T8 LED Tube Lights

10 Reasons to Convert to Commercial T8 LED Tubes

Our LED Tube Lights are the perfect LED solution for fluorescent tubes and fixtures. Fluorescents have been the main stay in office and commercial spaces for decades. Companies that use LED tube retrofit bulbs for fluorescent fixtures are realizing the savings and benefits.

1. Reduced energy consumption

Converting from a 4ft T8 32 watt fluorescent tube to a 15 watt LED T8 4 ft tube light fixture saves 50%+ on your bills. Keep in mind that fluorescent tubes need a ballast to operate. Ballasts consume about 15% more than the rated power draw over what the tube uses. (about 4 watts per tube)

2. Reduced maintenance costs

All our LED tube light fixtures are rated for 50,000 hours and warrantied for 5 years. If your office lights are on 12 hours a day and average 20 working days a month, your tubes will work for over 15 years before you would have to replace them. Compare that with fluorescent tubes with replacements every few years. That's not including replacement of ballasts.

3. Reduced AC Load

Our LED tubes for fluorescent fixtures run cooler than fluorescent technology tubes do. This means you will need less HVAC cooling to offset the heat generated by your lights. This adds up to extra savings in warm climates.

4. Unbreakable

They are the perfect replacement for expensive shatterproof fluorescent tubes. Many of our tubes do not contain glass and will not shatter if dropped. You won't have to worry about the cost associated with shatterproof fluorescents when you convert to LEDs. (please note, we do sell glass LED Tubes - do not buy these if you are looking for a shatter proof solution)

5. Flicker Free Lighting

Fluorescent tubes flicker. Flickering has many health issues associated with it including:

headaches
eyestrain
seizures (epilepsy)

Flickering is because fluorescent run on AC power, and AC power cycles at 60 hz in North America (50 hz in Europe). That means it cycles on and off 60 times a second. LED runs off DC power and direct current does not cycle, so, no flickering. To remove flickering, replace fluorescent light with LED throughout your building.

6. Mercury Free / PCB Free

Most fluorescent tubes contain mercury, and fluorescent ballasts contain PCBs. We have customers who convert to LED from fluorescent to remove mercury out of the buildings. Others who have strict policies on how they handle ballasts because of the PCBs. Imagine, most of our office buildings, hospitals and schools run fluorescent tubes. With our LED tube retrofits for fluorescent lights; no mercury, no PCBs. This is a major reason in itself to start replacing fluorescent lights with LED systems.

7. No humming

Fluorescent ballasts hum, the older they are, the more likely they are to hum. LED technology in general (including tubes) do not and will never hum.

8. Better work environment

How many times have you walked into an office to find the lights are off or the employees have pulled the tubes out? Fluorescent lighting is not a good source of light to have to work under. LEDs are a much better source of light in almost every aspect of lighting.

9. De-lamping - reducing the number of tubes you need

LED Tubes a good for 1 to 1 fluorescent replacement. They are so good that you may even be able to delamp (the process of using less tubes per fixture). OK, now we are talking some serious energy savings! 

10. Rebates at time of sale

Our industrial LED tubes are DLC Qualified. This makes them eligible for utility rebates. Which means the cost of the sale goes down and your payback period gets much shorter.

 

 

T8 LED Tube Definitions

 

Type "B" LED Tubes (Internal Driver) vs. Type "C" LED Tubes (External Driver)

All LED Tube bulbs use drivers that power the LEDs. They perform the function of converting AC power from the utility company into DC power. LED Lights run on DC power. Some LED Tube manufacturers incorporate the drivers inside the tubes. Some decide to use an external driver. There are some subtle and not so obvious differences between the two designs.

1. Retrofitting to tubes with internal drivers involves first removing the ballast. Take out the wires that hook up the tube holders to the line source.

Note: follow the instructions by the manufacturer when retrofitting your existing fixtures. This discussion is not meant to replace the installation manual. Retrofitting external driver tubes involves removing the ballast but the line source is now wired into the LED driver. The output of the driver connects to the tube. No power is sent down the wires to the end tube holders.

