Choosing the Right LED Tube For Your Commercial Space
Choosing the right LED tube can be a complicated process. A lighting professional can help you determine the best options and implement an efficient LED retrofit.
Ballast bypass LED tubes operate with fluorescent fixtures’ existing ballasts. They can be used as plug-and-play bulbs with shunted or non-shunted tombstone sockets.
Energy Efficiency
With the rise of energy prices and climate change, businesses are looking for ways to reduce their energy consumption and cut costs. One way to do this is by switching to LED tubes. LED lights use less energy than fluorescent bulbs and have a longer lifespan. In addition, they are safe and do not contain mercury.
LED tubes can be ballast compatible or direct wire. The former works with existing fluorescent light fixtures using magnetic or electronic ballasts. The latter bypasses the ballast, making it light bulbs a plug-and-play bulb that connects directly to power supply wires (neutral and hot). This allows for a more simple installation since it doesn’t require a driver or a new ballast. However, the risk of an electrical shock during the installation stage increases with these tube types.
If you are going for a plug-and-play installation, make sure that the LED tube has the same voltage configuration as your existing fixture’s sockets. For example, hybrid LED tubes have neutral and live pins on the same end and require non-shunted tombstone sockets in order to operate in direct wire mode. You can also opt for single-end power tubes, which have the live and neutral pins on the same end, but they work with shunted sockets too.
Long Lifespan
LED tubes last much longer than fluorescent bulbs, which lose their color and brightness over time. These lights do not experience this degradation, and their rated life of 50,000 hours means they will continue to emit bright light for an exceptionally long period of time. This means a more uniform lighting scheme for your commercial space with less maintenance required.
Moreover, an LED tube can fit into the same fixtures that your previous fluorescent bulbs used to and does not require a complex re-wiring process. This makes it an easy retrofit and allows for more advanced energy optimization strategies like lighting adjustments based on real-time occupancy, daylight dimming and peak scheduling.
There are different types of LED tubes, varying according to their diameter and the fluorescent wattage that they are meant to replace. For example, a T8 or F32 tube is one inch in length and has the same luminosity as a 32-Watt fluorescent bulb.
A common type of LED tube is the ballast compatible (Type A) which works with your existing fluorescent fixture’s magnetic or electronic ballasts. Another option is the hybrid LED tube which can work off of your current ballast as well as a line voltage if you choose to bypass it in the future. You can also find hybrid tubes that are DLC qualified and can qualify for additional energy rebates across the US.
Reliability
Compared to fluorescent tubes, LEDs are more reliable in terms of luminous power and colour temperature. However, higher luminous power is traded off with lower CRI and colour rendering.
As a result, the choice of colour temperature should be carefully made. In general, colder colour temperatures give the best results. In addition, the colour stability of LEDs varies depending on the quality of the chips used. LEDs with higher-quality chips are more stable than those from cheaper manufacturers.
LED tube lights are available with a wide range of colour temperatures, from warm to cool. This gives you the option of modifying the lighting to suit your preference and to meet the needs of your project.
The UL-approved LED tubes are also easy to install. They are designed to work in existing fixtures without the need for a ballast, and are compatible with both shunted and non-shunted tombstones. They are a safe, economical alternative to replacing the fixture altogether.
The LED tubes are a great choice for upgrading old fluorescent fixtures to a newer and led tube sleeker design. This will improve the look of your workplace and boost morale, productivity and efficiency. Many people find that working in a dated, tarnished or yellowing fixture can affect their mood, which can impact work performance and output. Fortunately, you can replace your fluorescent tubes with LED tubes and upgrade the entire appearance of the room.
Low Maintenance
The initial cost of LED tubes may seem a bit steep, but the money saved on energy and maintenance over their lifetimes makes it worth every penny. It also saves you the headache of having to replace fluorescent tubes frequently, as LEDs can go for 50,000 hours or more without needing a replacement.
For commercial displays, offices, classrooms, hallways and other multipurpose spaces, LED tube lights are an excellent choice for a variety of lighting applications. The versatile lighting options offer clean, modern aesthetics and bright, consistent illumination that enhances the appearance of any space.
Aside from the initial cost savings, LED tube lights are also highly durable and require little maintenance to perform at their best. The nano-plastic construction resists harsh environments, oxidation and other degradation factors, while the LED chips stay stable even in high temperatures.
Another great feature of LED tubes is their environmentally friendly nature. They contain no mercury or other harmful chemicals, making them safe to dispose of when they reach the end of their life cycle. In addition, the tubes do not emit UV rays or heat that can damage surfaces or objects in the area.
Choosing the right type of LED tube light for your project is important to ensure a successful installation. Some types of tubes are designed to work with existing ballasts, while others require a separate LED driver that is wired directly to the line voltage.