Replacing Fluorescent Strip/Batten? Lights With LEDS

[Lazy Sod]

I have 6' and 4' fluorescent lights in my house and the attached garages. I've been talking to an electrician and he would like to replace the existing fittings with sealed units. The problem that I see with that is that if any of them eventually fail, we'll be without the lighting until I can get an electrician to fit a replacement, whereas Mrs LS and I can easily change a tube, particularly as I always keep spares. The other thing with the ones in the house is that I have a feeling that the replacements may be narrower than my originals, thus exposing the old ceiling paint.

I think that one can get new fittings that take replaceable LED tubes and also tubes to fit existing fittings and that they use the existing ballast if of the right type, with a starter. I want to get right away from that sort. I think that tubes are also available to use existing fittings with the ballast and starters removed.

Can someone on TFF with all the correct knowledge enlighten me as to the names of these various types, particularly my options.

 

[steveR]

Personally, I would leave the exisiting strip lights in place...

I am not familiar with "replacable LED tubes", but I have found the LED battens to be unreliable and while not too expensive to replace if it's a DIY, the old flourescents are easily sorted, for not much money

But the answers to your questions might be here?

https://www.screwfix.com/c/electrical-lighting/led-batten-lights/cat8010010

 

[PSQ]

No need to change the fitting. Replaceable LED tubes come with a new ‘ballast’ (it’s just a connecting wire to jump the terminals in a ballast shaped cartridge).
The light is better quality and instant, doesn’t dim over time, and uses significantly less power. You might also find that they’re bright enough to just use a single bulb in a twin fitting.

 

[suffolksmallholder]

What’s not to like?

Philips LED Tube T8

• Average life 15000 hours• Energy Class A+• Non-dimmable• CRI 80• 4000k• 16W 1600lm• 1212mm x 28mm

www.toolstation.com

Whether it comes as the next text says I have no idea but I doubt it’s rocket science to replace;
All you need to do is replace the fluorescent starter with the LED starter that is supplied with the LED tube, remove the fluorescent tube by twisting it in …
SS

 

[pycoed]

No need to change the fitting. Replaceable LED tubes come with a new ‘ballast’ (it’s just a connecting wire to jump the terminals in a ballast shaped cartridge).
The light is better quality and instant, doesn’t dim over time, and uses significantly less power. You might also find that they’re bright enough to just use a single bulb in a twin fitting.

Be sure to tell your electrician to disconnect the capacitors & ballasts in the existing fittings if you go this way.
Have a look at this:-

Electricity getting very expensive in the Workshop

Electricity getting very expensive in the Workshop

www.madmodder.net

 

[yoki]

A fella I'd done a bit of work for set up an electrical wholesale business about a year ago and I said I'd give him a turn the next time I needed anything.

Needed a couple of strip lights to replace six foot fluorescents in the roofspace and as Mrs Y was in the vicinity of where he set up she was entrusted with getting something.

So she returned with six foot strip light fittings complete which I was a bit cynical about but ended up being quite impressed by them. They not only have three different power settings, but three different whiteness settings so you can have warm white, cool white, or daylight, and they were no dearer than a six foot fluorescent type strip light.

Very easily fitted too.

Darned if I can remember the make though!

 

[Tucker]

Changed the 4 terrible batten lights in the workshop for LED, direct replacement, swap the wires straight over, 1 year on, very pleased. Got my sparky to put 2 in my open fronted garage linked to a movement sensor, drive in, they come on - bloody brilliant

 

[e3120]

Be sure to tell your electrician to disconnect the capacitors & ballasts in the existing fittings if you go this way.
Have a look at this:-

Electricity getting very expensive in the Workshop

Electricity getting very expensive in the Workshop

www.madmodder.net

I thought that too, but the new 'tube' only electrically connects at 1 end so that knocks out a lot of the original. The replacement 'capacitor' is just a bridge. The whole point is no spark needed.

I was only convinced after gutting the fitting myself.

 

[Bongodog]

Have a policy of replacing any failed fluorescent fittings with new led battens, have had a few early failures on the legs, but the vast majority are completely reliable and put out far more light. Have vowed to not buy any more fluorescent tubes so all will be gone in near future

 

[Fogg]

I'd keep the existing units, buy LED tubes, they can be as cheap as £5 each.

Just run your 240v live & neutral to a T8 lamp fitting fitting one end of the light fitting.

Disconnect the incoming feed from the terminal block, take the wires from one of the lamp fittings from the ballast, Wago together and the job's done in a minute.

Half the energy use, they'll pay for themselves in no time.

Noxion LED Tube T8 Avant (EM/Mains) Standard Output 17.5W 1800lm - 865 Daylight | 120cm - Replaces 36W

Noxion LED Tube T8 Avant (EM/Mains) Standard Output 17.5W 1800lm - 865 Daylight | 120cm - Replaces 36W starting from . Order ! Free LED-Advice: !

www.any-lamp.co.uk

(A month if on continually)

 

[upnortheast]

Been replacing knackered 6ft flouro fittings & some well glass pendant fittings with these from screwfix.
Easy to fit & cracking light

https://www.screwfix.com/p/lap-twin-6ft-led-batten-59w-6800lm-220-240v/337pp

 

[Lazy Sod]

I've had my job done. We kept the original fittings, but removed the ballasts and starters and fitted LED tubes of the types that are wired to just one end. All the outside PIR floodlights have been changed as well. Much better now.