A Detailed Manual for Selecting and Installing LED Tube Lights

Substituting fluorescent tube lights with LED retrofits can be a perplexing and intimidating endeavour. This article elucidates the intricacies of substituting fluorescent tubes with LED tube lights.
What if you choose to avoid concern over these matters?

Benefits of LED tubes compared to fluorescent tubes

The numerous benefits of LED tubes compared to fluorescent lights are well-documented; nonetheless, we will briefly outline the three main advantages:
Enhanced efficiency, energy conservation (up to 30-50%)
Extended lifespans (generally 50,000 hours)
Absence of mercury

Dimensions of fluorescent tubes and retrofitting with LED tube lights

Fluorescent fixtures are typically integrated into ceilings and directly linked to mains electricity, rendering them comparatively costly and challenging to replace entirely.
Consequently, it frequently proves to be the most cost-effective option to retain the existing fluorescent fixture while substituting the fluorescent tube with an LED tube light.
Consequently, it is essential to comprehend the many sorts of fluorescent tubes that were created, enabling the appropriate LED tube light to be retrofitted accordingly.
Fluorescent tube makers have produced several sizes and kinds throughout the years.
T8 4-ft: Four-foot T8 fluorescent lights are the predominant kind utilised currently. Their length is 48 inches, and they possess a light diameter of 1 inch.
T12 4-foot: Four-foot T12 fluorescent lights have inferior efficiency relative to T8 lamps. They possess identical lengths to T8 lights, although feature a greater diameter of 1.5 inches.
T5 4-ft: Four-foot T5 fluorescent lights are generally the most efficient and represent some of the latest bulb types launched in the 2000s in the USA. They are typically referred to as T5HO (high output) and offer more luminosity than T8 variants. They measure little under four feet (45.8 inches). T5 lights are available in several lengths, including 1-foot, 2-foot, and 3-foot varieties, and are typically utilised in non-ceiling installations like table lamps.
T8 and T12 tubes are available in various lengths, including 8-foot tubes; nevertheless, 4-foot lengths are the most prevalent.
LED tube lights emulate the mechanical dimensions to guarantee they serve as authentic retrofit replacements and utilise identical form factor designations (e.g., 4-foot T8 LED tube light).
T8 and T12 fixtures often have identical lengths and pin configurations, rendering them mechanically cross-compatible.
T5 fixtures are incompatible with T8 and T12 bulbs because of their differing pin diameters and lengths.
 

Retrofitting fluorescent ballasts with LED tube lighting

All fluorescent tube lights employ a mechanism known as a ballast to control the lamp's luminosity during the warming process. These devices are essential for fluorescent lights and vary from incandescent bulbs, which may be directly linked to mains electrical circuits.
Fluorescent light fittings generally contain the ballast within the fixture, rendering it inaccessible without detaching the fixture from the ceiling. Modifications to the fluorescent light ballast should be conducted solely by those proficient and experienced in electrical tasks.
 

Origin

T5, T8, and T12 fluorescent bulbs function distinctly, necessitating several types of fluorescent ballasts.
LED lamps function differently from fluorescent lamps, since they do not require a ballast, however they do incorporate electrical components that constitute the LED driver.
Initial LED tube lights necessitated the removal or bypassing of the fluorescent ballast. Currently, several LED tube lights are engineered to be compatible with fluorescent ballasts, facilitating a straightforward replacement of the fluorescent tube without the need for rewiring the fixture. We will examine the standard terminology associated with each of these arrangements.
3A) UL Type A LED tube light - Compatible with Ballast
Typically engineered as "UL Type A," these LED tube lights are intended for compatibility with fluorescent ballasts. They are the simplest to deploy, as they do not need rewiring the fluorescent fixture.
The UL Type A LED tube light functions similarly to a fluorescent bulb and is a direct replacement.
Suitable for: Consumers who are either averse of or want to circumvent electrical wiring tasks, and lighting projects where the expense of electrician services is substantial.
 

Disadvantage 

Fluorescent ballasts are prone to failure.