How To Easily Convert Fluorescent Lights to LED | Save Money on Energy Costs

[@JonnyDIY]

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[@RandyRyanCandy]

Just wondering, if this same concept would apply to single-tube wiring configuration? (obviously, half of the wiring will not be there)...

[@ralphpetry1745]

I finally decided today was the day to give up my career as a professional procrastinator and tackle the flickering laundry room light. I had been determined to leave fluorescent behind and make the switch to LED. The LED bulbs I had ordered a couple of weeks ago were starting to gather dust in the corner so finally watched a few videos this morning and picked your video as my guide. Your instructions were perfect and I feel like I have a whole new fixture. Thanks for posting such great instructions.

[@JonnyDIY]

You're very welcome, happy I could help you get it done and converted 👍 and thank you for your kind words 🙌

[@robcarr-ty7jo]

Yes but being a professional procrastinator is the only way to live

[@cherylmcghee3048]

Great viedo! I am a woman, 76 years of age. Your viedo was so clear and simple to understand! I can't believe I did it! Thank you so much, especially after watching so many other confusing videos.

[@JonnyDIY]

Wow that's awesome. You're very welcome, happy I could help you out 🙌👍

[@williecanuck5001]

BS..

[@SpectralightPhoto]

Best video I've seen on this topic! I was nervous about tackling this project because so many times the situation I'm facing never looks like what the KZbinr is showing. Fortunately, my wiring was exactly like yours so I just ran the video through each segment, paused it, did what you just did, resumed to the next segment and repeated your actions. I was so confident in each step that I put the cover over the wires, installed the bulbs, turned on the circuit breaker, turned on the light switch and voila... light! Thank you for making this job easy!

[@JonnyDIY]

@@SpectralightPhoto Awesome! You're very welcome, happy I could help you out. And Thanks for sharing, love hearing stories like this 🙌 👍

[@TheEverydayPreacher]

Thought mine would be a simple. I'm trying to use your method but no Bueno do far. I'm also trying it for 8 lamps if that makes a difference.

[@chrisbvh]

Good God, you are the 4th ballast bypass video I've watched and you are the first one to show without over explaining that ALL of the wires on one end go to hot and ALL on the other end go to neutral. I realize now every other video was doing this but explaining way too much. My guy 👊🏻

[@JonnyDIY]

Thanks, happy I could help you out 👍

[@williamjones4483]

Not all connect in that manner. Some of them you can connect that way but you can also connect on one end to the two pins. One being marked "L" for load would get the hot wire. The other pin being marked "N" for neutral. Before one undertakes such a project it would do them well to do some research on the subject to achieve the best way of completing this.

[@John-c9y3c]

It's different on a 4 light fixture

[@chrisbvh]

@@John-c9y3c yeah?

[@SteveLizaIzabel]

I knew nothing about converting Fluorescent lights to LED lights prior to watching this video. If this is all there is to it, you made it super easy to understand, and super easy for me to do. I see there is no need for me to hire an electrician to do, especially since I'm a DIY person myself. Thank you for explaining exactly what to do with all the wires, and how to bypass the ballast (seems very simple). Others watching this video and who have already done the conversion: * Is it really this easy??? * Is there nothing else that has to be added (equivalent of a new LED ballast, or similar) for the conversion? * Are there different type of LEDS bulbs (like with and without ballast)? What's best? Cheapest? Most energy efficient? Thank you all and Johnny DIY 🙂

[@JonnyDIY]

You're welcome, happy I could help you out 👍

[@daxos9482]

Thanks for the video. A very easy 20 minute project checked off the honey-do list and my wife is very excited that our kitchen is lit up again.

[@JonnyDIY]

@@daxos9482 Awesome. You're very welcome, happy I could help you get it done 👍

[@robertheinkel6225]

Just beware of one major item. There are two types of led replacement bulbs. One type like the one shown in the video, and another with a different wiring requirement. The other type only powers one end of the bulb, while the other tombstone is just a bulb holder. The bulbs are not interchangeable without rewiring the fixture to match the bulbs. Just pay attention to the directions on the package. Also, there are shunted and non shunted tombstones used. This style of bulb can use either,but the bulbs requiring wiring on one end only require non shunted tombstones, and usually come with the bulbs. I has converted over 1,200 bulbs at our church’s school and highly recommend LEDs

[@JonnyDIY]

Wow nice job, that's a ton of conversions you did, thanks for sharing the helpful info 👍

[@robertheinkel6225]

@@JonnyDIY the process is really simple once you know how to make the change.

[@AreaThirteenThirteen]

Yes you have to read the instructions and pay attention to the tombstones to be sure if they are shunted or not depending on application, there are also some LED replacement lamps that are ballast dependent and you will smoke the lamp if you direct wire them to line voltage and another type that can be used with or without a ballast. I do maintenance at a major airport and we have so many different types of lamps and fixtures (technically they are now called luminaries but I still refer to them as fixtures) there that it isn't even funny not to mention the new ones from the factory that come with an LED driver and LED strips instead of a regular ballast and those seem to go out or start strobing on a regular basis (the drivers are the weak link), we still have some T-12 ballasts in the older sections that haven't been converted yet and some still work since originally installed from the 70's.

[@JonnyDIY]

@@AreaThirteenThirteen ohh nice so you know all about all the different types, that's cool. Yeah the integrated led panel lights don't seem to last long in my experiences so far. Hopefully they get better. Probably just a matter or making higher quality and selling for more money

[@billg5584]

Exactly right. Double ended LED bulbs can use the same shunted tombstones that the fluorescent bulbs used. Shunted tombstones have both contacts on each tombstone shorted together. The single ended wiring requires non shunted tombstones, where the contact on each pin is electrically isolated from the opposite one. If a person does not know, and uses single ended wiring with a shunted tombstone, they will be wiring a short from hot to neutral, with an immediate short and wires burning up as soon as power is turned on.

