Can you mix fluorescent and LED bulbs in the same 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.

Why do LED lights not work in some fixtures?





There might be a couple of reasons why sometimes you cannot simply put LEDs in any old fixture. As mentioned previously, if an existing fixture has a dimming feature, and your new LEDs are not compatible. You will run into trouble with dimming capability, such as flickering or strobing or incomplete dimming.

Why do my LED lights keep failing?

One reason why an LED lamp might expire before it’s rated lifespan could have to do with the temperature of the environment it is in. If the temperature around it gets too hot and it does not have a proper heat sink, that can cause the LEDs in the lamp to overheat and then it will fail.

Can you switch out fluorescent tubes with LED?

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.

Can you plug LED lights into regular lights?

The short answer is no. You can’t use LED replacement bulbs (if you can find them) to replace traditional mini lights on a traditional light string. It may seem like a good idea, cost-effective and simple. However, the wiring for your classic lights is different and unsuitable to handle LEDs.

Will LED bulbs work in any fixture?





When it comes to LED light bulbs, they will turn on and work in any light fixture that provides them at least the minimum wattage they’re specified for. Because of the efficiency of LED bulbs, this figure is often very low. Some LED bulbs may even be tolerant of too little or too much wattage, to a certain point.

Why are half of my LED strip lights not working?

Solution: You may chose to get a larger power supply that can handle the total wattage required, so a power supply higher that the total wattage of all your LED strips. Or you could get another power supply of the same size as you already have, and split the strips across 2 power supplies.

Why are my new LED light bulbs not working?

Heat buildup, screwing bulbs too tightly, or placing LEDs in improper electrical circuits and accessories are common causes of LEDs stopping working. In addition, poor quality capacitors, drivers and diodes are also leading factors in reducing the life of LED bulbs.

Is it worth replacing fluorescent tubes with LED?

You could save a lot of money on energy by replacing your fluorescent bulbs with LEDs. They keep cooling costs down – You also may be able to trim down your cooling expenses as well. Fluorescent lights don’t generally produce a lot of heat, at least not as much as HID lamps, but they do burn hotter than LEDs.

Do I need to remove the ballast to use an LED bulb?



An LED light does not require a ballast because it uses a component called a “driver” to regulate the power going into the bulb.

Can you bypass ballast for LED lights?

2. Ballast-bypass, line voltage, or direct wire linear LED (UL type B) Bypass the ballast linear LEDs – also known as line voltage or direct-wire linear LEDs – work straight off the line voltage flowing directly to the sockets, requiring you to remove the original fluorescent ballast. Jump ahead to pros and cons.

How do you wire LED tubes without ballast?

Quote from the video:
Quote from Youtube video: You can fold the black and white wires on your ballast out of the way because you don't need them anymore. Next you'll need to cut the red wire that runs from your ballast to the side of your fixture.

How do I know if my LED tube is single or double ended?



A simple way to know if you have a single ended tube is to look for the L/N or AC INPUT sticker at the end of the tube. Since the single-end powered tubes only use one side of the tube, both live and neutral power will be on the same side, but different pins. The “L” indicates the pin that live power will go into.

How do you bypass a ballast to install LED tubes in a fluorescent light?

How to Bypass A Ballast

  1. Step 1: Disconnect All Power So There is No Electrical Current. …
  2. Step 2: Find the Ballast. …
  3. Step 3: Locate and Cut Only the Hot and Neutral Wires. …
  4. Step 4: Cut the Socket Lead Wires. …
  5. Step 5: Remove the Ballast (if you wish) …
  6. Step 6: Connect the Wires. …
  7. Step 7: Reattach Any Coverings and Turn On.


Can you use LED tubes with electronic ballast?

Ballast-compatible, “plug and play,” or “direct drop-in” LED tubes make upgrading to cost-saving, long-life LED technology easy: simply take the fluorescent tubes out of your fixture and put the LED tubes in. However, direct drop-in LED tubes are compatible only with fixtures that have electronic ballasts.

Is it safe to bypass a ballast?



The most significant negative to a ballast-bypass linear LED is the risk of electric shock since the sockets carry line voltage. It’s a common practice to place a finger on the lamp pins while you are trying to install it, and this becomes a risky endeavor when using single-ended ballast-bypass lamps .

Do LED fluorescent lights need a ballast?

No LED bulbs require a ballast, although some are engineered to work with an existing ballast. You will find ballast-compatible or “plug-and-play” LEDs that are designed to replace linear fluorescents, compact fluorescents, or HIDs. Incandescent and halogen lamps do not require a ballast.