Has anyone here had experience with using LED replacements for fluorescent tubes? They're becoming affordable (1200mm T8 tubes from about £20) and I was thinking of using LED tubes in a standard dual batten lampholder with polycarbonate diffuser fitted, with the ballast circuit bypassed. What's the light quality from them like? In particular, I notice the light output seems to be directional, which will no doubt affect the light quali ty, but does this matter in reality? TIA, David.

I'd ask why? Fluorescents have an extremely long life using well proven technology, are very efficient using decent electronic ballasts, and have a wide variety of colour temperature tubes - at least in the common sizes. And give an even light over their entire length.

Anyone tried LED replacements for flourescent tubes?

Mar 25, 2013 23 Replies

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Dave Plowman (News) 13 years ago

Last warm white LEDs I tried had even poorer colour rendering than 'white'. And a rather unpleasant greenish hue. Warm white - to me - means a bias towards the red end of the spectrum.

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Andrew Gabriel 13 years ago

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This is a topic driven far more by folks with an axe to grind than by science, a combination which doesn't make for quality Wikipedia pages.

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Grimly Curmudgeon 13 years ago

I've been using Osram Silverstar for years and they actually do what's claimed. Not sure about the blue-tinted bollocks, though. Mostly bullshit, I would suspect.

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davidneale3 13 years ago

Thanks to everyone for their advice. In the end I've put up some new fluorescent fittings with high frequency ballasts and everyone who's seen them so far admits they can't notice any flicker. Can always bypass the ballast and retrofit LED tubes later.

David.

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