05-18-2017, 04:53 PM
I tried a LED tube that would work with an electronic ballast only. I wasn't sure what the ballast was in the old fixture because the label was illegible. I tried it anyway. The LED lights flickered at what appeared to be 30hz for about 15 seconds and died.
I put the fluorescent grow tubes back in and used it for my plants.
I ordered Hypericon tubes with tombstones that the fixture needs to be wired for bypassing the ballast and for single end wiring. Unfortunately that old fixture had crimp in tombstones (the newer fixtures mostly have slide-ins ).
Very carefully rewired the old style tombstones for single end power and the LED lights are pretty nice.
I've had a lot of ballasts go bad so I'm biased towards bypassing them.
18 watts per tube vs 36(T8) or 40(T12) is worth the effort to rewire a light ( if it's easy to rewire ) IMO.
Especially here with electricity costs 22-25ยข/kwh. (4 foot lights )
Edit: I bought the clear tubes. They are a little harsh on the eyes with no diffuser. Good for plant lights, maybe good enough for the shop. In a basement I'd get the frosted tubes rather than clear.
Edit: Not a fan of cans. But they do work well functionally as task lights in a kitchen.
I put the fluorescent grow tubes back in and used it for my plants.
I ordered Hypericon tubes with tombstones that the fixture needs to be wired for bypassing the ballast and for single end wiring. Unfortunately that old fixture had crimp in tombstones (the newer fixtures mostly have slide-ins ).
Very carefully rewired the old style tombstones for single end power and the LED lights are pretty nice.
I've had a lot of ballasts go bad so I'm biased towards bypassing them.
18 watts per tube vs 36(T8) or 40(T12) is worth the effort to rewire a light ( if it's easy to rewire ) IMO.
Especially here with electricity costs 22-25ยข/kwh. (4 foot lights )
Edit: I bought the clear tubes. They are a little harsh on the eyes with no diffuser. Good for plant lights, maybe good enough for the shop. In a basement I'd get the frosted tubes rather than clear.
Edit: Not a fan of cans. But they do work well functionally as task lights in a kitchen.