[@dimwitsadvocate6264]

Well, with the enthusiasm that normally accompanies ignorance, I used this video to successfully convert to LED's on both my fixtures. It's a good thing I had this video! And whoever did it before had wires that as soon as I touched them, some fell out of the wire nuts! So, I re-did these using pliers to twist them together like Jonny shows in the video. Thank you Jonny for showing me the way! Awesome!

[@JonnyDIY]

@@dimwitsadvocate6264 Awesome! You're very welcome, happy to hear I could help you get it done 🙌👍

[@RonCrain]

Thank you for your clear directions I did this to the two fluorescent fixtures in my closet. Using the LED Tubes in your links I found that I didn't need 4 tubes in each fixture like the original fixture had. With just 2 tubes per fixture I would say that I'm getting the same amount of light as I did when I moved into my house.

[@JonnyDIY]

Awesome glad you got it done. And you're very welcome, happy I could help out 👍 yeah these suckers are bright!

[@mikefagan2071]

@@JonnyDIY Jonny, I also want to use just one bulb. (I have two blub fiictures. )Either florecent or LED. I haven't decided. Do I need to disonnect one of the blubs electric connection. If so, which one? Thank you, Mike

[@DrLRHolzer]

Very helpful. Your camera angles and description of how to remove the cover over the ballast saved me time. I converted a kitchen fluorescent fixture to LED Hybrid Type A+B today, and everything worked very well. No one locally sells the kind of LED tubes you recommend in the videos. I checked Lowes, Home Depot, ACE, and BatteriesPlus. But when I talked to a clerk at a local light bulb specialty store, he had heard of these kinds of bulbs and respects the product. He called them Smart bulbs instead of hybrid. I ordered from amazon, and installation steps were straightforward, just as you explained. I don't normally do electrical DIY. I rewatched your video many times to make sure I understood the steps. Thank you!

[@JonnyDIY]

You're very welcome. Nice! Happy to hear you got it done and I could help you out 🙌👍

[@christiemcbaine2805]

Fabulous! Can’t wait to do this over the washer/dryer! Side note. The second time you said “twist it clockwise” I was totally thinking “why would he make a point to turn it clockwise?”. Then, Bam! You totally explained it.

[@JonnyDIY]

Happy to help. And lol glad I made sure to clarify why, sometimes I can forget to fully explain why I do thing a certain way 👍

[@robertheinkel6225]

Considering all wire nuts are internally threaded clockwise, it will never tighten down if turned counterclockwise

[@Rev-D1963]

This is an excellent video brother, simple and easy to follow. As a hospital maintenance mechanic, I changed hundreds if not thousands of tubes and ballasts in my 20 years there. This would have been a huge improvement in energy consumption costs, not to mention tube costs! Thank you for making this video. God bless. Rev. D.

[@JonnyDIY]

Thank you for your kind words 🙌 And you're welcome, happy I could help you out 👍

[@victorhoe2321]

Johnny, removing the balest is the best way. The direct to balast conversion still has the tubes taking that initial spike to start regular florescent tubes.

[@JonnyDIY]

Yes I think so too, no need for them once you go led 👍

[@066motocross]

I gotta tell you brother, this is the absolute very best video I have found in this topic. Believe me, I've been watching how to convert to LED with ballast bypass tubes and yours is the very best I have seen! Not confusing, not someone talking to us like we are all qualified electricians, no dumb jokes and no music. Just a very cool young man showing us how to do this understanding that we don't have a clue lol. Seriously. Thanks so much. I inherited my Father's house and garage and I have 26 of these to do between the basement and garage and they are all 8' so I know this is going to be a very expensive upgrade. Well worth the cost though I know that. Thanks again fella 😊

[@JonnyDIY]

You're very welcome. Thank you for your kind words 🙌 Good luck with the projects! 👍

[@Warp2090]

Use plug in play LED's. Ballast bypass LED's are outdated now, and plug n play leds are far more reliable as they use the high quality ballast instead of the cheap driver.

[@mikeslater6246]

Pretty straightforward video but I have one complaint. That tester you used to determine whether the fixture was still powered or not should have been tested with a known live electrical circuit before trusting that your ballast was truly unpowered. You can do this by just sticking the little tab on the end of the tester in the hot side of a known good receptacle to see if it sounds. Not testing that electrical tester prior to using it is a good way to get yourself seriously hurt if the tester batteries were dead or it was just not working.

[@JonnyDIY]

Yes you're correct I always test it on a known live circuit before use just forgot to mention it in this particular video 👍

[@darthvegan435]

I always test on known good before and after (in case it happened to die during the few seconds after testing the first - might be overkill, but better than electrocution ).

[@mikeslater6246]

@@darthvegan435 I have to agree. That is definitely the kind of charge out of life that I do not want to get!

[@williecanuck5001]

Wow.. He turned off the switch, killed the breaker... Good enough ffs

[@williecanuck5001]

​@@mikeslater6246tingle.. just a tingle

[@SimpsonPowersport]

best video ive seen on this. no extra parts or conversion kits. simple explanation. good job dude

[@JonnyDIY]

@@SimpsonPowersport Thanks so much, happy to help 🙌👍

[@garyewheeler]

This may have already been said, but their are two types of LED Tube replacement bulb, Type B (which is what is being used here) and Type A (commonly call Plug & Play) which you don't have to bypass the ballast. Simply remove the old tubes and put the new ones in. Note: if the ballast is bad then the Type A won't work. You would replace the ballast, in which case you can use Type A or bypass the ballast, as shown here, and use type B.

