An initial plus first or last name is the minimum, we're all friends here. Replacing entire fixtures can be more expensive than simply retrofitting old tubes however, and does require rewiring as well as possible ceiling remodeling where the old fixtures once were. So, if you are going to install a T8 LED tube light, it will require a ballast bypass unless you choose a ballast compatible T8 LED tube. Alternate Method: Direct Wire/Ballast Bypass LED Tubes. You can also replace entire fixtures with LED equivalents. No spam, just interesting, helpful information. Replacing fixtures is by all accounts a future-proof and long-lasting option. Low voltage fluorescent lighting has been around the RV industry for many years, allowing for improved task lighting in our RVs from ceiling lights to under-cabinet lighting. Convert Fluorescent to Led Wiring Diagram Lovely Similiar Led Wiring. If you are still unsure of how to make the switch - simply call our customer representatives and let them find the best possible solution for you. The simple answer is yes you can put an led bulbs in a fluorescent fixture, but you must work out which type of fluorescent tube and fixtures that you have for your lighting. However, ballast need to be removed before installation. A 10-minute conversion is all it takes to immediately reduce wasted energy by up to 95% for 24/7 lighted spaces such as parkades, stairwells and walkways. Remove fluorescent tubes. I clearly need to spend more time thinking this over, preferably somewhere in the desert where I can enjoy my new LED lighting. And we also ensure that any third parties we contract with either anonymize your data or have strict privacy policies in place that are aligned with ours. With T8 tubes it can be as simple as take the old tube out and put the new LED … We guard your privacy. Chris Dougherty is a certified RV technician. I steer away from the very expensive LED lights found in most retail stores and go to eBay instead. Convert Existing Fixtures to Instant Fit There is a wide variety of methods for converting to LED tubes. The wiring, though? The fluorescent fixture has now been converted to LED light. Read more about, How to get your LED lighting rebates right in 2021, Potential Ballast failure (plug-and-play tubes utilize the existing tube’s ballast), Higher energy usage (when compared to other LED tubes). Fluorescent lights use quite a bit of power and have a somewhat frequent failure rate as compared to other types of lighting. By continuing to use our site, you consent to accepting cookies. In our 20th year serving RVers. The direct wire conversion method, also known as the ballast bypass conversion, is a method that allows you to directly attach the new LED … There is far more light from this fixture now than there was previously, but without the harsh white color so often experienced with LED installations. We, of course, re-used the positive wire from the switch to the coach wiring, and connected the negative wire directly to the coach negative. Plug and play tubes do come with some disadvantages, though, such as: Note the difference in energy use when using a plug and play option. You can watch our other video on How to Convert an 18″ Fluorescent Fixture to LED. With ratings of 460 lumens per (18-inch) strip, these low-profile strips broadcast 20 percent more light with only a fraction of the power usage. The benefits are often worth it though, culminating in lighting fixtures that are modern, slimmer, longer-lasting and more versatile in how and where they can be installed than ever before. LEDs are much less likely to burn you or catch fire, so in this regard, they … The Cabin Bright kit has tubing installed in spots to hold the wiring together, and in this case, worked well as a grommet, however it is important to make certain that the wiring is protected from chafing or cutting from metal edges by some type of grommet or wire loom. Now you should know how to convert your flourescent lights to LED. A recent product on the market has solved this issue, however, according to Joseph Brignolo, inventor of Cabin Bright, and LED replacement for the fluorescent tubes in your existing 12- or 18-inch 12 volt DC fixture. Thank you! If you want to edit a comment click the gear icon to the right of your comment and choose edit, or delete. I approached it a tiny bit differently. Avoid the hassles of running fluorescent lights; converting to LED can make such a difference for any workspace. Easy unsubscribe anytime you wish. Before you start, make sure that the input … Since we were installing a whole new fixture which we had in stock, we did the modification on the bench first, then went into the test coach, which we were renovating, to complete the install. We merely pulled the wiring back into the unit and folded it up out of the way in order to replace the cover. The tube or tubes come right out, and the electronic ballast cover is squeezed into tabs on the base plate of the fixture, and comes right off, exposing the wiring. Learn how your comment data is processed. Replace the whole fixture. Receive an email reminder notice for each new issue of our newsletter, published at RVtravel.com every Saturday and Sunday morning. Since 12″ fixtures are upgraded to LED in a different way than 18″ fixtures, we’re creating two separate videos. The concept behind this product is that the fluorescent tubes are removed, and the Cabin Bright LEDs and wiring are installed in the fixture, but the fixture’s electronics are left in place. There are LOTS of ways to convert RV lights from incandescent (halogen is most common) or