LED T8 "florescent" tubes

[PEARL DRUMS]

That is what they call the parts that each end of the bulb fits and twists into. When you switch from flouro to LED the far tombstone is just a "slave" and the wiring is twisted into one and fed to near end only. Hard to explain, but easy to do. And, you get to rip that heavy ballast out and trash it.

[bjrogg]

Has anyone had these LED's in for a few years? We put T-8's in our farm shop about five years ago. They are far superior to regular fluorescents. They have a nice white light and have kept it for five years now. They are hanging from a twenty foot ceiling. Our shop is heated but they are supposed to turn on in cold temperatures to. I don't know how T-5's compare.
I also don't know how LED's compare, but my brother in law said they switched the factory where he works over a year ago and they hate them. They are seriously considering putting T-5's back in. Like I said though I have zero experience with the LED's
Bjrogg

[willie]

they switched the factory where he works over a year ago and they hate them

did  he say why?

[bjrogg]

Yes he did but I can't remember what all of the reasons where. I don't know what type of LED's they where either. The only ones I've ever used are the one that replace incandescent screw in bulbs. They seemed really bright at first but after a few years got a more dim yellow light. If I can remember I'll try to give him a call. I have another friend who just recently put one LED in and so far loves it. He was thinking about switching to all LED. He want me to find out what kind my brother in laws shop used and what he doesn't like about them to.
Bjrogg

[willie]

thanks for offering to get the details.
now that you mention it, I just noticed that the led overhead is not quite as bright as I remember it being at first, and it's color has seemed to warm also.

[DC]

I've been doing a bunch of Googling and it appears that they flicker sometimes if you use them with a dimmer. I can't imagine a factory would be using a dimmer though. Anyway my searching has made me think that my chrono would not work any better under LED's than it would under florescent t8's. I tried it yesterday with an incandescent bulb and it seemed to work so I'll probably cobble up something today to test it further. It would sure be nice to be able to use it in the shop.

[bjrogg]

I sent my brother in law a text. He can be hard to get a hold of sometimes though. Hopefully he'll get back to me.
Bjrogg

[Hawkdancer]

I put the LEDs over my main work area, saws, drill press, bow bench.  I haven't tried to convert the old fixtures, Just swapped out the fluorescents, I Like them.  Plenty of light, one has been in for 2 years, doesn't seem to be dimming.  I will probably phase out the floros as they quit functioning.  Btw, my shop/garage is so messy, I can't even find my troll, much less the round tuit to clean it out!
Hawkdancer

[PEARL DRUMS]

LED bulbs of any kind require their own type of dimmer switch, standard dimmer switches make them hum and flicker at times.

[willie]

the new porch light is a led. took this pic a while back when the snowflakes were coming down silver dollar sized. no dimmer in circuit.

[DC]

And I think that's why the chrono won't work under them. Cool pic.

[Pat B]

So, these are LED tubes you add to a fluorescent fixture?  How much do they cost?

[DC]

Yes, you can get just straight "plug and play" ones or you can get kits to modify your fixtures. The P&P ones have a driver in the tube and the kits replace the ballast with a driver. Up here they are about $12 Can each for the P&P ones.

[bjrogg]

My brother in law said they had problems with bulbs turning yellow. They replaced 75% under warranty. LED company thinks it's a problem with chemical vapors. He said they have some in different sections of building with no problems.
Bjrogg

[PEARL DRUMS]

So, these are LED tubes you add to a fluorescent fixture?  How much do they cost?

Free, if daddy buys them for you Actually, he didn't buy them either. The American Legion that he belongs to bought a huge batch to do all their lights. In the end he had 6 bulbs left and the Legion told him to just take them. I was the lucky recipient.