[@JonnyDIY]

Thank you for sharing this helpful information 🙌👍

[@williamjones4483]

To me it's kind of pointless to do what you call Type "A" because you would still have a ballast consuming electricity and producing heat. Trust me when I say those ballast transformers can get VERY HOT.

[@TheSpotify95]

@@williamjones4483 Yeah, what usually kills the ballasts is when they run really hot, overheat, and shut down due to overheating. Also if you hear that the ballast is buzzing, it means the windings inside the ballast are starting to vibrate, again not good as it could fail at any point. When going for LED conversion you're really much better off not bothering with the ballast. After all, keeping the ballast and using Type A is only useful if you want to go back to fluorescent again at some point, which is pointless as fluorescent uses more power (and in some countries, they are even banning fluorescent bulbs). You really want to be taking out the ballast, taking out the starter (or using a LED specific start) and going Type B.

[@williamjones4483]

@@TheSpotify95 That's what I did. It was more time consuming but I completely gutted the fixture. Took down the tombstones and examined them to see if they could be reused. Removed ALL of the old wires going to them and for the conversion itself I ran black and white wires to only one tombstone as the LED lamps I used had pins on one end that were marked "L" for load and "N" for neutral. The tombstone at the other end was solely to support that end. One LED lamp produced enough light to replace both fluorescent tubes.

[@lym3204]

@@williamjones4483 I have all Type A because I replaced my fluorescent tubes before these fluorescent conversion videos became popular. It could be many years before my plug-and-play bulbs go bad for me to be able to change over to the type B tubes.

[@brianelswick7374]

I had no idea this bypass method existed, but this worked like a charm at my house. Now we can see in our basement! The fixtures are recessed into a dropped ceiling, so I appreciated how simple this was.

[@JonnyDIY]

Awesome. You're welcome happy I could help you out and get your lights going again 👍

[@ko2890]

I had seen another video on this conversion and it was so confusing I didnt even try. The method was different too. This just caused me to add this back onto my list. Thanks for your video!

[@JonnyDIY]

You're very welcome, happy to help 👍

[@randybeard6040]

I did this several years ago to my Kitchen Lights, really improved the Lighting...

[@JonnyDIY]

@@randybeard6040 yes it's a nice improvement for sure! 🙌👍

[@jchavins]

you can buy led replacements that don't require anything other than swapping out the bulbs. They've been on the market for years.....plus they produce more light....

[@JonnyDIY]

​@@jchavins yes you can get plug and plays as well, but this is a good option if you have any failed ballasts

[@theclassiccurlsalon5544]

Thanks for a non-boring video. I am a retired electrician and did my can lights to Led but now the 4 tube garage florescent just went bad again. Looking into replacing and they want a fortune for a 4 lamp fixture, With your video I am going to retube to led, Thanks for a good video.

[@JonnyDIY]

You're very welcome, happy I could help you out. And thank you! 🙌👍

[@Rein_Ciarfella]

Totally helped me! If I’d known it was this simple I would have converted each fixture as the bulbs or ballast went years ago.

[@JonnyDIY]

Awesome, you're welcome happy I could help you out 🙌👍

[@TheSpotify95]

Yeah, usually the bulb/starter fails on these fluorescent lamps, and sometimes even the ballasts can overheat and fail.

[@charlieroger2979]

Thanks to your video and explanation I was able to remove my ballast and replace the bulbs with LED. My wiring looked exactly like yours although I have 4 bulbs. Thanks.

[@JonnyDIY]

Awesome, glad you got it done. And happy to hear I could help you out 🙌👍

[@A-aronTrekn]

Great video with the simplest explanation of how to install using by pass method I've seen! Thanks.

[@JonnyDIY]

You're welcome, glad I could help you out 🙌👍

[@lazaricatesu9028]

Thanks :D after blowing up the ballast with a new LED tube I was able to bypass it and now everything works like a charm.

[@JonnyDIY]

@@lazaricatesu9028 awesome, happy I could help 👍

[@mightycessna923]

Great video and spot on with the instructions. I referenced the video as I replaced the lights in one of my bathrooms. Much appreciate the video and how-to instructions.

[@JonnyDIY]

Thank you 🙌 and you're very welcome, happy I could help you get it done 👍

[@kurtfaut4279]

good job. clear and concise. at time of approx 5:17 your comment when splicing the neutral to the neg side was that, "like I said, it doesn't matter which ones go to which side." I was at a bit of a loss regarding that comment. but overall, the best fluorescent-to-LED switch out/ballast bypass directive I could find, Thanks.

[@JonnyDIY]

You're very welcome, happy I could help you out 👍 Ohh I meant the black wire and white wire could connect to either side, interchangeable. Wouldn't matter which side was connected to which 👍

[@amptron1776]

Nicely made video with good info and thanks for that. One small item - you didn't tighten your wire nuts enough, should continue to turn until the insulated portions of the wires twist together once or twice as well.

[@JonnyDIY]

You're welcome, happy to share. And thank you for the tip 🙌👍

[@mrcryptozoic817]

I have wondered how to do that but haven't been asked by anyone to do it. Very good presentation! Added benefit: that weird fluorescent mercury color is gone.

