How to Convert Fluorescent Lights to LED

[@Daddicated]

***Things you need*** New LED Conversion Kit: amzn.to/3LbsWTh Wire Stripper: amzn.to/3r7yBTh

[@DIYtimeTRD]

Well done! Love that stripper! 😜 Definitely must add one of those to my toy collection…

[@Warp2090]

all you need is a plug n play led bulb. They make LED bulbs now that you just put into ur old flourescent fixture without any extra steps

[@Daddicated]

@@Warp2090 Thanks for the engagement. 😅

[@johanerasmus2522]

Did you know, that you can fit the led bulb only in one way? The side which there is a description on the end goes to the side where the power is connected. If you do it wrong, you short out the led and will trip the power and the led bulb is ruined.

[@Daddicated]

No I did not know that. I must of gotten lucky then.

[@BBullet]

How do you know where the power is connected?

[@jstenberg3192]

​@@BBulletBlack wire

[@MultiTony41]

Good to know

[@JamMC]

That gives me another reason why I don’t like LEDs.

[@TripleB23]

Great video, good to see the wiring being done and not fast forwarded thru it.

[@Daddicated]

Glad you enjoyed it.

[@stephenjones8928]

Thanks for cleaning the fixture components before reassembly. Makes it professional instead of slovenly. 👍

[@Daddicated]

Lol, you’re welcome. I don’t like seeing those bugs in there.

[@MarielleVerot]

I cannot find the kit you used in this video. I've looked at Home Depot and Toggled online and they only have the conversion kits with 4 bulbs meant to replace an 8ft light. Can you comment on where you got this kit or the part number? The link you provided is not for the Toggled brand. Thanks!

[@Daddicated]

It’s these www.homedepot.com/p/toggled-48-in-16-Watt-Daylight-Deluxe-T8-Dimmable-Linear-LED-Tube-Light-Bulb-2-Pack-D416-65321-2/308086234

[@auwtomoton]

Helpful clear explanation thank you

[@h_in_oh]

Note that this process is only for bypass bulbs specified as single-ended for power. The upside is that they only work when put in one way, and the other way just won't have power. The downside is that if you put them in the correct way, but still twist in the wrong direction, then the Load pin will line up to the Neutral feed wire and the Neutral pin will line up to the Load feed wire. There are also double-ended bypass bulbs that require you to wire the Load wire to all contacts on one side of the fixture and the Neutral wire to all contacts on the other side of the fixture. Those don't like to be put in backwards.

[@Daddicated]

Interesting...

[@MrMockingbird1313]

Hey Dadguy those "holders" are called tombstones.

[@kirkhere2711]

The install kit in your description says it works with the existing tombstones, no need to change them, so...? Also, the description says only bulbs are included, no tombstones. So?

[@Daddicated]

I originally bought my kit from Home Depot and I couldn't find the same kit on amazon to post in the description so I would follow the instruction of your kit.

[@TargaWheels]

I've seen a couple videos of guys doing it without any kind of kit. Basically removing the ballast, rewire with existing wires, put in LED bulbs. I thought LED bulbs had green caps on the ends? Not sure.

[@Daddicated]

I think if they rewire it properly then you are probably right you can probably do it without the kit. The kit just makes it easier and more idiot proof with instructions but if you know what you are doing you probably can do it without the kit.

[@seanl6885]

The tubes in this video are single-ended lights, meaning that both the hot wire and the neutral wire go to one end of the tube. There are double-ended (aka dual-ended) tubes in the market, if you want to avoid the kit.

[@AmiiboJuice]

Any reason you can't just buy LED bulbs and place them in? Does this have to be done with all light fixtures that aren't ballast?

[@Daddicated]

I think they sell kits that you can install with the ballast. The problem then is the ballast wastes more energy. By removing the ballast you get more energy saved.

[@davidb.8948]

​@@Daddicatedtheres a company that i just heard from that sells the LED replacement bulb with nothing to do but install the LED bulb where the previous fluorescent bulb was. Does this sound correct?