2. The external drivers are larger than internal drivers. External drivers are not limited by the tube physical size.

3. External driven tubes may have a longer life span than internal driven tubes. (Note: this is based on the tubes we currently sell. Our external driven tubes are rated for 60,000 hours and our internal driven tubes are rated for 50,000 hours). By removing the driver from the heat source, this may extend the life of the driver.

 

Type "A" LED Tubes (Ballast Compatible - Plug & Play) - T8 LED Bulbs no ballast

We get asked about tubes that you can pop into existing fixtures without removing or bypassing the existing ballast. While it is true the installation of these tubes are simple, here are some points you should consider:

• these tubes are compatible with most ballasts (not all ballasts). Check with us to make sure they will run with your fluorescent ballasts

• the fluorescent ballast is still a point of failure. At some time in the future, they will fail, so you will have to deal with it. Even though you think you're saving on installation using these tubes, they will force you to replace or bypass the ballast.

• they still consume energy. You will get the benefit of using less power with the LED tube lighting fixture. But, the ballast still consumes power (ballast draw), so your savings wont be as great.

 

Hybrid LED Tube Lighting Technology

What is a hybrid LED tube? A Hybrid tube is one that has the ability to use or not use the existing fixtures ballast. So if you have a situation where you do a direct install with one of our hybrid LED tubes and it does not light up. It could be ballast incompatibility, then you can always wire around the ballast. Convert it into a double ended powered tube. In fact, our hybrid tube can run with the ballast, or without either as single ended or double ended power.

 

Single Ended Power vs. Dual Ended Power

Internal driven tubes are powered via the electricity that is supplied through its pins. Two options are available, single ended and dual end power. A single ended power tube receives power to only 1 tube end - positive to 1 pin and neutral to the other. No power is sent to the other tube end. A dual ended power tube receives power to both tube ends, positive to one end and neutral to the other.

 

Clear vs Frosted Lens

LED Tubes come in several cover options, the 2 most common are clear vs frosted. When we're asked which is more popular, the answer is clear. But it's a personal preference more than anything else. Frosted tubes are less bright than clear tubes, as the coating cuts back on the T8 lumen output. If you're in a space looking at the lights like a dentist office laying back in chair, frosted tubes are the better choice.

 

How to Recycle Fluorescent Tubes Properly: Steps and Tips

 

Tube lights are found in many applications and environments such as office buildings, hallways, garages, and really anywhere that has a low and flat ceiling. Although fluorescent tubes contain small amounts of mercury and isn't a whole lot, you still want to avoid the breaking of a fluorescent tube and any exposure to mercury if possible.

Whether you are simply replacing a burnt out fluorescent tube with a new one or are switching over to a new technology (such as LED), there is a proper way to do it. By following these steps along with others that you may find, you will allow yourself to reduce risk of harm for yourself, staff, or whoever is the one physically replacing the tube lights.

Let's answer some common questions and issues that people seem to face when tasked with this issue of replacing mercury filled fluorescent tubes.

 

Why does recycling fluorescent tubes matter?

By recycling rather than simply throwing away your tube lights, you opt-in for the environmentally friendly route of switching out old tubes. If you choose not to recycle, you are allowing toxic mercury to freely enter the environment, which of course is not good.

Not only do you prevent mercury from freely entering the environment by recycling, but you also reduce waste. How exactly? Part of the tube is reused for new tubes that will be resold and used. This allows for less waste and this goes back to the saying "Reduce, Reused, Recycle." So by taking part of fluorescent tube recycling, you allow the process of recycling to continue and prevent waste from entering the landfill!

 

How should I handle my fluorescent tubes?

When taking your tubes out to bring for recycling, this is probably the most difficult step you need to be most cautious with. The best option you have is to be prepared and know what to do if things go "south" as they like to say.

Here is what you can do to prepare for the removal of fluorescent fixtures:

• Remove all other persons (and pets) from the immediate area - don't allow anyone in until complete
• Have proper ventilation - this is only needed in case you break a tube, but it's always better to have air flow throughout instead of after a mess occurs
• Have clean up supplies in place - face mask, wet paper towel, and a bag to put broken glass in
• Ensure a safe and steady area - you don't want anything to mess you up!

