Replacing a fluorescent tube with an LED

LED light sources. This is a modern expression today. This is today's trend. LED sources are getting better, more powerful, more economical, so they can already replace fluorescent lamps. And thanks to large-scale production, they are also getting cheaper. They are even of high quality, meeting the parameters they have in the product data sheet. Simply LED tubes from reputable manufacturers, such as PHILIPS. Here you can find a guide on how to choose the right LED tube.

5.1.2019

How to replace a fluorescent tube with an LED source?

Replacing a fluorescent tube with an LED is very simple, it is a normal replacement of the power supply without the need for an electrician.
What is very important, however, is to know what type of ballast you have in your existing fluorescent fixture and choose the right LED source accordingly.

There are two types of conventional fluorescent luminaires, depending on the type of ballast on which we can run the fluorescent tubes.

The most commonfluorescent tube is the T8 fluorescent tube with a G13 socket at both ends and these can be operated on two types of ballasts:

-a dimmer with starter or electromagnetic ballast, you will know when the power supply is switched on, the fluorescent lamp flashes classically before it starts

The LED tube for the luminaire with starter, is sold including a safety element, which is mounted in place of the classic starter, without this it is not possible to operate the LED source in the luminaire
.

- The electronic ballast has a completely different circuit and the ignition of the lamp is smooth without any noticeable flickering.

LED tubes in a luminaire with an electronic ballast, then cannot be connected to luminaires with a choke.

LED tube for direct connection to 230V, connection without ballast.

This 230V LED tube is simply plugged directly, usually through one end of the tube, i.e. from the terminal block directly into the G13 socket. A tube wired in this way is the least susceptible
to failure as it does not work with another component.

For LED tubes, if we require the same light output as with a conventional fluorescent lamp, pay attention to the parameter "luminous flux" given in units of "lumen". This
tells us how the LED source will light. Today it is no longer true that the higher the wattage "W" the higher the luminous intensity of the LED source.

For both these cases, LED tubes are produced that can work on the wiring you have mounted in the fluorescent lamp. You need to know what kind of ballast described above you have installed in your fixture and choose the right LED tube accordingly.

Comparing the light output of a fluorescent lamp with an LED tube, here we will use the most common fluorescent tube 36W with a length of 120cm. The luminous flux of the 36W 4000°K fluorescent tube is 3,350 lumen,
the luminous flux of the LED tube is 2,300 lumen. At a glance, it is obvious that the tube does not have the same luminous flux as a fluorescent tube. A fluorescent tube has a light spread of 360° i.e. evenly
around. The LED tube has a precisely defined beam angle, which is precisely defined by the particular type chosen and this can be from 160° to 240°. The difference in the radiation
angles of a fluorescent lamp and an LED tube is the difference in the efficiency of the two sources.
The LED tube uses an optical system located in the LED tube, which as we wrote abovee, accurately emits light symmetrically underneath and does not use a bounce system like traditional
fluorescent fixtures. The LED tube therefore has greater efficiency and less light loss and this compensates for the differences in luminous fluxes of the two light sources.

The adage about cheap stuff applies here too, which is why I recommend buying an LED tube from reputable manufacturers and not the cheapest LED tube in a price comparison.

In our offer you will find categories divided exactly by application, not the different types of ballasts described above in the luminaires where you intend to replace the fluorescent lamp with an LED
tube.

LED tube T8 diameter 26mm