[@Daddicated]

@@davidb.8948 That is correct there are those as well but the problem is because you still have the ballast it still requires more energy to use the light therefore if you want the ultimate savings with the LED bulb its best to remove the ballast.

[@danielramotowski5187]

Amazing man 👍

[@Daddicated]

Thanks. 👍🏼

[@n310ea]

On fluorescent lights, if you take one bulb out the other one won't work very well, is that the same with LED's?

[@Daddicated]

I’m not sure I never tried but I think it might something to do with how it’s wired.

[@arghoknot]

Each LED will turn on once it's installed.

[@itsio7188]

How can you test a led bulb to see if jts good

[@Daddicated]

Not sure I understand what you mean. Why do you need to test it, if the light isn’t working anymore then it’s probably bad and needs to be replaced.

[@itsio7188]

@@Daddicated at work we have different types of, what I assume, old LED's. Miscellaneously thrown into a box.

[@2jimmy423]

hi。 when Fluorescent lamp into led do i need new ballast

[@Daddicated]

It depends on the LED that you buy. Some you can do with existing ballast and some you need to bypass it.

[@MySquishable]

@@Daddicated Why would you ever buy the bypass when you can just get the bulbs that work with existing ballast??!!

[@arghoknot]

​@MySquishable because the purpose of LED lower the power consumption. Buying the type of LED that still uses the ballast defeats the purpose of the LED being cost effective because the ballast is still being used up power to light the LEDs.

[@Warp2090]

@@arghoknot Not really. The leds that use the ballast are far more reliable and dont use that much more juice

[@arghoknot]

I copied and pasted the following from Quora. Is it better to replace the ballast or bypass it when upgrading to LED tubes? When upgrading to LED tubes, the decision to replace or bypass the ballast depends on several factors, including the type of LED tubes being used and the existing lighting setup. Here’s a breakdown of both options: Bypassing the Ballast Pros: Efficiency: Direct-wiring LED tubes (often referred to as "ballast-bypass" or "direct wire") eliminate the ballast, which can reduce energy consumption and improve efficiency. Longer Lifespan: Without the ballast, there are fewer components that can fail, potentially leading to a longer lifespan for the LED tubes. Cost Savings: Over time, you may save on energy costs and maintenance since there are fewer components to replace. Cons: Installation Complexity: Bypassing the ballast requires rewiring the fixture, which may necessitate a qualified electrician if you’re not experienced with electrical work. Compatibility: Not all LED tubes are designed for ballast bypass; you need to ensure that the tubes you choose are compatible. Replacing the Ballast Pros: Simplicity: Using LED tubes that are compatible with existing ballasts (often referred to as "plug-and-play" or "ballast-compatible") can make installation easier, as you won’t need to rewire the fixture. Less Initial Work: If you are not comfortable with electrical work, this option can be more straightforward. Cons: Energy Loss: Ballasts can consume energy, and using ballast-compatible tubes may not be as efficient as bypassing the ballast. Potential for Ballast Failure: If the ballast fails, you’ll need to replace it, which adds to maintenance costs. Conclusion If you are looking for the most efficient and long-term solution, bypassing the ballast is generally recommended, especially if you are comfortable with electrical work or can hire a professional. However, if ease of installation is a priority and you want to avoid rewiring, using ballast-compatible LED tubes might be the way to go. Always check the specifications of the LED tubes and consult with a professional if needed.

[@revdev1032]

Could have just bought a whole new LED flat panel or a led shop light over an LED tube. But I know the LED tube is cost effective

[@Daddicated]

Yeah I could of but this was probably easier to do.

[@revdev1032]

I had got Philips led tubes for my shop’s Storage space which work on a rapid start, but for a garage, I had to put a new LED fixture because it didn’t work with led tubes (Since it was a F40 t12) I got the wrong size tube and i don’t want to take lots of time removing the ballast, the new fixture in my garage puts out 8000 lumens (4000k)

[@kristophermaldonado5407]

Led light good Durability

[@Daddicated]

Hopefully.