[@JonnyDIY]

Thank you, happy to share 👍

[@TheSpotify95]

Nice video, and I'd always recommend getting the ones where you can bypass the ballast. Reason being that the ballast will eventually give way and fail. I think this might have happened to a few of the remaining fluorescent lamps at work, though I know some are just the starters (and bulbs) as the bulb was flickering, followed by going completely black at the end. Another failure is when the ends glow dimly - both of those are dead starters.

[@JonnyDIY]

Thank you 👍 and thanks for sharing that helpful information 🙌

[@GFlCh]

Exactly, and when the ballast does eventually fail, you'll have to either: 1) replace the ballast which will be "Bigly" expensive and hard to find by then, or 2) bypass the ballast and replace the bulbs again with LED bulbs that don't use the ballast.

[@ky8465]

I wired it wrong the first time and they were flicking. Found your video, fixed my mistake, and now they work fine. Thanks!

[@JonnyDIY]

Awesome! You're welcome, glad I was able to help you out 👍

[@jamesallion7648]

Nice Video. Just wondering why you chose to cut the incoming power wires to the ballast, rather than simply undoing the wire nuts? In my opinion you left 2 unnecessary wire nuts in your wiring.

[@JonnyDIY]

On one of the sides I needed the extra length, but you're right one of the sides I could've shortened it by undoing wire nut 👍

[@Canikman05]

It’s often quicker and easier than untwisting old wires and nuts that have been together for who knows how long and have usually been over twisted. I often do the same thing he did especially when you are doing a whole buildings worth of these lights

[@brawnz]

Thanks bro I converted mine with ease with your directions. The hardest part for me was stripping the wires lol . Thanks again and keep up the great content.

[@JonnyDIY]

Awesome, glad you got it done and you're welcome, happy I could help you out 👍

[@adamlyman8293]

Jonny, thank you for this easy to follow video. I just completed the conversion to LED (Type B) bulbs in home garage. They look great!!

[@JonnyDIY]

Awesome. You're very welcome, glad to hear I could help you get it done 👍

[@shannonm.8866]

I was successfully able to remove the balast and add some frosted led tubes. Thank you so much!!!

[@JonnyDIY]

You're very welcome, happy to hear I could help you get it done 👍

[@mguerramd]

I used WAGO connectors, it was super easy. First time I’ve used them instead of wire nuts. I used 6000K in the garage, but that’s too harsh in the kitchen so used 4000K in there. It’s good and bright but not too blue/white.

[@jennifermac7]

Which WAGO connectors did you use?

[@mguerramd]

@@jennifermac7 221-612 I replied before but they removed it, I guess because of the amazon link.

[@md8744]

Best instruction ever on KZbin . Thanks a lot. Very step by step clearly . Smarter people doing so.

[@JonnyDIY]

You're very welcome, and thank you for your kind words 👐👍

[@deni6743]

Always making it seem easy to do it ourselves, thank you 😊

[@JonnyDIY]

You're welcome, yes this one super easy to do 👍

[@BlackMesaNorth]

I use your video to help me swap my kitchen lights over to LED. Thanks for the video!

[@JonnyDIY]

Awesome! You're very welcome, happy I could help you out 🙌👍

[@dianaquilter18kosty62]

Perfect !! You reinforced the exact way I envisioned it being done. Thank you so much. 😉😊

[@JonnyDIY]

You're welcome, happy to help 👍

[@saadmirza2727]

This looks so easy. I got 24 used LED T8 double ended Type B lamps from Amazon for about $1 each. It’s way cheaper and easier for me to do ballast bypass than to try and replace the fixtures. In this case I can simply leave the fixtures in place. They are hanging from the ceiling joists inside of a drop ceiling in a finished basement. They would be hard to remove and reinstall.

[@JonnyDIY]

Awesome, good luck 🙌👍

[@generatorjohn4537]

It is wise to take your voltage tester to a known "live" source first. Once you establish your tester works and indicates "live", proceed to check the wiring you intend to disconnect. Next, make certain those wires are in fact "dead". Tester should NOT indicate live if you properly turned off the correct breaker. Once you check the "wiring" to be in fact "dead", go back with tester to that known source to prove tester still reads "live". Always prove your voltage tester works against a known live source before and after your safety check.

[@JonnyDIY]

Great point, I forgot to mention, but I always test those testers on live circuits first. Theyre not 100% 👍

[@Brody0728]

Thanks Jonny - I have been sitting on LED bulbs J bought in Jan 2022… have been looking for LED ballasts for a long time. I guess I can’t find them because I don’t need them. Much appreciated.

[@JonnyDIY]

You're very welcome, happy to help. Good luck with the project 👍

[@bigmikefrompa.3063]

I thank you very much! Followed your instructions and they worked great! Super bright! I have 2 more to convert in basement. I have 14 to do in garage. I'll wait for warmer weather,lol! Thank you. You got new sub 😊

[@JonnyDIY]

Awesome, glad to hear it worked for you. And you're welcome, happy I could help. Yeah it's been a cold and wet winter for us too! Can't wait for summer 👍 🌞🌊🏖

[@brittneyjarrett7876]

Jonny, you have made this home improvement project look so easy!

[@JonnyDIY]

Thank you 🙌 Happy to share 👍

[@lynsmith3154]

I think you should say to test your voltage tester on a power outlet or similar, immediately before each use; a negative signal from the tester may be due to having dropped the tester (and its not working, bam!!).

[@JonnyDIY]

Good point, I usually remember to mention that because I always test before use on a known live circuit 👍

[@fabianmckenna8197]

Or just switch off at circuit breaker to be absolutely sure. Lights on........ all lights off. Or kill main switch as I did when extending kitchen ring circuit, fitting cabinet lights as well as adding 6mm oven radial etc. Everything on...... everything off!