And for one thing that you should always remember for dealing with a broken tube is this: NEVER VACUUM. By vacuuming, you make glass particles go airborne and that is a highly dangerous situation to be in.

 

Where to recycle fluorescent light bulbs and tubes?

To put it simply, you are going to need to find a drop off location that allows for you to drop off fluorescent tubes to be recycled.

The easiest way to find a location near you, check out Earth911 website. It allows you to search what you need to recycle and where you are located. So you go to that tool, type in 'fluorescent' or 'CFL' along with your location and you will surely come across the closest place to recycle fluorescent tubes (along with really anything else you may want to recycle).

 

What will replace your existing tubes?

If you are in the process of disposing and recycling your fluorescent tubes, what is going in there to replace the ones you are removing? If the answer is "more fluorescent tubes," may we ask why?

If fluorescent technology is dangerous in the first place, why do you want to reinstall more into your building, just to face this issue again down the line? By switching to a safe fluorescent alternative (such as LED technology), you allow yourself to get rid of mercury, reduce energy costs, all while getting higher quality light.

 

Tube lights are found in many applications and environments such as office buildings, hallways, garages, and really anywhere that has a low and flat ceiling. Although fluorescent tubes contain small amounts of mercury and isn't a whole lot, you still want to avoid the breaking of a fluorescent tube and any exposure to mercury if possible.

Whether you are simply replacing a burnt out fluorescent tube with a new one or are switching over to a new technology (such as LED), there is a proper way to do it. By following these steps along with others that you may find, you will allow yourself to reduce risk of harm for yourself, staff, or whoever is the one physically replacing the tube lights.

Let's answer some common questions and issues that people seem to face when tasked with this issue of replacing mercury filled fluorescent tubes.

Why does recycling fluorescent tubes matter?

By recycling rather than simply throwing away your tube lights, you opt-in for the environmentally friendly route of switching out old tubes. If you choose not to recycle, you are allowing toxic mercury to freely enter the environment, which of course is not good.

Not only do you prevent mercury from freely entering the environment by recycling, but you also reduce waste. How exactly? Part of the tube is reused for new tubes that will be resold and used. This allows for less waste and this goes back to the saying "Reduce, Reused, Recycle." So by taking part of fluorescent tube recycling, you allow the process of recycling to continue and prevent waste from entering the landfill!

How should I handle my fluorescent tubes?

When taking your tubes out to bring for recycling, this is probably the most difficult step you need to be most cautious with. The best option you have is to be prepared and know what to do if things go "south" as they like to say.

Here is what you can do to prepare for the removal of fluorescent fixtures:

• Remove all other persons (and pets) from the immediate area - don't allow anyone in until complete
• Have proper ventilation - this is only needed in case you break a tube, but it's always better to have air flow throughout instead of after a mess occurs
• Have clean up supplies in place - face mask, wet paper towel, and a bag to put broken glass in
• Ensure a safe and steady area - you don't want anything to mess you up!

And for one thing that you should always remember for dealing with a broken tube is this: NEVER VACUUM. By vacuuming, you make glass particles go airborne and that is a highly dangerous situation to be in.

Where to recycle fluorescent light bulbs and tubes?

To put it simply, you are going to need to find a drop off location that allows for you to drop off fluorescent tubes to be recycled.

The easiest way to find a location near you, check out Earth911 website. It allows you to search what you need to recycle and where you are located. So you go to that tool, type in 'fluorescent' or 'CFL' along with your location and you will surely come across the closest place to recycle fluorescent tubes (along with really anything else you may want to recycle).

What will replace your existing tubes?

If you are in the process of disposing and recycling your fluorescent tubes, what is going in there to replace the ones you are removing? If the answer is "more fluorescent tubes," may we ask why?

If fluorescent technology is dangerous in the first place, why do you want to reinstall more into your building, just to face this issue again down the line? By switching to a safe fluorescent alternative (such as LED technology), you allow yourself to get rid of mercury, reduce energy costs, all while getting higher quality light.