Single-end LED tombstone conversion shunted to non-shunted

[@sparky9864]

Rehab Life: I know I'm late to the party on this one but I'm going to post a comment anyway. Maybe one day you'll see it. Your solution is really keen. I would not have thought about making the modifications you did. Yes, there are lots of ways to skin this cat including buying new pieces, single ended, double ended, hybrid tubes.... But, I liked your version. It reminded me of what my Dad would have done. Thanks for a good memory, an interesting lesson, and a reminder to keep things simple. The video doesn't have to be "perfect" to be informative and I wouldn't know how to make a video and post it if I had to. The drill trick to twist the wires was cool too. I know I'd twist them right out of the fixture - HA! - but I had to smile when you did that. Thanks for sharing the video.

[@RehabLife]

I read all of the comments and reply to most. I’m glad I could impart some knowledge and inspire some good memories. Thanks for watching!

[@danburland7190]

Thanks for the tip on winding the two wires together. It is so simple I cannot believe I didn't think of it years ago.

[@RehabLife]

I cannot take credit for this. I am sure that I saw it elsewhere.

[@rickb1408]

Man, you know you are the best. I am surprised you replied and even more so at how very quickly, thank you. It's Sunday evening, so the too late to buy a new one today window is open. You saved me. Many thanks.

[@RehabLife]

Glad to be of assistance! It’s the viewers that make this channel what it is! Without viewers there is really no point in creating videos. I’m really happy that I could assist you. Just be careful removing the retaining clip on the back. If they get bent, you can straighten it out with needle nose pliers. But sometimes they are a pain to get out.

[@luischuquimia6323]

Good stuff man! And let me just say I got a kick out of the no look camera stare when you were twisting the wires LOL! Def a nice little tip.

[@joepifer1985]

very creative using that drill to intertwine them wires like that

[@RehabLife]

joe pifer admittedly, I saw someone else do it and thought it was quite clever. I’ve been doing it ever since. :-)

[@joepifer1985]

@@RehabLife still pretty awesome lol

[@01cissy]

The first time I watched this, I'm thinking "what the hell is this hillbilly doing" The 2nd time I watched this, I said" I see the light ! I like this hillbilly ! Great job !

[@RehabLife]

😂 😂 Whatever it takes to get the job done. Thanks for watching!

[@kevinpierce731]

I understand what, how and why you did everything and it all was very easy to follow Until the very end I got lost. I didn't understand the finale connection to power as far as the 4 bundles of wire the blue & yellow, the black & yellow, and then the red and yellow. How are they wire nutted to together with pos. and neutral?

[@RehabLife]

Single ended LED bulbs use 120vac. One side is the hot side and one side is the neutral side. Essential that’s all that matters. It doesn’t even matter which side the hot is connected to so long as you don’t connect it to a green or white wire because those represent ground and neutral.

[@kevinpierce731]

@@RehabLife Thanks for the quick response, I realize the connections are made only to the one side. But I'm lost as to which of those 4 bundles connect to the hot and which connect to the neutral. As you can guess I'm handy but not an electrician. Which of the yellow, blue, red & black connect to the hot and which to the Neutral?

[@RehabLife]

@@kevinpierce731 The fixture came wired with a ballast and had black (hot), blue (hot), red (hot), yellow (neutral), and white (neutral). I reused the existing wiring and followed typical nomenclature for hot/neutral leads. Black, Blue and Red are all typical hot leads so I used those on the hot side of the keystone. On the neutral side, I used the yellow wire. I twisted them together using the drill as a wire management method and then separated the hots (according to color) and neutrals and connected them to the black and white wires of the home electrical system (respectively). In the big scheme of things the color of the insulation on the wire is there so the next person coming behind you can readily identify what is hot and what is not. There really is no difference in the wire itself. Because this is alternating current, the direction of the electron flow is bidirectional. Anyway, I hope that answers your questions.

