Rewiring flouresent bulb to LCD

Rewire fixture for LED?

Henry (Raleigh NC)

Assuming you have LED bulbs that can be direct wired to 120V circuit (my recommendation), remove the ballast, and then hot goes to one end of fixture and neutral to the other (at least on the ones I have seen converted).

THIS is NOT electrical advice - consult someone that really knows (in person?!) to be certain before proceeding.

Henry

Re: Rewire fixture for LED?

Barry Irby

I think there are several different versions of these bulbs. Some require wiring as Henry suggests but some have a dead tombstone on one end. Cheuk with the manufacturer of the bulb. And some use the ballast.

Definitely What Barry Said

I'm puzzled

Bill Tindall, E.Tn.

Why would anyone buy lamps to install in a fluorescent fixture they are not designed for? An overhead LED shop light, for example, is a combination of LED lamps and a mounting fixture to capture and direct light down. It all works together.

I can't imagine there is any savings in salvaging the fluorescent fixture to mount the LEDs into, with the whole LED fixture and lamps $20 or less. So why do it?

Re: I'm puzzled

Barry Irby

My shop fixtures are all scavenged from many locations over many years. I replaced some of the ballasts over the years. When the LED replacements came along, the fixtures were $45 each at Costco and the substitute bulbs were about $8 each. I bought a pallet of them at an auction for about a $1 each and they were plug and play. When the fluorescent bulbs died I just switched to LED's.

But the fixtures are much cheaper now and you are correct, it no longer makes much sense to modify the fixtures, except that sometimes it's easier to do a little work on the existing fixture than to take it down and install another.

I see new utility "fixtures" that are little more than a tube with a cord hanging on the end. You put up a few clips, snap in the bulbs and plug them into a switched outlet or wire them into existing boxes.

Re: Rewiring flouresent bulb to LCD

walta

You need to read the instructions that came with your LEDs closely.

Some LEDs are drop in and require the ballast be in place to operate.

Some require electronic ballasts others will work with the old magnetic ballasts or the newer electronic ballasts.

Some of the LED tubes are direct wired I have seen some that require the hot on one end and the neutral on the other end others require the hot and neutral on the same end and no connection on the other end.

Yes is you connect a direct wire LED to a ballast you can damage the LED and vise versa can be a problem.

Walta

Re: One reason

Henry (Raleigh NC)

Bill wrote: "Why would anyone buy lamps to install in a fluorescent fixture they are not designed for? An overhead LED shop light, for example, is a combination of LED lamps and a mounting fixture to capture and direct light down. It all works together.

I can't imagine there is any savings in salvaging the fluorescent fixture to mount the LEDs into, with the whole LED fixture and lamps $20 or less. So why do it? " (emphasis mine)

Why do it? I am part of team that voluntarily maintains as 1950's era building - with asbestos containing ceilings. We have likely about 250 ceiling fixtures that were fluorescent bulbs. We can and have updated many to LEDs for the cost of the bulbs (and volunteer labor); we remove the old (sometimes leaky) ballasts, and get better lighting - all without removing a fixture or disturbing the ceiling. I believe we need a permit to do any work that disturbs the ceiling work - or else we remediate the asbestos!!!

Specialty situation I know, but fluorescent-to-LED bulb conversions are way cheaper than the alternatives here.

Henry