or... Replace tube.