Led fluorescent bulbs

[ronan]

I see in a quick mooch around aldi at lunchtime, that they have led tubes for fluorescent light fittings. Are these a worthwhile replacement for the normal type of tube ? Do they still need the starter or do they need a complete new fitting ?

The fluorescent tubes in the shed go regularly, and its a nuisance having to go get new ones and replace them.

 

[Rocketman]

Yeah LED retrofit fluorescent tube replacements are fine, Think they came in the aquarium trade first. Can't remember off hand but you may need a digital ballast to make them work though??

BUT it's highly dependable on the LED's/design they use in the tube on exactly how much light you get, how much energy saving you get and lastly how long they last.

Going back to the fluorescent tubes they should be lasting a good few years in your shed. How often are they going?

 

[Lufbramatt]

I think it's the other way round, they only work with old style ballasts with the little starter cartridge thingy, you replace the starter with a link you get with the LED tube. Wanted to do this conversion on my fish tank but couldn't as I have an electronic ballast for the existing T8 tubes.

 

[ronan]

Yeah LED retrofit fluorescent tube replacements are fine, Think they came in the aquarium trade first. Can't remember off hand but you may need a digital ballast to make them work though??

BUT it's highly dependable on the LED's/design they use in the tube on exactly how much light you get, how much energy saving you get and lastly how long they last.

Going back to the fluorescent tubes they should be lasting a good few years in your shed. How often are they going?

They are probably not going as often as i think, but out of eight tubes in the shed at the mo, half them are gone. If the led types were more reliable, i'd swap over.

 

[bump]

What are they T8's? Branded lamps or no name from one of the DIY sheds?

 

[Crater Creator]

I thought about putting LED in the garage but was put off by the price, and my experience by going LED in the house. Although LEDs in the house are better than those godawful energy-saving things, they're still not as good as proper lightbulbs used to be. The tube type may be better, I don't know, but I'm wary of their "equivalent wattage/Lumens claims.
I went with 8 double-tube fluorescent fittings in the garage. It's plenty bright enough in there now. With HF starters there's no flickering either.
Personally I'd try one first and see if you like the light quality. I may do this myself in the future if the leccy bills start to choke me.

 

[bump]

It's all about the lamp. The random ones are pretty random in quality and output. The ones made by BELL, Osram, Phillips et al are far better.

 

[brightspark]

I think it's the other way round, they only work with old style ballasts with the little starter cartridge thingy, you replace the starter with a link you get with the LED tube. Wanted to do this conversion on my fish tank but couldn't as I have an electronic ballast for the existing T8 tubes.

correct magnetic ballasts only and dummy starter . if there electronic u need to rewire the fitting

 

[8ob]

Strange this subject popped up after I just spent the last few hours upgrading to led. The mancave was well lit with fourteen 5` tubes and for about a year I had no problems. After that its been a non stop battle with starters and tubes failing, its bad enough with all the flickering on occasions that if the music is on you feel like busting out some moves. Anyway I bit the bullet and parted with the cash at a local wholesalers who has given me a five year guarantee plus assurance`s they will save a fortune in leccy.

As it was when new



Nightmare after a few years



The new LED tubes

 

[Crater Creator]

Strange this subject popped up after I just spent the last few hours upgrading to led. The mancave was well lit with fourteen 5` tubes and for about a year I had no problems. After that its been a non stop battle with starters and tubes failing, its bad enough with all the flickering on occasions that if the music is on you feel like busting out some moves. Anyway I bit the bullet and parted with the cash at a local wholesalers who has given me a five year guarantee plus assurance`s they will save a fortune in leccy.

As it was when new



Nightmare after a few years



The new LED tubes

Very cool man-cave there 8ob. Do you find the LEDs as bright as the original flourescents were?

 

[daleyd]

Strange this subject popped up after I just spent the last few hours upgrading to led. The mancave was well lit with fourteen 5` tubes and for about a year I had no problems. After that its been a non stop battle with starters and tubes failing, its bad enough with all the flickering on occasions that if the music is on you feel like busting out some moves. Anyway I bit the bullet and parted with the cash at a local wholesalers who has given me a five year guarantee plus assurance`s they will save a fortune in leccy.

As it was when new



Nightmare after a few years



The new LED tubes

Wow, a bit off topic but that's an awesome workshop !!

 

[ronan]

8ob, how much did the new led lights cost you ? When i priced these years ago they were very expensive, but like everything now the prices drop like a stone.

 

[brightspark]

just priced em 2day 6 ft fitting led 43.69 plus vat

 

[8ob]

8ob, how much did the new led lights cost you ? When i priced these years ago they were very expensive, but like everything now the prices drop like a stone.

Ronan they did the 5` tube and starter kit for £15.83 each plus the vodka and tonic, they are not quite as bright as the ones that came out but good enough for me to go get another five for the machine shop.

Bob

 

[brightspark]

robbing gits I can get them cheaper than that

 

[Shox Dr]

Cheap to reuse your existing batton, and wire direct, keeping the ballast in will use more energy than you are saving

LED hut make some nice 4k tubes 15yr life time

 

[steve_s]

I got some 5ft tubes from screw fix and just gutted the old fittings and just wire 240 to one end work fine no start up time and the tubes I bought 2 year warranty looks like they don't sell the brand I have anymore but they were £18 ish from memory

 

[johnny max]

I got 5ft tubes from a bird supplier in Germany. They just fit into existing fittings along with a cable supplied.
Worked out at €12 each. Got a box of 20 and have them in workshop great light from them also.

 

[WorkshopChris]

robbing gits I can get them cheaper than that

That might be CEF thing.
Every time i go into a CEF the price is different, have even seen a different price but with the same discount listed, same product same day, just different staff member serving.

 

[brightspark]

I go in or ring up the manager screw the best price down then go to my local wholesaler tell em I've been there and can get a good price . they ask what and I wont tell them they always come back cheaper then I tell them they can always beat led hut even if u have there trade account