Converted my fluorescent light fixtures to LED

[Jeff in Pa]

We're changing the light fixtures at work from fluorescent to LED on both the 4' and 8 fixtures. I asked my coworker how easy it was to change. He showed me the wiring diagram and it is extremely easy.

The selling point was long life and the LED's only use about 10% of the electric the fluorescents do.

I purchased ten 4' LED K6500 frosted bulbs off ebay for under $50 shipped ( including the governor ). Note- there are two types, power to one end and power to both ends. I purchased power to both ends.

Directions were included for both the starter / transformer type ( older) and also for the newer electronic type.

1st pic
This is the electronic type with a coil and capacitor. There was one on each end and they get removed.

2nd pic
These are the transformer, the bigger is the old fashion type and the white boxes are the newer circuit box type.

3rd pic
This is the far side ( opposite power cord). I cut off the coil and capacitor and clipped off the wires to the inside. This is the neutral wire to this end. ( these end caps are plastic so I did not wirenut the cut wire ends ). The power end also gets the coil and capacitor removed but the outside wires are cut and the power/lead goes to inside.

It doesn't matter which end is power / neutral but they must be wired opposite for the LED to work.

4th pic

SUCCESS

5th pic
Wiring instructions and tools used. Side cutters, wire strippers, small screwdriver, larger screw driver and both blue and orange wirenuts.

The larger screwdriver was put in the end cap and twisted while the small screw driver was used to pop ( loosen ) the end. various manufacturers will have different locating clips. Have fun

[CADplans]

They look great, but, I am a dinosaur,,, I just purchased five 2X4 foot flourescent light fixtures from Lowes. they were on a clearance pile,, $12 per fixture,,

I will run the included bulbs for a few years, until they start to dim, then I will convert them,,,

Each fixture has 4 bulbs, so converting will cost a bundle,, maybe the price will drop in 2 years,,,
for now, I do not use those fixtures a LOT of hours, so electricity costs are negligible,,

My big shop has two 400 watt metal halide low bay fixtures,,
the bay is 40 feet long, and about 30 feet wide,
the two fixtures light it up like daytime,, and have been doing it for 15 years.
I hate to think how many LED bulbs I would have to put up to get the lighting that equals those two fixtures,,

I put one of those metal halide bulbs over my welding table,,
it gives off so much light, simply turning your head near the table will trigger the auto-darkening helmet to darken,,, I thought my new helmet was defective..
I have to turn the light off to be able to weld with an auto helmet,,,

Maybe I will replace that light with some LEDs',,,,

[CADplans]

Originally Posted by Jeff in Pa

The selling point was long life and the LED's only use about 10% of the electric the fluorescent do.

If I am reading Amazon and eBay right,,,
The Fluorescent T8 bulbs use 32 watts
the LED uses either 22 watts or 28 watts

The 22 watt LED gives less lumens of light than a fluorescent, the 28 watt gives more lumens,,

So, it looks like the LED will end up using about 85% as much electricity, as the old bulbs,,,
So, there is some savings,,, in electricity, the big savings will be the bulbs will last WAY longer,,

[cooperino]

I replaced most of my shop lights with LED. I did see when shopping that there are some discrepancies or differences in watts used varying from one manufacturer to the next. In most cases I saw about a 50% energy savings with LED.

Couple pictures from some websites talking about energy differences.

The tubes may be 20 watts or so but then you have the ballast power to consider as well

[Vrobert]

If I recall, the old ballast will heat up and consume power. Losing the ballast should help efficiency.

[cooperino]

Originally Posted by Vrobert

If I recall, the old ballast will heat up and consume power. Losing the ballast should help efficiency.

Yup. A new ballast can consume 3-8 watts. As they get older they consume more.

[Sam Mac]

I replaced the screw in bulbs in my basement and part of my shop with these

https://www.amazon.com/Deformable-Ba...a-801816533886

[CADplans]

Originally Posted by Sam Mac

I replaced the screw in bulbs in my basement and part of my shop with these

https://www.amazon.com/Deformable-Ba...a-801816533886

I see the blue arrow indicates they spin,,
is the moving air too cold this time of the year,, or does it heat the air enough that it still feels warm?

[Jeff in Pa]

Originally Posted by CADplans

If I am reading Amazon and eBay right,,,
The Fluorescent T8 bulbs use 32 watts
the LED uses either 22 watts or 28 watts

The 22 watt LED gives less lumens of light than a fluorescent, the 28 watt gives more lumens,,

So, it looks like the LED will end up using about 85% as much electricity, as the old bulbs,,,
So, there is some savings,,, in electricity, the big savings will be the bulbs will last WAY longer,,

The guy installing them at work told me that number. They make great light, make NO noise and should last for quite a long time.

I just went back and looked at the ones I purchased off ebay
eBay item number:132753618881

LOW POWER: Save up to 90% energy consumption as compared to halogen lights with the same brightness

Maybe that is where he got the high power savings number.

Anyway, they were easy to install and make nice ,bright light.

[Billy-O]

I just go to Costco and buy the whole fixtures on sale for $20 or less. Costco has 4 foot LED fixtures with two tubes giving out a warmer 4000k light at 4000 Lumens. I believe each set consumes 42 watts and is linkable up to 4 lights. Very good color and bright! I just helped my friend buy a bunch of the fixtures at 18 bucks a set the other day.