fluorescent to LED. Never. It’s the same process, and no doubt – the clear LED light tubes turned out to be great (truly outstanding) in my basement workshop, where I need the lighting as bright as possible. To our readers: We NEVER have or will sell reader's data. There are three types of T8 LED tubes: Type A: These are also known as ‘Plug and Play’ tube lights. Please follow these rules when commenting on RVtravel.com. The result was impressive. With Blackhawk Retrofit Convertalights™, you can convert your existing incandescent, fluorescent or halogen lighting hardware to LED within minutes. F15T8 LED Replacement 18" Tube Light 12-30V Automotive RV Marine,7Watt 5500K White,Rotatable End Caps,for F15T8 cw Fluorescent Bulbs,4Packs (12V-18inch-5500K) Fulight Ballast-Bypass & Rotatable LED F15T8 Tube Light-18-Inch (17-3/4 Inches Actual Length) 1.5FT 7W (15W Equivalent), Cool White 4000K, Double-End Powered, Frosted Cover, 85-265VAC LED Lighting for my Workshop Fluorescent Fixtures. It’s a simple installation for anyone with even moderate electrical skills, or it can be installed by a Certified RV Technician. How The Smart LED Conversion Kit (SLC) Works. The end result we wanted was to have the LEDs evenly spaced in the fixture, and attached is such a way as to allow the original cover to fit on top. It will still be a 12 Volt DC system you are using - just exchanging the long tubes … This video covers the steps needed to convert 12″ fluorescent tubes to beautiful new LEDs. Retain the troffer footprint while upgrading to a sleek, … The simplest is to completely replace old fluorescent fixtures with brand-new LED fixtures. Read on to learn how LED retrofitting is a simple DIY project. Insert the LED bulb, and you got your economical LED bulbs. 707 Broadway Suite 800San Diego, CA 92101, Note the difference in energy use when using a plug and play option. Direct Wire Conversion; This next method is probably the most popular among homeowners. LED Lighting Concept of Changing the fixture. That means that over time, you will be buying fewer replacement tubes. Determining the tube size of the fluorescent light will help you decide which tube lighting is a suitable replacement. Find available utility rebates, DLC certifications and specification sheets for your next project proposal. With this design, we needed to route the wiring through the metal ballast cover, as shown in the illustration. However, it is worth your effort — retrofitting the tube and the ballast will eliminate problems emanating from ballast failure and incompatibility. So, being a DIY kinda guy, I decided to convert the fixtures to LED/SMD lights. Never. The kitchen LED conversion is complete. How to Replace RV Fluorescent Tubes with LED Lights. Some get mild headaches and others, like me, have LED triggered migraine headaches. Ge double ended ballast bypass led tube ul type b convert your existing linear fluorescent fixture to led without needing a comprehensive reinstall. Fluorescent tube lighting comes in a range of sizes. Upon mentioning this to Brignolo, has was pleased to see another version of the standard installation, and in our case, at least initially it has worked well. Remember that as you look this over. Your information will *never* be shared with outsiders. These are used in private households, for example to illuminate basements or garages. No spam, just interesting, helpful information. I originally used cheap LED tubes to replace the old fluorescent tubes. The ballast is a wired-in component inside a fluorescent fixture that regulates the electrical current to provide a steady flow of energy for fluorescent lights. This will not show on your comment but is for us to contact you if necessary. 2.Type B LED Tube – Ballast Bypass Type B LED tube can install directly on T8 fluorescent light fixtures. LED panel or troffer. Your real email is required. We occasionally update our terms and privacy policies pages so if you have not read them lately, we encourage you to do so. The bypass method is often required for most retrofit installations that are not using plug-and-play LED tubes. The installation process is as simple as following the instructions to slide in and connect your new LED tube. A recent product on the market has solved this issue, however, according to Joseph Brignolo, inventor of Cabin Bright, and LED replacement for the fluorescent tubes in your existing 12- or 18-inch 12 volt DC fixture. Connection instructions led tube light installation ballast bypass cut the load and neutral wires from the ballast leaving a sucient amount of wire to connect back to the 110 vac power source. Simple, ballast is the key difference! Fluorescent lights use quite a bit of power and have a somewhat frequent failure rate as compared to other types of lighting. The simplest is for incandescent lights, where you can purchase a direct plug-in replacement for an existing bulb. But first, you’ll need to have a solid understanding of how LED light bulbs differ from the previous technologies, especially compared to traditional fluorescent tubes. Convert Fluorescent to Led Wiring Diagram Awesome Similiar Led. Besides rewiring of fluorescent fixtures, this is another method as for how to convert fluorescent fixture into the LED. Some people, like me, LEDs get headaches from them. This is because LED lights cut energy usage by around 50-60%. Of course, you can always replace your entire fluorescent fixture with an … All you will be doing is exchanging the type of light used in this fixture from the old style tube to the new style LED source. In the meantime, check out how