[@djratino]

I have LEDs over my pool table. My fixture is hard to get into. I used the plug 'n' play version 4ft bulbs. I can go back to fluorescent if I want to. At least now, I know how to wire them if the ballast ever goes bad. Thanks for the video. 💡

[@JonnyDIY]

Awesome, yeah I'm pretty sure one of my ballasts was out so I went ahead and did this method. You're welcome, happy to help. Enjoy the new brightly lit pool table! 💕🎱👍

[@nonamemcgee4842]

Thanks so much! I just replaced all of the lights in my garage.

[@JonnyDIY]

@@nonamemcgee4842 Awesome! You're very welcome, glad I could help you get it done 🙌👍

[@thomasschwarting5108]

My last job, I was also upgrading the lights, and was told to use the type A LEDs. The advantage to those is you're just unplugging the flourescents and plugging in the LEDs. The only DISADVANTAGE, is that you're still using the ballast and once that ballast goes bad, the type A bulbs are not good for anything unless you're putting the A's into another fixture. My advice? Just upgrade your fixtures and forget the A bulbs!!

[@JonnyDIY]

Good point, you're right. It's just a matter of time before the ballasts go out 👍

[@SteveFranklin-x4k]

Many thanks Jonny, your video was precisely what I needed to understand what to do and how to do it. I just finished my conversion and it went well....I hope! I really appreciate you sharing your knowledge.

[@JonnyDIY]

@@SteveFranklin-x4k You're very welcome, happy I could help you get it done 🙌👍

[@sangmoon2464]

From personal experience, LEDs are susceptible to heat decreasing their lifetime dramatically to the point where they last less than the old lights. So if the LEDs are in the ceiling of a hot room, expect to replace them far more frequently than you think.

[@JonnyDIY]

Thank you for the heads up 🙌👍

[@Privat2840]

Also compare the brightness of the LED replacement to the brightness of the fluorescent. Many of the LEDs are significantly less bright than the old bulb and now your area will be darker than with flr bulbs..

[@slohand624]

What a difference over those old Fluorescent bulbs! 😎Needed!

[@JonnyDIY]

Super bright and crisp 😎💕💡👍

[@chantillucas-meek7347]

Thanks! I absolutely hate fluorescent lights. They tend to give me headaches or make me sleepy, as well as just having an ugly tone of color. LEDs are much better!

[@JonnyDIY]

You're welcome, happy to help. Yes and I always hated having to deal with those fragile glass tubes and taking them to recycle👍

[@williamjones4483]

I'd like to add or reinforce some points to undertaking such a project. It is not overly complicated but it will pay off in dividends to do your research first. I undertook such a project in a hotel I worked in and made some mistakes along the way. Fist off, the ballast transformers can get VERY HOT. They can get hot enough to cause serious burns if not careful. Second thing is one LED tube is usually quite sufficient to replace BOTH fluorescent tubes saving even more energy. Thirdly, get the LED tube that does not require the ballast as the ballast itself uses much of the electricity and producing heat. Because 110 volt circuits are usually wired with black and white I chose to gut the entire fixture except for the tombstones if they were in good condition. I completely rewired the fixture using only black and white wires with black being "hot" or load and white being the neutral.

[@JonnyDIY]

Thank you for sharing 🙌Yes they can be a bit different from fixture to fixture and how each person wired it can vary

[@Warp2090]

Plug n play bulbs are wayyy better. More reliable too as the quality ballast is doing the heavy lifting.

[@JonnyDIY]

yes you can get plug and plays as well, but this is a good option if you have any failed ballasts. Actually the bulbs I used I think can be used either way, but I removed ballasts because 1 was bad

[@Warp2090]

@@JonnyDIY true

[@lindamorgan2678]

Excellent Thanks so much ! I think I can do this myself and the daylight bulbs are the healthy ones right ?

[@JonnyDIY]

You're welcome, I use the warm or soft white color ones. I believe they are easier on your eyes 👍

[@jamescabaniss5857]

Holy cow, this is way too complicated. Just take out the old fluorescent light fixture and put in a LED fixture ($20 at Costco for 4000 lumens). And you do not have to purchase 'special' LED bulb to fit into old 2 prong plugs. A new fixture is just plug n play, there is nothing to do, very simple.

[@JonnyDIY]

Only problem is those led fixtures don't seem to last too long

[@jamescabaniss5857]

@@JonnyDIY Well I hope you are wrong. I have a VERY similar setup in my kitchen as in this video and I actually put three LED fixtures in there (daisy chained, but I only used one at a time so far (two are too bright and three on at the same time will blind you, lol)) 4 years ago. Yes, that is not that long, but I guess I will find out down the road. But I did do a little more than I stated in my first post, I put in a standard AC plug so now I can just VERY easily put in a new LED fixture if needed. It would probably take me all of 5 minutes to replace it since it just plugs in and is held by just a couple of screws. At least I will never have to deal with fluorescents or ballasts ever again.

[@JonnyDIY]

@@jamescabaniss5857 Nice, sounds like a good setup. Yeah I'm done with those ballasts and stupid bulbs that are difficult to throw away/recycle 😄

[@jstrat121]

I just swapped the bulbs with leds from walmart….6 years ago…no fiddling with ballast…works great.