[@kevinpierce731]

@@RehabLifeThank you, that clarifies it for me.

[@65csx83]

Very interesting. Those tombstones are quite different from my fixtures which range from 20 - 40 years old. Mine don't need extra holes drilled and they don't have a removable shunt.

[@RehabLife]

I’ve had some with the holes already in them

[@bobbybuick]

ON THE END NOT POWERED YOU CAN LEAVE IT SHUNTED CORRECT ?IT DOESNT MATTER ON A SINGLE END POWERED BULB

[@RehabLife]

The pins on the unpowered end of the LED bulb do not connect to anything so they don't have to be changed. Just disconnect the wires from that end and you are good to go. Thanks for watching!

[@craigbennici4116]

What size drill bit did you use by chance?

[@RehabLife]

3/32

[@daltropical5236]

Hey good vid...for double ended led lights...ie one tombstone end is live one is neutral, does it matter if shunted or non shunted...i dont think so but just wanted confirmation thanks

[@RehabLife]

if the lights are double ended then it usually doesn’t matter if they are shunted, but you need to verify the specs of the lights you choose.

[@daltropical5236]

@@RehabLife thanks...yeah lights are in and working...they were non shunted But yr right double ended (and single pinned fir that matter) doesnt matter shunted on non matter..as long as there is a path to allow current to flow at each end..single ended would specifically require non shunted, i believe, as one pin is for live other and other pin for neutral. Dies that sound right👍👍

[@RehabLife]

@daltropical5236 yes

[@marathonrunner715]

Are you saving wire doing it this way versus using a jumper?

[@RehabLife]

Not really because both ends usually come wired. This eliminates one point of failure and allows for single ended LED installation. You can get direct replacement and dual ended LED lamps as well.

[@funw3d538]

How does the wire going into the drilled hole stay in contact? What size hole did you drill? You stopped short of completing the wiring to your ceiling. Next time please use a tripod to hold your camera steady.

[@RehabLife]

They have spring clips inside that hold the wires. The hole was 1/16” but in reality only needs to be big enough to fit a 18ga wire.

[@rickb1408]

Thanks for the video. You are not really showing exactly how you so cleanly removed the clip holding the back cover on nor really showing how the ends of it. I though it was maybe a spring, but the points that show in the video look tapered and tapered the wrong way. Unless you'd have to kill me if you tell me, nyuk nyuk, nyuk, please let me know. Many thanks.

[@RehabLife]

There is a metal piece on the back of the tombstone that holds the fiber cover in place. Using a small fine tip screwdriver you can pry it off and remove the fiberboard cover. Inside there are three pieces of brass. One for each lead on the bulb, and there is a third piece that just floats between the two that shunts them so they are both powered from a single lead. That piece is removed and discarded. Using a 1/16” drill bit will provide enough clearance for an 18ga wire to go through nicely. A 16ga will be too tight but I think most fluorescent lamps use 18ga wire. Anyway, once the shunt has been removed, replace the back and press the metal retaining clip back into the tombstone. So long as you don’t bend the brass clips inside, the wires will grip just fine.

[@noonecares8403]

There called tombstones. Not keystones

[@RehabLife]

So they are! I stand corrected :-)

[@kathyw7143]

❤

[@RehabLife]

❤

[@hootinouts]

No offense but I just purchased a bulk supply of non shunted tombstones off Amazon for a great price. Your time is too valuable to do surgery on old stuff. Just buy new ones and throw out the old stuff.

[@RehabLife]

but I wouldn't have gotten the enjoyment and satisfaction of doing it myself ... I did buy some when I swapped over a bunch of fixtures.

[@solarguy6043]

Yes, easier and cheaper. But.....in a pinch...has to be done today.....no time to order from Amazon, store is closed or they are out of stock, this works perfectly and safely.

[@01cissy]

@@RehabLife I agree with your reply. You sound like me, I have more time than money !