Odd Question About Led Flourescent Tubes

[Wendelspanswick]

I was hoping that someone who has fitted one of the new Led T8 tubes could tell me if they go out if the power dims briefly?
The reason I ask is my mother, who is congenitally deaf, has a doorbell I fitted that, when pressed, briefly turns the house lights on during the day or dims them in the evening.
The problem she has is that the standard T8 Flourescent tube she has in the kitchen doesn't dim, there's no noticeable flash, so she doesn't know there is someone at the door.

 

[CompoSimmonite]

Could you not fit a small aux light, say flush downlighter, with a red bulb next to the fluorescent if necessary ?

 

[richie00boy]

Depending on how the driver circuit operates (there a a couple of different methods) the LED tube may not dim much or at all.

 

[Wendelspanswick]

Could you not fit a small aux light, say flush downlighter, with a red bulb next to the fluorescent if necessary ?

I had thought of that, the problem is I am not sure she would notice it dimming as the Flourescent stays on.
My other option is to replace the 4ft batten fitting with a different light fitting with halogens or LEDs as she has plenty of under cupboard lighting.

 

[rtbcomp]

With a small bulb she'd have to be looking at it to see it light up. I have couple of flashing rear fog lights in my workshop which come on when the bell rings and you can see their reflections all round the room. They keep flashing until reset by me so I won't miss a short ring on the bell.

 

[Screwdriver]

Interesting question. I would expect them to dim or possibly even switch off if the voltage drops. I have them in my workshop but never had a problem with supply so can't say for sure. What I can say is you should just buy some and see. They will always come in useful even if they don't work for this application.

S.

 

[Wendelspanswick]

Interesting question. I would expect them to dim or possibly even switch off if the voltage drops. I have them in my workshop but never had a problem with supply so can't say for sure. What I can say is you should just buy some and see. They will always come in useful even if they don't work for this application.

S.

I might just do that, there are some on Amazon for £12.99 and free delivery.

 

[Screwdriver]

Cheaper on eBay...

 

[Wendelspanswick]

So I ordered a 1200mm T8 led tube on Tuesday from Amazon and it came today, £12.99 and free delivery.
Fitted it this afternoon at my mums, had to bypass the magnetic ballast and remove the starter but I am very impressed, instant bright white light with no flicker.
It works with the doorbell as well, pressing the button causes the tube to flicker like a strobe so no chance of my mum missing it.
She is over the moon so brownie points for me!

 

[Screwdriver]

Awesome!

There are versions around where you can happily leave the ballast in place too. It's a hard light but way better than fluorescent for workshops and a lot cheaper to run.

ISTR Jay Leno's Garage did a video on a complete LED installation for the man himself. Presumably to make all those cars shine!

 

[richie00boy]

You can leave the ballast in on any LED type, it's best to remove it though as it just wastes power.

Beware that the electronics inside the tube may not survive very long if it flickers like that, just keep a backup is what I'm saying.