Can you replace a fluorescent light fixture with an LED light fixture?

If you have fluorescent fixtures and are eying the cost- and energy-savings of switching to LED lighting, you’ll find there are two paths you can take: convert your existing fixtures to work with LED or replace those fixtures with new LED fixtures.

Can you retrofit a fluorescent light to LED?





LED retrofitting is a cost-effective way to upgrade fluorescent lighting. The days of drab fluorescents in homes and offices is ending. LEDs save energy and last longer, so it’s worth the switch. Converting fluorescent fixtures to luminaries for LED lights optimizes energy efficiency.

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.

How do I convert fluorescent tubes to LED?

There are various methods for converting fluorescent lighting fixtures into LED ones. However, the simplest way is to use some sort of retrofit kit. These kits attach to already existing lighting fixtures and allow for LED bulbs to be housed in them.

Can you mix LED and fluorescent tubes?

Yes, you can mix LED lights with other types of light bulbs. The most important thing is to make sure all of your fixtures are the same type.

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.

How do you retrofit LED lights?

Retrofit Kits

  1. Turn off your circuit breaker.
  2. Remove the old bulbs.
  3. Remove the ballast cover.
  4. Clip the wires attached to the fluorescent ballast.
  5. Remove the fluorescent ballast.
  6. Attach the wires to your kit.
  7. Replace the ballast cover.

How do you bypass the ballast for LED lights?

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 I replace a T12 fluorescent light tube with an LED tube?

T8 LED tubes won’t fall out if you try to install them in a T12 fixture—they’ll fit just fine. But here’s some even better news: If you have a T12 fixture, conversion to LED is going to be even easier than with a T8 fixture. This is because T12 fixtures have non-shunted tombstones, exactly what you need for LED tubes.

What is a single ended LED tube?

A single-ended LED tube is a tube that has the live and neutral pins on the same side of the tube. This end will be the “Input” end.

Do I still need a starter with an LED tube?



Conventional fluorescent tubes need a starter. This starter provides ignition voltage. Naturally, this isn’t necessary for LEDs, so the ignition voltage is superfluous. If you want to replace a traditional fluorescent bulb with an LED, then you must install a dummy starter or bypass the standard starter manually.

How do you tell if LED tube is double-ended?

A double-ended LED lamp is a lamp that has the live and neutral pins on the opposite side of each lamp.

What is a Type A LED tube?

Type A. Type A LED tubes are ballast compatible. This is the “plug and play” or “lamp for lamp” scenario most commonly used in re-lamping projects, where you simply replace the bulb with an LED lamp while retaining the original ballast and fixture of the fluorescent.

Can you replace a fluorescent tube with an LED tube?

Yes, you can replace fluorescent tubes with LED tubes or LED-integrated fixtures. If you just want to replace the bulbs, you can use plug-and-play, direct-wire, or hybrid LED tubes. Plug-and-play tubes are the easiest to install as they do not require any rewiring to the fixture.

What are the 3 types of LED light bulbs?



Fundamentally, there are three different types of LED technology that are used in LED lighting – DIP, SMD and COB.

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.

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 use LED tubes with electronic ballast?

Type A – LED tube has an Integrated Driver for use on Existing Fluorescent Ballast. Type A LED tubes need an existing T8 electronic ballast to operate. If you have T8 electronic ballasts this makes installation very easy. All you need to do is remove the existing T8 fluorescent lamp and install a new T8 LED Type A lamp …