T8 and T12 direct wire LED bulbs

[Dsg319]

I’ve only ever done the ballast bypass line voltage LED with fixtures that have T8 bulbs.

Are there pin base the same as T12?

If you are going direct line voltage to the bulb can you replace T12 fluorescent bulbs with T8 LED?

I know some of the T8 LED direct wire bulbs you can have L/N on just one side of the bulb or have one side L and the other N so wether or not the sockets are shunted won’t matter other than verifying what they are for wiring the new lights in.

 

[busman]

I’ve only ever done the ballast bypass line voltage LED with fixtures that have T8 bulbs.

Are there pin base the same as T12?

If you are going direct line voltage to the bulb can you replace T12 fluorescent bulbs with T8 LED?

I know some of the T8 LED direct wire bulbs you can have L/N on just one side of the bulb or have one side L and the other N so wether or not the sockets are shunted won’t matter other than verifying what they are for wiring the new lights in.

More than I can count. I always remove the ballast to save energy and eliminate that point of failure. Pins are the same. I just wire one end to the 120V and the other to the Neutral. Never done a 277V one.

Mark

 

[Little Bill]

I've used both the end to end and the side by side configuration. I prefer the end to end as you don't have to worry about shunted sockets or putting the tube in backwards. I just cut the wires to the ballast and leave the ballast in place. Saves on disposal of the ballast.

The tombstones/sockets are the same for T8 & T12, so all the LED tubes will fit either one.

 

[U2cy2]

Most LED T8s will identify how the lamp is to be wired, on the lamp itself, and don't forget to put the modification sticker on the ballast cover so no one will try to put fluorescent lamps back in at a later date.

The one question I have on these types of modifications is: Do you/is it required to put in an inline fuse when rewiring the luminare from fluorescent to LED?

 

[Little Bill]

Most LED T8s will identify how the lamp is to be wired, on the lamp itself, and don't forget to put the modification sticker on the ballast cover so no one will try to put fluorescent lamps back in at a later date.

The one question I have on these types of modifications is: Do you/is it required to put in an inline fuse when rewiring the luminare from fluorescent to LED?

Why do you think an inline fuse would be required?

 

[LarryFine]

. . . don't forget to put the modification sticker on the ballast cover so no one will try to put fluorescent lamps back in at a later date.

I don't disagree, but anyone changing tubes should be able to tell the difference, and know to look.

 

[Dsg319]

Thanks all!

 

[garbo]

I have rewired two 4' long fluorescent luminares to type two ( ballast bypass ) in my garage and was thinking of installing an in line fuse that could be changed without opening up the fixture. Would definitely install in line fuse holders on 277 volt luminares that have flimsy tube holders that too many times found broken and bare exposed contact. Worked in a candy factory that had a 250' long room with starch machines that gave out dust so room had explosion proof motors, push buttons etc & even a $1500 explosion proof desk phone. They ran 3/4" heavy wall conduit to regular 3/4" T condulets to a short rigid nipple to feed explosion proof fluorescent luminares that the drilled the side of fixture and installed an in line fuse holder. Questioned them on not legal cheapo T condulets and use of non explosive proof fuse holders. Building was built in 1962 but sure neither were legal back then. Also questioned on using a 5 amp time delay fuse when the load was less then halve an amp. Lights were turned on Monday morning and not turned off until Saturday .