Led tube to replace fluorescent tube? The sale of the parasitic wasp will end in the EU in autumn 2023. What to replace? Read the article on how to replace a traditional fluorescent light bulb.
The history of fluorescent lighting
T8 fluorescent tubes have been around for a long time and have been a popular lighting solution, especially in industrial and commercial premises. The T8 tube was developed in 1981 by General Electric to replace the T12 tube previously in use. The T8 tube is one inch in diameter, which makes it thinner than the T12 tube, and it also has a longer lifetime. Before the advent of LEDs, T8 fluorescent tubes were the most commonly used fluorescent tubes in industrial and commercial premises.
How does a fluorescent tube work?
The fluorescent tube is powered by an electric current that excites the mercury vapour in the tube, which then produces ultraviolet light. The ultraviolet light then reacts with the phosphor coating inside the tube, producing visible light. The fluorescent tube also requires a ballast to regulate the electrical current to the tube.
What is a ballast and why are they not used in LED lights?
As the lighting industry moves from traditional light sources to LED lights, many people are wondering about the fate of ballasts. Ballasts are necessary for many luminaires, but they are not used in LED lights.
Magnetic ballast
Magnetic ballasts have been used in traditional luminaires for decades. They are responsible for regulating the current in the lamp and provide the initial shock needed to turn the lamp on, as the ignition voltage of a fluorescent tube is typically 400-600V, although the operating voltage is lower. Magnetic ballasts work by creating a magnetic field around the coils of wire. When a voltage is applied to the coils, it creates an electromagnetic field that regulates the current in the lamp. Although magnetic ballasts used to be standard in many luminaires, they have several drawbacks that make them less desirable alternatives.
Electric ballast
An electronic ballast is an updated version of a magnetic ballast, which uses electronic components to control the current in a lamp. Electric ballasts are more efficient and produce less heat than magnetic ballasts, making them a better choice for energy-efficient lighting. They can also be made smaller, which is particularly important for small luminaires such as track lighting. Electronic ballasts are currently standard in many luminaires, but they are still not used in LED lights.
The role of ballast
The function of the ballast is to regulate the current flowing through the lamp. Traditional luminaires need a ballast to provide the initial shock needed to turn on the lamp and regulate the current during use. Ballasts are needed for conventional lamps to work properly, and the quality of the ballast can have a significant impact on the performance of the lamp.
Why is there no ballast in LED lights?
LED lights do not use ballasts because they work in a different way to conventional luminaires. Unlike conventional luminaires, LED lights do not need high voltage to switch on and do not need a ballast to regulate the current. Instead, they use an LED transformer that regulates the current and voltage and provides the necessary power to drive the LED light. The Led transformer is small enough to fit inside the tube.
What was good about fluorescent lighting?
The fluorescent tube had many good points, which made it a good lighting solution. One of its biggest advantages was its energy efficiency. The fluorescent tube was able to produce a lot of light using very little energy compared to the incandescent lamp. It was also a cost-effective solution for lighting large spaces. The fluorescent lamp also had a long lifetime (15,000 hours) compared to an incandescent lamp (1,000 hours), which meant that it required less maintenance compared to other lighting solutions.
What was wrong with fluorescent lighting?
Although fluorescent lighting was a good lighting solution, it also had its drawbacks. One of the main problems was the presence of toxic mercury in the pipe, which made it dangerous to dispose of and required special disposal methods. Another problem was that some fluorescent tubes caused flickering, which could cause eye strain and headaches for some people.
Why was fluorescent lighting banned?
Fluorescent light bulbs were banned in Europe in 2012 due to their energy inefficiency (compared to Led) and toxicity. The EU’s objective was to promote energy efficiency, which would help reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The energy efficiency of fluorescent tubes was worse than many other lighting solutions, such as LED tubes. The ban concerned in particular the use of incandescent lamps, fluorescent tubes and other obsolete lighting products.
Although the sale of fluorescent tubes was banned in the EU at the beginning of 2012, the sale of end-of-life stocks has been allowed until today and in September 2023 there will be a final ban on the sale of fluorescent tubes. The EU has not been allowed to import NEW fluorescent tubes for years, and all fluorescent tubes sold here are old stock. Several other countries have also introduced similar bans and regulations on the use of obsolete lighting products.
RoHS Directive
The Restriction of Hazardous Substances Directive (RoHS) is a European Union (EU) regulation that restricts the use of certain hazardous substances in electrical and electronic equipment. The Directive is intended to protect human health and the environment from dangerous chemicals.
The RoHS Directive limits the use of six substances in electrical and electronic equipment: lead, mercury, cadmium, hexavalent chromium, polybrominated biphenyls (PBB) and polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDE). The use of these substances is banned above certain limits in electrical and electronic equipment sold in the EU.