[@JonnyDIY]

@@jstrat121 wow nice, surprised they've lasted that long, that's great 👍

[@mikejordan6036]

Did you use the Self Ballasting Bulbs in this application? Thank You

[@JonnyDIY]

@@mikejordan6036 yes they work for either application, I put a link to the type used in description box 👍

[@mikejordan6036]

@JonnyDIY Thank you my Friend and may GOD CONTINUE TO BLESS YOU

[@JonnyDIY]

@mikejordan6036 You're welcome, you too! 🙌👍

[@mikejordan6036]

@@JonnyDIY Thank You. HE BLESSES ME EVERY DAY AND FOR ETERNITY ☝🏽

[@j_c2225]

It cost more overall to buy new led lights than the running cost of a flourescent over its lifetime 😂 it’s a pointless effort

[@JonnyDIY]

they're not much more expensive where I am, plus its' a great energy saver and if your ballasts ever go out, its the way to go 👍

[@j_c2225]

@@JonnyDIY there isn’t a huge difference in energy usage between LED and Flourescent. That’s why I just don’t see the point going through a big effort

[@JonnyDIY]

@@j_c2225 Mine cut the energy more than half with these ones. It took me all of 10 minutes to do and $30-40 in bulbs.

[@enterprize-zi8dd]

@@JonnyDIY they’re like 15watts for a 17 watt replacement there’s a good chance it won’t even show up on your electric bill and if it does that’s 1 cent

[@JonnyDIY]

@@enterprize-zi8dd Depends which ones your'e replacing. Mine old tubes were 40w each so quite a difference. Brighter too

[@mikeshanermusic]

My concerns are needing a certain kind of led bulb for this method and what happens if the wrong kind of led is used. Also, what happens if someone puts an old fluorescent tube in after this conversion? Will it explode or something??? I really want to convert to leds, but there's too many concerns like I mentioned that worry me a lot.

[@JonnyDIY]

@@mikeshanermusic I write on mine "CONVERTED TO LED BULBS ONLY" and there's some plug and play bulbs that will work with or without ballasts bypassed

[@AlbertaleoAlbertalei]

I've gone down a similar road. I recently replaced all my 4' T-12 fixtures w/ 4' LED integrated fixtures. 50000 hrs life for those fixtures which at 5hrs/day use translates to 27.4 yrs of life. That's long time without changing bulbs. 😎

[@JonnyDIY]

Nice 👍 save quite a bit of energy

[@davidh9844]

So easy! It would only take me about 4 days to do what you did in a 10 minute video.

[@JonnyDIY]

@@davidh9844 😆 lol. Try the plug and play bulbs where you can just replace them and nothing else. I believe ones I have linked in description will work 👍

[@stringlarson1247]

I've been converting some of mine to LED. The wiring diags. in the package a pretty fehken simple. I've salvaged a couple of 40s era fixtures, got replament ends from AMZN as the bakelite ends were cracked. Also, just make sure to mark fixtures at to what they require if you are going to mod some over time.

[@JonnyDIY]

Nice those 40s era fixtures sound cool. Yes good idea to write a note on fixture 👍

[@stringlarson1247]

@JonnyDIY Yep, indeed. Heavy AF. steel. There are 2 ballasts that weigh about 20lb. They are now object d'art on the wall. :) the bonus with the LED tubes is no more toxic glass shards .

[@jayryan7473]

5:55 I'd like to correct your statement about power coming in from both ends on your double ended bulbs. Power can ONLY be connected to one end or you'll probably blow the bulb up. At the other end is the neutral line, It's white. The other type of bulb is single-ended, which means there are connections only at one end, while the other end has no electrical connections. On those you connect the power and neutral on the same end.

[@rjf1877]

Thanks for the great video ! Very well done. I was wondering how to link two 2 bulb light fixture together so they both operate off of one switch ? Do you have a video that covers this setup ?

[@JonnyDIY]

You're welcome. I don't have one right now. But it depends where the wires are run. If they're run in through attic and down through the ceiling youll need to go up in attic and basically connect the 2 together. The one thats not on the switch youll have to tie that wiring to the one on the switch. Sorry hard to explain lol because every house is wired differently. Ohh wait but if you just want to add another fixure to the switched one that's a lot easier

[@appleimacdude]

How are these bulbs doing now? Any other thoughts on this project now that a year or so has gone by?

[@JonnyDIY]

@@appleimacdude those bulbs are still working great although I moved them to my shop now, as I did some kitchen remodeling 👍 If your ballasts are still good you can go ahead and try some of the plug and play bulbs first if you don't want to fiddle with wiring. I think the ones I linked in description can just be swapped out

[@bamatenn]

A good concise video on installing two bulbs. I need to see how to wire with 4 bulbs. I had a jack-leg electrician when I had my house built years ago so I don't trust all my electrical connections. At each end of my fixture, the tombstones on the outside bulbs are wired together with only one wire going to one pole. You said the bulbs don't care which end is hot or which end is neutral and I get that. What I need to know is: should I have two wires going to each tombstone at each end or can I get away with only using one each on the bulbs added with the hot or neutral wires? Using 2 wires each that would give me 9 wires to nut together. Or is there a better way?

[@bamatenn]

P.S. I have shunted sockets.

[@michaelmoore5965]

Thank you for the video. If the current fixture has shunted tombstones, do you also need to convert to non-shunted tombstones?

[@robertheinkel6225]

For this type of led, shunted or non shunted will work equally well. There are some led bulbs that require non shunted tombstones, but they normally come with the bulb. The non shunted led bulbs are wired differently and are not interchangeable without rewiring the fixture.

[@HiredGunTrio]

Bummer, I just replace four bad ballast…. Wish I knew this before, great video…

[@JonnyDIY]

Thanks. Bummer, ohh well they seem to last a long time. You can get led bulbs that'll work with ballasts too, if you want to enjoy some of the led benefits like brighter light and usually a bit lower energy use

[@HiredGunTrio]

@@JonnyDIYas soon as those ballast go bad, ha! 😂 I’m gonna do that LED re-wire…🎸

[@kaci7789]

Great video! How do you change those white tombstone sockets? Do you have a video for that?