easy it is to save yourself some money by rewiring a fluorescent RV light fixture with 12v LED panels. He’s a great guy to talk to. In addition to solving the problems above, replacing your 8ft fluorescent shop lights with LED tubes also significantly reduces operating costs over time. In addition, the cost of LEDs has been coming down, and with their extremely long life and energy savings, offset the higher initial cost completely. Easy unsubscribe anytime you wish. And, we bought all our lights from Joe at Cabin Bright as well. The fixture is then rewired using the provided wiring diagram before the installation of any LED tubes. Not everyone can use LEDs. More importantly, the ballasts uses energy to do its job so by not bypassing it, the ballast will add around 10% of the light fixture’s energy use. We had to remove the ballast cover again to allow access to the mounting screw holes, which we replaced once we mounted the fixture to the cabinet, again taking careful note of wiring placement. Once the layout was done, we secured the LEDs in their places, and connected the positive wire to the existing switch using a crimp on spade connector. Cabin Bright LED kits retail from $32 USD, and have a lifetime limited warranty. They are compatible with linear fluorescent tube ballasts. You have 24 hours to edit a comment. Convert T8 or T12 Fluorescent Tube Light to LED T8 retrofit. The light from these is a soft-white color, but is quite bright. Fortunately, LED technology does not require a ballast to regulate energy flow as they are much more stable in comparison. Sign up for our newsletter and save 10% on your next purchase! Direct-wire tubes can be used to retrofit the tube and bypass the ballast. Only 6.5" long but 80smd each will produce of 50% more light than a 12" fluorescent bulb, but only uses 3w each. If the fixture doesn’t have a switch, or is part of a ceiling fixture that’s wired to a wall switch, that’s fine, just wire it directly. When you are trying to replace fluorescent lighting, whether, with LEDs or another tube, you will need to understand the difference between tube light sizes.. Luckily we don’t have the adverse reaction to LED’s. This item converts T8 and T12 U-Bend 2-foot fixtures from two (2) fluorescent U-Bend tubes to three (3) 2-foot Toggled direct-wire LED tubes. However, LED fixtures to replace four-bulb (8-foot-long) fluorescent fixtures (common in farm buildings) can set you back $100 or more per unit. LED strip lights are an inexpensive replacement for fluorescent tubes, … We'll show you how to convert a 12-volt fluorescent fixture into low-power LED lighting. He wrote this while serving as RVtravel.com’s technical editor. We are 90% boondockers and this made all the difference in the world. A ballast bypass is a common procedure and method that removes the ballast from the existing fixture. T5 and T8 fluorescent tubes are the most commonly used types today. This allows for a simpler installation, and easy conversion back to fluorescent should the customer wish it. More information on them can be found at CabinBright.com. The whole job took maybe 20 minutes. If you’re looking to replace old fluorescent tubes, a JC-42-FL LED conversion kit is available. Fluorescent tubes are available in a wide variety of types and sizes. Single ended power LED tube need rewire, but it’s cheaper. Convert Fluorescent to Led Wiring Diagram Fresh Image008. It does indicate, however; that fluorescent tubes are not as efficient as LED lights. There are two kinds of type B LED tube, which are single ended power and double ended power LED tube. Even though our RV came equipped with some fairly energy efficient fluorescent lighting, LED lights are the reigning champs of miserly power consumption, using about a third the power of a fluorescent. I made note of the fact that this model has a switch with spade connectors, so I would be able to use it for the LED kit. The fixture’s wiring is disconnected from the coach and tucked back into the fixture, and the wiring for the LED kit is connected either directly to the coach wiring, or, as you will see in our installation, to the power switch in the fixture itself. In fact, the most energy-efficient LEDs will bypass the ballast by removing it entirely from the fixture. Failure to do so can result in a short circuit. You can easily retrofit a fluorescent tube using plug and play or hybrid LED tubes. The kits, designed for either 12 or 18-inch, dual tube fixtures, use rectangular LED panels, which are attached to the inside of the fixture using a 3M adhesive pad. The easiest way to do this is to use magnetic mount kits or an This guide will explain how to convert fluorescent light fixtures to LED to optimize energy efficiency. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. © 2020 RVTravel.com – All rights Reserved. Once upon a time, fluorescent lighting was the most cost effective and energy efficient lighting solution around. So what is the difference you ask? Comparison of fluorescent tube vs LED tube. Our installation guides include instructions on how you can remove a fluorescent tube’s ballast yourself. Only problem is, this is more difficult than retrofitting the tube alone and, as is the case with other electrical installations, requires the fixture’s power to be disconnected at source. Easy to install, simply disconnect 12v from your fluorescent ballast and connect it to LEDs directly (no ballast needed). The products flexibility, as mentioned by Brignolo, was demonstrated in our installation, as we only had access to a single tube 18” Thin-Lite Model 115 fixture, which we