T8 tubes are simply 1 inch in diameter versus the 1.5 inch diameter of T12 tubes. In an effort to make LED tube lights compatible with the internal dimensions of most fixtures, you will find that most LED tube lights feature a T8 or 1 inch diameter. They can indeed be used in T12 fixtures.
What happens if you put a T8 bulb in a T12 fixture?
T8 LED tubes won’t fall out if you try to install them in a T12 fixturethey’ll fit just fine.This is because T12 fixtures have non-shunted tombstones, exactly what you need for LED tubes. T8 fixtures have shunted tombstones, and those tombstones need to be replaced as part of the conversion to LED.
Do I need to remove the ballast to use an LED bulb?
A plug and play LED is a fixture where you can install LED bulbs to what was once a fluorescent bulb. This is an easy solution and requires minimal effort on your part. Since it works with the existing ballast, there is no need for rewiring or ballast removal.
Can you put LED T8 bulbs in regular fixtures?
All you need to do is remove the existing T8 fluorescent lamp and install a new T8 LED Type A lamp. However, using an existing ballast is not as efficient as the methods further below as their lifespan is affected due to the ballast needing to be replaced before the LED itself.
Are T8 or T12 bulbs brighter?
The Standard T12 lamp produces 2,650 initial lumens per lamp. The standard T8 produces 2,800 initial lumens per lamp, 6% brighter. But the standard T12 lamp produces 2,300 design lumens and the T8 produces 2,660 design lumens.Design Lumens are the average lumen output of the lamp after 40% of its rated life.
Can you put an LED tube in a fluorescent fixture?
Many LED tubes are “plug and play”, meaning you can just install them like you would a fluorescent bulb. For this to be true, look for bulbs that are “ballast-compatible” meaning that they can use the ballast already installed in your fluorescent fixture to power the LEDs.
Will T8 fit T12?
T8 tubes are simply 1 inch in diameter versus the 1.5 inch diameter of T12 tubes. In an effort to make LED tube lights compatible with the internal dimensions of most fixtures, you will find that most LED tube lights feature a T8 or 1 inch diameter. They can indeed be used in T12 fixtures.
How do I know if my ballast is compatible with LED?
You can determine whether you have a compatible fixture in seconds. Simply turn the light on, then take a photo of the fixture using your smartphone or digital camera. If there are no dark bands on the resulting image, you have an electronic ballast that will work with direct drop-in LED tubes.
Can I bypass the ballast for LED lights?
Since LED lights work on low DC voltage, they need a driver. Most T8 LED tubes do not need a ballast. So, if you are going to install a T8 LED tube light, it will require a ballast bypass unless you choose a ballast compatible T8 LED tube.
Can I use LED bulbs in any fixture?
As long as the mounting base (socket) is the same size and type, you can use an LED bulb in an existing fixture.LED bulbs have much lower wattage than incandescent bulbs, so it’s important to know the light output (in lumens) for the bulb you’re replacing.
Are T12 bulbs being discontinued?
In effect since July 2012, the legislation eliminates nearly all 4-foot T12 lamps, some 4-foot T8 lamps, most 8-foot T12 lamps, and almost all standard halogen PAR38, PAR30 and PAR20 lamps from the market. T12 technology is over 80 years old. Since that time, lamps and bulbs have been developed that just work better.
What is the difference between shunted and Unshunted sockets?
Shunted sockets feature internally connected electrical contacts. This provides a single track for the electrical current to travel from the ballast, through the tombstone, or socket, and to the lamp’s pins.Non-shunted sockets have contacts that are not joined or connected.
How do I know if my ballast is T8 or T12?
If no markings are available, the size in diameter of the tube is the easiest way to determine the type you have installed. T8 tubes are 1-inch in diameter and T12 tubes are 1 1/2 -inch.
What is the difference between T8 and T12 ballast?
T12 and T8 lamps also differ on the ballast that they are operated with most of the time. T12 primarily run off a magnetic ballasts and T8 bulbs operate on electronic ballasts.Even though the fluorescent light socket is exactly the same for both of them, they cannot operate on the same ballast.
Which is better T8 or T5?
If you do not need as many lumens, the lesser wattage T8 would be the better choice since it offers lower lumen and watt consumption. If you need higher levels of lighting, the T5 might be ideal for your situation.
Can you change fluorescent bulbs to LED bulbs?
There is a wide variety of methods for converting to LED tubes. The simplest is to completely replace old fluorescent fixtures with brand-new LED fixtures. However, LED fixtures to replace four-bulb (8-foot-long) fluorescent fixtures (common in farm buildings) can set you back $100 or more per unit.
What is T8 or T12?
A T12 lamp (on the left in the figure below) is therefore twelve-eighths of an inch, or one-and-one-half inches (3.81 cm), in diameter. A T8 lamp (on the right in the figure below) is eight-eighths of an inch, or one inch (2.54 cm), in diameter.
Are fluorescent tubes being phased out?
The sale of halogen lightbulbs will be banned in the UK from September as part of ministerial efforts to cut carbon emissions. A ban on fluorescent lighting, which is mostly used in offices, will follow in September 2023.
Will a T8 ballast work with LED bulbs?
These LED tubes are the newest, easiest to install and most expensive. They work with any kind of existing technology whether it is T12 (Magnetic Ballast) or T8 (Electronic Ballast).
Will LED bulbs work if ballast is bad?
Can LED lamps work off of existing ballasts? Yes, if they have an internal driver than can work off that ballast. Philips, for example, has designed a tube that is compatible with an existing electronic ballast.
Can you put LED lights in old fixtures?
When it comes to replacing old incandescent bulbs with LEDs, a common question that customers ask is: Can I use an LED bulb that has a higher wattage equivalent than my fixture allows? The simple answer is yes, as long as the LED bulb uses less wattage than your fixture.But why are LED’s so much more efficient?
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