[@JonnyDIY]

Thanks. Fairly straightforward process to replace, no sorry don't have a video but here's one kzbin.info/www/bejne/oou1qY2iq9KZaaMsi=gslN2OM9JP1E4z1Q Basically just pull wires out and put into new ones. Just be sure get same style replacement tombstones

[@absurdnerd7624]

Good explanation. You make it look "so easy even a nerd can do it".

[@JonnyDIY]

@@absurdnerd7624 Thanks 😁👍 Happy I could help 🙌

[@johnnelson8714]

A couple years ago I inherited my dad's airplane hanger/shop. Since not all the ballasts and tubes were working and most of the fixtures were 8' long, I looked into getting conversion kits to install 4' LED's. The units I ended up using were Type B, 5000K, 15 and 18 watts. These, like the above video eliminated the ballast. Unlike the above is I connected the red wires from the tombstones to the black 120VAC and the blue wires to the common of the 120VAC. Note here, this will only work on the older unshunted tombstones..Point I'm taking the long way around to make is check the wiring of the tube before doing what was done above. As for results, even though not all the old fixtures were working, when I finished installing the new tubes the current draw was about half and with the 5000K humans it was like being outside. Cost of conversion, the tubes were about $4/each and the kit to put 4 each 4' tubes in a 2 tube 8' fixture was about $20. I couldn't even replace a ballast for that. Conversion time per 8' fixture, about 1/2 hr. which included moving the ladder (ceiling is 15' high). Since then all the fluorescent tubes in the house have been changed to make being in the kitchen and laundry room so much nicer. The garage is next.

[@JonnyDIY]

Thanks for sharing. Wow that must've been a lot of work, but ohh so worth it. Brighter and much more energy efficient 👍

[@johnnelson8714]

@@JonnyDIY Like I said they only took about 1/2 hr. ea. and the hanger was for small craft (think Cessna) but I did go through about 50 tubes as some fixtures were the old 4' like the one you showed.

[@oldmanandthec7523]

What about the yellow wires?

[@johnnelson8714]

The type "B"tube I used are powered from only one end of the tube. Thus, the yellow wire weren't used. In my case I clipped them off so they weren't in the way of putting the center cover back on. Note: I also marked which end of the fixture was wired 120 VAC.

[@cruzcartagena9603]

Will this work with TOGGLED branded LED light from Home Depot? They’re type B as well. Only difference is their kit includes two wired tombstone and two unwired.

[@Georgegossamer6423]

Will this work for any LED florescent replacement bulbs?

[@JonnyDIY]

I got the ones that have the power going to both ends to match my fixture

[@buck10539]

Would you do a 4 bulb fixture the same way?

[@JonnyDIY]

Should be the same or similar depending on how its wired

[@GUILLERMOJGARZON]

Thanks for sharing your knowledge, very simple video and very well explained. My question is: The conversion that you did it’s for regular fluorescent to type B led ? The led that I have said plug and play type A and they don’t work so I bypass the ballast and still nothing that’s why I think that I need a type B led. Do I’m wrong? Thanks for your response.

[@JonnyDIY]

Yes I would try the other bypass ballast LEDs. It's possible the ones you got work, but maybe the ballasts were bad or didn't work with those ones specifically. May try local hardware store so you can try them out and hopefully not have to return them 👍

[@Tonyvyp]

just checking, is it a must that yellow goes to white & the blue/red goes to black? if done the opposite will it still work or will it burn?

[@JonnyDIY]

They can go to opposites as I mentioned yes 👍 I just did it the most convenient way for wire lengths

[@MondoRockGP]

Dear sir, congratulations on the video. I have LGT8258B Preheating start electronic ballast. So far it has worked with 2 T8 2x58W neon tubes - without starter. Suddenly he started flashing and after 5/10 seconds he was dead. I bought 2 V-TAC LED tubes mod. VT-1577.T8.G13.20W I cut off the power supply on the requested side, after installing nothing to do they don't work. To see if the ballast is working, what voltage or current should I find in the output terminal block that powers the tubes? Thank you, thank you very much. Can you help me, thanks.

[@martyjosephson4937]

Nice Video!!, can you tell the name on those 10" pliers?

[@JonnyDIY]

Thanks! The cutter crimpers were channelocks but the black plies I'll have to check on. Nothing special, I'm still trying to build my electrical tool bag up. Trying to work out a deal with Klein for some tools now

[@JonnyDIY]

Just used em the black handle pliers were just some old Pittsburghs. Theyve gotta be 20+ years old though

[@LouisNothing]

So what were the yellow and white wires? Why did the ballast need them?

[@billbarnes4736]

Help! One of the two (connected to the same smart switch) fixtures in the kitchen went out. Put in plug and play LED bulbs. Didn't work. Found this video. Took out ballast. Still didn't work. Put new bulbs in other fixture. They work there. Do I need to take ballast out of both? Get a different type of LED bulb for the now ballastless fixture? Tell the wife to live with only one working?

[@JonnyDIY]

Sounds like 1 of the ballasts may be out. I would take them both out and bypass both. Check your bulbs packaging to see if they are bypass compatible. If not will need to get those ones that say they are. Hopefully that will solve issue. That would be the only issue I can think of, unless something with the wiring was disturbed but shouldn't have been with a simple bulb change.

