8ft Fluorescent tube options ..

Jethro_uk wrote in news:oj0f2n$ejo$ snipped-for-privacy@dont-email.me:

Didn't know that ... but with an expected life of > 15 years, future availability isn't too pressing.

One thing I am wary of is my initial experience with plug-in LED replacements (GU10s) all failed within a year. To be fair the second set I was sent have lasted.

unusual

really?

There isn't much advantage of LEDs over 8' tubes. 8 footers are the most efficient of them all. Get another triphosphor tube if you can find one.

NT

I think mine turned out to be the capacitor, but then its only there to do clever power facctor stuff, but no good if it goes short!

I'd imagine the led would be more efficient but if you are going to change them do both as colour temperature and warm up times will be different. Brian

Also of course its usually the power supply bit that goes on direct replacements and I suspect those are made to a price, low price! Luckily I seldom use lights unless somebody is around but my old dual 4ft Thornes are still Ok but the ballasts hum a little after all these years. Brian

I bought three from TLC a few months back (in fact I bought two, broke one installing it, and then got another!)

The chances of bodged technology like a LED replacement for a florrie tube lasting 15 years are, I'd say, remote. Different (perhaps) if a custom designed LED fitting.

Also the light quality won't be the same. Only you can decide if that matters.

Dave Plowman (News) wrote on 28/06/2017 :

That depends on the actual LED's, some do provide a better quality of light, especially than a 100Hz flickering tube.

I do wonder at anyone using 8' foot tubes in a living room.

A LED tube is likely to flicker too. Some have smoothing capacitors in, but not very big ones.

I am going to install some flexible strips in aluminium extrusions in my conservatory, I may even try some as up lighters in the lounge and kitchen if they are OK.

Can't say I've ever noticed flicker from a decent florrie. But do know some claim to.

LEDs never seem to match the light quality from anything else. Whether that is better or not is down to the individual.

Does seem an odd choice.

It was like that when we bought it. Both lounge and main bedroom have no lights in ceilings. The lounge has 2 8ft tubes - on above each window.

dennis@home brought next idea :

I have a 5' tube/fitting mounted on top of some kitchen cupboards as supplementary lighting acting as an uplighter, for when more light is needed, but the main lighting is all LED. It works rather well, bouncing light from the ceiling. I notice flicker from flourescents, but none at all from the multitude of LED's I have fitted.

The LED strips are 12V DC so as long as its a decent PSU there will be no low frequency flicker.

The LED tubes don't usually have much of PSU in them so they have a

The strips I have purchased have 5050 RGBW LEDs on them and a cheap IR remote. The aluminium extrusions and covers cost more.

Most decent florries have used high frequency ballasts for a very long time now. Higher efficiency, longer tube life - and no flicker.

The most efficient way to drive an LED is much the same - high frequency pulses.

I have had quite a lot of LED failures - may be lower power usage - but not looking like it will save any money