The RoHS Directive applies to a wide range of electronics, including computers, mobile phones, televisions, lighting products, power tools, toys and similar equipment. The Directive has been in force since 2006 and aims to reduce the impact of electronic equipment on the environment and human health, and to promote sustainable development.
LED tube, why it is a great choice
Led tube instead of fluorescent tube! LED tube is a modern lighting solution that is environmentally friendly, energy efficient and safe to use. LED tubes use less energy and produce less heat compared to fluorescent tubes, which means they are also safer to use. LED tubes do not contain toxic substances such as mercury, making them safe and environmentally friendly to dispose of.
LED tubes also have a much longer lifetime than fluorescent tubes, which means they require less maintenance and replacement. LED tubes are also more versatile and are available in different shapes and colours. They are also easily dimmable, giving the user more control over the amount of light.
In addition, the new LED tubes have interesting features such as selectable colour temperature and power.
By using a lower wattage LED tube, its lifetime is extended, because the LED circuit does not heat up as much.
So how long the LEDs last depends on the temperature.
Replacing fluorescent tubes with LED tubes
Replacing the fluorescent tube with an LED tube is easy. Led tube instead of fluorescent tube brings many benefits to users.
Installing LED tubes is also cost-effective in the long term, as they use less energy and last longer than fluorescent tubes. Although LED tubes are more expensive as an initial investment, their running costs are significantly lower. The lifetime of an LED tube is around 50 000 hours, while the lifetime of a fluorescent tube is only around 15 000 hours.
Advantages of Led tube
- Colour rendering: a high quality LED tube with a high colour rendering index (CRI) of up to 98
- No flickering: the Led tubes did not flicker, which is irritating to the eyes
- No hazardous waste: led tubes do not contain hazardous waste
- Versatility: with the new LED tubes you can even choose the colour shade from the switch!
- Long life: the Led tubes last up to 80,000 hours!
Compatible LED tubes
Installing an LED tube is simple and can often be done without having to modify the luminaire’s structure. It requires a so-called. Compatible led tube. The LED tube often works directly with the ballast of an old fluorescent tube, which means that the ballast does not need to be removed or replaced. This makes replacement quick and easy.
In these solutions, the old ballast remains in the body of the luminaire, consuming electricity unnecessarily. So in such solutions we have a ballast -> led tube with additional electronics for the ballast -> power supply -> led circuits.
The fire risks in a traditional fluorescent lamp are ballast and oxidised connectors, as well as the fluorescent tube itself. Therefore, it is also recommended to replace the frame with the old pipes.
Non-Compatible single-end led tube
However, it is important to remember that not all LED tubes are compatible with all luminaires. Some LED tubes require modification of the luminaire to work properly. Therefore, it is important to choose the right LED tube to replace the fluorescent tube. There are LED tubes that work directly with the ballast of old fluorescent tubes, but there are also LED tubes that require the ballast to be removed or replaced.
In these new types of LED tubes, the idea is that the lamp body is also replaced or modified from the old fluorescent tube body. As a modification, the ballast is removed and the mains current is routed directly to the other end of the pipe. The other end is usually short-circuited in such LED tubes to prevent the tube from passing voltage.
If such a tube is installed on a conventional fluorescent tube without any modifications, the following happens:
- Led tube does not light up
- Fuse blows on the electrical panel
- Led tube failure
If any of these happen, contact your dealer or electrician. Remember that electrical work should always be carried out by a professional.
Lastly
Although fluorescent lighting has long been a popular lighting solution, its energy inefficiency and toxicity have led to its ban in Europe. LED tubes are an environmentally friendly, energy efficient and safe alternative to fluorescent tubes. LED tubes are also longer lasting and more versatile. Replacing a fluorescent tube with an LED tube is easy, but it is important to choose the right LED tube and ensure it is compatible with the old fixture.
By choosing the right LED tube, you can improve your lighting, save energy and money in the long run and help protect the environment. Remember to recycle your old fluorescent bulbs correctly!
Led lighting expert
LedStore has been an expert in led lighting since 2010. We have our own product design, so our products are technologically state-of-the-art.
We focus on light colour temperature controlled and high colour rendering index lights. We do around 500 lighting designs in a year.
We offer a service of custom made led strips, i.e. custom made led light strips in profile. Also installed.
Remember that we are always ready to offer our help to you along the way, by email (myynti@ledstore.fi) and by phone (045 251 4510). As always, feel free to share photos of your own projects on social media at ledstore.fi at Instagram and ledstore.fi at Meta. We love to see the cool things done by our LEDs, and it also helps to provide inspiration for those who are not sure about the power and awesomeness of LEDs. Did you know that we already have over 3500 pictures of our LED installations in our Gallery!
Led Lights Gallery:
Product gallery: Pictures of products in different installation locations
Indirect light: Indirect light in different spaces
Room-specific: Light in different rooms
References: Complete houses that have been photographed
