T8 LED Tubes, voltage hazard

[danno1202]

We are going to be retrofitting a large number of 4' flourescent fixtures with LED tubes. This will involve eliminating the ballasts and wiring the line voltage directly to the sockets, hot to one end of the tubes, and the neutral to the other end. It has come to our attention that on many of the LEDs we are testing, when one end is inserted into the socket the pins on the other end of the tube can become energized. This is if the first end was attached to the 'hot' socket. We are wondering if this is a potential code issue? At the very least it's a dangerous hazard to untrained people that may be removing the tubes someday down the road.

 

[cuba_pete]

Most, if not all, of those hybrid tubes have a caveat on the installation instructions. It instructs the installer to secure power before inserting the lamp.

Most of us would never do this. The industry covers their butt by putting out blanket statements like this.

Untrained means unqualified. The NEC addresses a Qualified Person.

 

[JFletcher]

We are going to be retrofitting a large number of 4' flourescent fixtures with LED tubes. This will involve eliminating the ballasts and wiring the line voltage directly to the sockets, hot to one end of the tubes, and the neutral to the other end. It has come to our attention that on many of the LEDs we are testing, when one end is inserted into the socket the pins on the other end of the tube can become energized. This is if the first end was attached to the 'hot' socket. We are wondering if this is a potential code issue? At the very least it's a dangerous hazard to untrained people that may be removing the tubes someday down the road.

Power should always be turned off before changing light bulbs. Shock is not the only danger; exploding glass envelopes, burns to fingers, retina burn, falls, even drowning can result. The latter happened less than two months ago:

http://fox4kc.com/2016/06/28/man-electrocuted-in-front-of-his-family-while-changing-pool-light/

and a shock that resulted in a fall and death:

http://www.safetynewsalert.com/proof-that-even-changing-a-light-bulb-can-be-deadly/

and tho common sense would dictate not sticking a metal object into an energized socket, it happens:

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/vi...ging-light-bulbs/story-e6frf7kx-1111114358930

like cuba_pete wrote, retrofit LED mfg often have warning stickers re: using fluorescents in fixtures converted for LED. A simple "WARNING!: Always secure power/de-energize before changing bulbs or servicing!" sticker in plain sight would be a good idea as well.

also, while having qualified personnel only change light bulbs may seem like overkill, it's better to have that in place than find out after the fact, like here:

http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/face/stateface/ia/95ia021.html

This mfg:

https://www.lc-led.com/products/t8.wiring.info.html

has instructions that show LEDs that can be wired from one end, not hot on one end,neutral on the other (tho they show that too).