[@user-propositionjoe]

Don't you need to ground it?

[@Daddicated]

Just follow the instruction of your kit. Mine didn't require for ground.

[@jameskelson1891]

At my local store, buying a whole new LED fixture is cheaper and certainly much quicker and easier than trying to do a conversion.

[@Daddicated]

I didn’t compare so I’m not aware of which option is cheaper and easier. But that’s good to know.

[@masterroshi681]

5,000 Kelvin seems really hot.. 1:18

[@kessiskus]

That's like the core of the sun 😂

[@JoshF151Tech]

That's too much of a hassle honestly especially considering that regular Fluorescent Tube Light Bulbs last around 9 Years or more and they are cheaper. LED's are more Power Efficient but they should make LED's work with everything you shouldn't have to do all this stuff to get them to work they should just be Plug And Play for everything.

[@Daddicated]

They do have easy plug ins but they are not as efficient since u end up using the ballast. The savings here is ur no long powering the ballast

[@ArsonistArborist]

This is very simple

[@Warp2090]

@@Daddicated Most of the energy used is from the flourescent tube not the ballast. Thats why plug n play LED's are becoming popular. They use the existing ballast instead of a driver, so no ballast bypass is needed

[@Daddicated]

@@Warp2090 So on amazon it looks like the LEDs they sell can go for both plug n play and ballast bypass. I also did some math with help of ChatGPT and by removing the ballast I save about $7 per year if the light is on for average of 3 hours per day. With that being said I agree leaving the ballast is easier and less headache but with the ballast you will save little bit.😅

[@cristibabyface]

they do do them plug and play :) i don"t understand why this guy complicates everyting

[@இராவணஈகன்]

Not a good wiring

[@Daddicated]

Why not?

[@ahah1785]

Dont convert. Just stock up on cheap cfl tubes until fixture end of life. In most cases led will burn out much sooner than a traditional cfl tube. They lie about led lifespan by alot! For 24/7 operation id take cfl any day. Leds in a single lamp burn out by some of them get dimmer or die while others still going, also driving electronics are ceap and horrible in most led lights and will fail loooong before any cfl tube and its power brick does. Greenwashing at its best together with electric cars.

[@Daddicated]

You're probably not wrong. Some LEDs do tend to burn out faster than what they promise.

[@Warp2090]

If you do want to use LED's, I reccomend trying plug n play led tubes which just go into ur existing flourescent fixture with 0 extra steps

[@Daddicated]

@@Warp2090 what's the energy savings comparison between fluorescent tubes vs led with using the existing ballast?

[@Warp2090]

Plug n play LED's are much more reliable if you have a good ballast.

[@Daddicated]

Really? Why is that?

[@Warp2090]

@@Daddicated Some LED tubes have cheap drivers, which fail a lot faster than a good condition ballast

[@Daddicated]

@@Warp2090 Interesting but the energy savings by going to LED is mostly coming from removal of the ballast is it not? It would interesting to see how much you saving by removing the ballast vs the life of the LED and the cost/frequency of replacing them.

[@Warp2090]

@@Daddicated Yeah true

[@TheCarowood]

Iì

[@Daddicated]

?

[@kristophermaldonado5407]

LED bulbs last longer

[@planeguy737-1]

not always

[@Daddicated]

Yeah I feel like they design them to fail after a couple of years at least that’s been my experience with led bulbs not sure about the tubes yet. We’ll see how long this one will last.

[@kristophermaldonado5407]

@@Daddicated yes

[@planeguy737-1]

especially fluorescents on preheat ballasts, the tubes can last a very long time

[@Warp2090]

Depends if you get one with a quality driver yes. The market is flooded with LED's that have cheap drivers sadly though.

[@pc-ec9mx]

Never twist wires like that

[@Daddicated]

Why not?