Change shop light to LED bulbs

[Ronnie1a]

I have several 4' shop lights with florescent tubes and would like to switch them to LED bulbs. But the LED tubes have 3 different size pins on the end and some say to disconnect the ballast and others say nothing either way. I am totally confused on what to buy???

Do I have to buy a whole new fixture?

 

[nealtw]

I have several 4' shop lights with florescent tubes and would like to switch them to LED bulbs. But the LED tubes have 3 different size pins on the end and some say to disconnect the ballast and others say nothing either way. I am totally confused on what to buy???

Do I have to buy a whole new fixture?

I have not done it but I think you can change them over.
[ame]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zjw2UXVJaS0[/ame]

 

[jeffmattero76]

I just bought two 4 foot Wrap Lights from the orange big box and bought 4 LED tubes and they work perfectly.

 

[Gary]

You can get them as a plug & play replacement for fluorescent bulbs or bypass the ballast and run them off direct 120v. I'm told the direct wired are more efficient as you aren't wasting energy going through a ballast.
We've done a few at church with great results. We usually replace 2 bulbs with 1 LED and get roughly the same light output.

 

[user 4883]

keep in mind that the tombstones (sockets) are not rated for 120V, so when bypassing the ballast you'll have to not use or eliminate the tombstones.
I've been usin IR kits that require me to bypass the ballast and install a driver.
the bulbs plug into the driver and do not utilize the tombstones.

 

[Burgy]

Replying to this old post. A fluorescent tube fixture can be converted or retrofitted to accept LED tubes. The existing tombstone holders in the fixture are then merely used to hold the LED tube. Current does not flow through the tombstones with LED tubes. The existing fluorescent ballast needs to be removed or just disconnected. I recommend removing it which is very easy. A good quality LED tube is one designed to be used with an external driver. The driver is like a ballast but delivers constant, low current unlike a ballast. The driver can be installed where the ballast was located or really anywhere in the cabinet of the fluorescent fixture. The best LED tubes I have ever dealt with our made by Titan LED. 12 year warranty but high quality. I have used a lof of brands and finally settled on Titan's brand. USA Made.

 

[burgmeier4]

Replying to this old post. A fluorescent tube fixture can be converted or retrofitted to accept LED tubes. The existing tombstone holders in the fixture are then merely used to hold the LED tube. Current does not flow through the tombstones with LED tubes. The existing fluorescent ballast needs to be removed or just disconnected. I recommend removing it which is very easy. A good quality LED tube is one designed to be used with an external driver. The driver is like a ballast but delivers constant, low current unlike a ballast. The driver can be installed where the ballast was located or really anywhere in the cabinet of the fluorescent fixture. The best LED tubes I have ever dealt with our made by Titan LED. 12 year warranty but high quality. I have used a lof of brands and finally settled on Titan's brand. USA Made.

I forgot to mention that with Titans Brand, the Driver and LED tube are connected with a quick connect wire harness which bypasses the tombstones, thus no current runs through the tombstones. Any existing wiring in the fixture from the old ballast can be removed except the power source wires. Installation usually takes about 10 to 15 minutes. Very simple.

 

[zannej]

Cool. I didn't know they could be converted. I just replaced my entire fixtures with ones that had 4ft LED tubes & they work great. 2 LED lamps have more coverage than 6 of the fluorescent ones I had in there.

 

[Burgy]

That is great. If you are ever in need of 4' LED tubes, check out Titan LED Company. Lights are manufactured in Arizona. 155,000 rated hours. 12 year warranty. Nothing better.

 

[zannej]

That is great. If you are ever in need of 4' LED tubes, check out Titan LED Company. Lights are manufactured in Arizona. 155,000 rated hours. 12 year warranty. Nothing better.

Thanks. I did have one of my shop lights go out because the roof leaked and it looks like water damaged it. The rest of the lights are fine. It has rust on it and the bulbs went black at the ends and then stopped turning on. Only way it would have rust is from water because the rest of the lights are untouched.

 

[Burgy]

Do your LED tubes contain an internal driver or does the fixture utilize an external driver? Internal driver LED tubes are a lower end but can get the job done. They are prone to failure as the driver produces heat which eventually effects the LED's (diodes). They are prone to heat just like any light bulb. Titans LED tubes use an external driver and both the tube and driver are water resistant. fyi. Even so, they carry a 12 year warranty.

 

[zannej]

Do your LED tubes contain an internal driver or does the fixture utilize an external driver? Internal driver LED tubes are a lower end but can get the job done. They are prone to failure as the driver produces heat which eventually effects the LED's (diodes). They are prone to heat just like any light bulb. Titans LED tubes use an external driver and both the tube and driver are water resistant. fyi. Even so, they carry a 12 year warranty.

I honestly have no idea & don't know how to check.

 

[Burgy]

No worries. I think they are the internal driver type. The driver burned out and when they do in those type of tubes, they look black. If you ever run into more problems, take a look at an external driver type. You pay a little bit more but you won't have any issues. Titan LED Company LED tubes are also water resistant. The drivers and the tubes. With a 12 year warranty, no concerns.