[@leso204]

In Europe a straight Led tube swap is on the market no cutting wires just swop tube for Leds plus there is a starter unit that is swopped also' did mine last year a 4ft led tube was £10

[@JonnyDIY]

@@leso204 nice, yes we have plug and play bulbs available here as well. This is good option if you have a bad ballast though or don't want one extra thing to worry about failing

[@nicolevarasteh5742]

how can you check to see if the wires coming into the ballast are working well? Any easy suggestions? thanks

[@angelisone]

You will need an ATG to check and test. But if you don't have it then hopefully that you have two or more lights. Then you can switch the ballast. Usually if you replaced the bulbs and they don't come on, then it's your ballast is defective.

[@harrisonburganimalhospital1845]

A great explainer video; thank you! Is there a less powerful LED bulb that works the same way? I installed this in a 4 socket fixture, and it was so bright we thought we were being beamed up!

[@JonnyDIY]

There should be, either that or get dimmable bulbs and an led dimmer switch. Some will work with regular dimmer switch depending on power output, but if have to install a new switch just get the led compatible ones. I have a video installing switch too kzbin.info/www/bejne/qJ66lpSllN6nac0si=8PJJwweHAkbg0BNj

[@charlesrichards5389]

Very good video and explanation. But I noticed at 5:07 that one of the hot wires was either not up in the wire nut far enough or had too much insulation stripped off because there was still bare wire exposed.

[@JonnyDIY]

Thank you! Happy to help. I think it may have just been the lighting that made it look like that but I'll double check 👍

[@blue-fj9ky]

My current 8-foot T-8 75 watt fluorescent bulbs have a single thick pin on each end. Do I need to install differently in any way? Thanks!

[@JonnyDIY]

Yeah a little bit different. I think yours may be more like this video shows kzbin.info/www/bejne/hYfGmICrgbdll8Usi=OiiQbC-yc_8yEBUq

[@blue-fj9ky]

@@JonnyDIY Thank you very much!

[@JonnyDIY]

@@blue-fj9ky you're welcome 👍 good luck

[@basilschwegmann7395]

What about the little starter. Do you remove those too?

[@JonnyDIY]

I just removed the ballasts 👍

[@alstroberg]

Does it make a difference if the LED tube is Type A, B or C? I did exactly as you described with Type A tube with only a resultant glow rather than Light

[@JonnyDIY]

Type A I believe relies on the ballasts. Type B are ones that work without the ballasts.

[@CharlieB1952]

Ok he is working on a fairly new fixture, that little clip he shows guess what it can be easy to loose. The tombstones, the pieces the lights actually fit into over time become brown and brittle so you need to pay attention to those,plus the bulbs can be a tight fit outside of that the long run it is a better light and you don't need that ballast making it a win win

[@davepane7306]

Just curious, why connect the yellow and blue wires? Dont you just need hot & neutral??

[@John-bs5ug]

The energy difference between a T8 fluorescent and T8 LED is about a $1.50 per YEAR if used for 3hrs/day/everyday. When you factor in the much higher cost of LEDs, and the significantly higher failure rate, florescents are much more cost effective. But overall, I still prefect incandescents to LEDs because incandescent bulbs have no flicker, are made of glass and metal rather than plastic and computer chips, and are just easier on the eyes than LEDs.

[@JonnyDIY]

Yes I much prefer incandescents. Shame can't buy them much anymore

[@John-bs5ug]

@@JonnyDIY A true shame. The US DOE under Biden banned halogens and most incandescents a few months ago :(

[@kayBTR]

What do the yellow wires do? Are they a ground wire or something. Excellent video.

[@JonnyDIY]

Those are just the connecting wires that go to lamp holders on that side from the ballast 👍

[@joenava2679]

Can I do the same with 3 light fixtures connected in sequence??

[@JonnyDIY]

Yes these one I did were 2 in sequence 👍

[@samsno3667]

I just bought an LED replacement for a flourescent light fixture; they said all you have to do is change it out and it should work. Nope .. didn't work ... Do the internals?

[@JonnyDIY]

@@samsno3667 if you bought bulbs that are plug and play they should just pop in and work

[@kennyclark6763]

Mine has 2 ballasts. On one end of each ballast is the red/blue but the other end of each ballast is a yellow/brown and green. (Not 2 yellows) do I just connect all of those to the white like u did??

[@gail6904]

GREAT video but I have a couple questions..I have an old ballast ..for ONE LONG 96Inch bulb..on the right I have ONE BLUE WIRE on the right side ballast and its mounter upside down but on the other end I have a ONE WHITE AND ONE BLACK WIRE..so only three wires total..how would i hook them up?? Also do the ends of the new LED lite..are they same as the ends on the old flourescent lite? I only have ONE long flourescent bulb with ONLY 3 wires (2 on one side ballast (ONE white and ONE black) and one blue on other end of Ballast ..please explain in detail im not too good at this but removed the BALLAST as u showed! ALSO I dont think I have double ends on my old flour. T12 BULB..do i have to buy new ends that they go into?

[@rogerpotts8453]

If you have single pin sockets, simply purchase single pin led bulbs

[@gregsitu]

Thanks for the easy guide. I was able to convert mine to LED.

[@JonnyDIY]

Awesome glad to hear. You're welcome, happy I could help you out 👍

[@byronwoolfrey1039]

For anyone complaining about LEDs not lasting long. It is true BUT notice the warranty says (usually) 10 years. The manufacturer hopes you don't notice this, soooo keep your receipts and take tham back like i do, they warranty it so it is up to us to hold them to their word.😊

[@JonnyDIY]

Good point, just hopefully they're still in business 🤞😆

[@phaedruscj3330]

The Chinese are totally good on the warranty.