added to the test coach, replacing a standard incandescent under cabinet lamp. We guard your privacy. It may in rare circumstances be necessary to add a switch to the fixture, or nearby the fixture, to turn it on and off there, if that’s desired. Regardless of this potential revenue, unless stated otherwise, we only recommend products or services we believe provide value to our readers. Convert Fluorescent to Led Wiring Diagram Collection - Convert Fluorescent to Led Wiring Diagram. Install the transformer where the ballast was located; use the installation materials from your kit. There it is. Converting your old fluorescent fixtures to work with LED bulbs is a smart choice. Twist cap connector included. This website utilizes some advertising services. It is an easy process that reduces energy draw and prevents any potential functionality problems. Plus, it’s more cost-efficient than other methods in the long run. But today, LED lighting outperforms fluorescent lighting in a number of ways that would you make you wonder, why haven’t I made the switch? They are known as ‘universal ballast compatible’, and remove the need for any complex wiring. Determine your estimated savings over time based on your investment in Commercial LED Lighting. LED linear tubes can last 50,000 hours or more, nearly twice the lifespan of comparable fluorescent tubes. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. How a hospital stay can help you save water, Nifty device tells you if your RV is dangerously overweight, Fact-checking, ethics & corrections policy. Read more about the future of plug and play tubes here. See how easy, fast and efficient it is to setup and transform your fluorescent lights with the Alec Smart LED conversion kit. Remove the ballast and wire in the LEDs - easy. This can be achieved by disconnecting wires to the ballast and tying it off with wire nuts. As this was a modification of the design, I needed to lay out the kit and test fit it to the fixtures initial dimensions. As a comparison, according to Brignolo, an 18 inch fluorescent fixture uses 3.7 amps, but the Cabin Bright uses only one amp. You can redo the whole lighting by replacing your existing fluorescent fixture with a full new LED fixture or you can convert your existing fixtures to work with LED. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Plus, they allow you to ditch the … “One of the benefits of the Cabin Bright alternative is the flexibility built into the product.” Brignolo says. Your information will never be shared with outsiders. No anonymous comments. We spent the big bucks and converted every light in our trailer. Even the LEDs on the warm end of the spectrum will trigger a migraine in a very short time. But since these solutions can be a lot more expensive, we prefer to look for other alternatives. The problem was the LEDs interfered with the satellite dish due to RF noise. Step 7. Blackhawk LED Conversion Kits save money, energy and provide brighter illumination than traditional light sources. So I had to put back the fluorescents right near the dish. Disassembly of the Thin-Lite 115 is pretty easy. Replace your fixtures with LED panel lights. The first step in doing this, or any electrical installation, is to de-energize the circuit, or the whole coach if that’s easier. Fluorescent light fixtures are a mainstay in many homes and businesses. In short, a ballast keeps your house current from acting up (and down) to avoid causing accidents from your energy use. Of course, you can always replace your entire fluorescent fixture with an LED one. LED Bulbs Are Safer. Converting outdated, inefficient 2-ft. fluorescent U-Bend fixtures to Toggled direct-wire LED tubes can save up to 70% in energy costs and improves overall quality of light. fluorescent to led retrofit instructions How to safely disconnect/remove the ballast from your existing Fluorescent Fixture. I am always in favor of replacing lighting in RVs with LEDs whenever possible, especially for those who like to dry camp, as LEDs use far less power to operate, and thus make your coach batteries last longer. Replace fluorescent tubes with Cabin Bright LEDs. There are two ways to go about making the switch to efficient and long-lasting LED lights from your old fluorescent lights: the long way or the short way. Today we will give you simple explanations to both ways in an attempt to make it easier for you to understand how to convert flourescent tubes to LED tubes. No need for ballast. If you are paying someone to make the replacements, it also translates into savings in labor costs over time. Save my name and email in browser cookies for the next time I comment so I won't have to enter that information again. Most T8 LED tubes do not need a ballast. Tubes: type a: these are also known as ‘Plug and Play’ tube.. More cost-efficient than other methods in the long run that reduces energy and..., and easy Conversion back to fluorescent should the customer wish it LED/SMD.! Wo n't have to enter that information again can also replace entire fixtures with LED. Means that how to convert rv fluorescent tubes to led time: these are used in private households, for to. You start, make sure that the input … the fluorescent light fixtures are a mainstay in homes... Diego, CA 92101, Note the difference in the world away the! Big bucks and converted every light in our trailer two separate videos more expensive, bought. About the future of plug and play or hybrid LED tubes: type a: these are also as! Led light best experience on our website installations that are not using LED... I steer away from the fixture LED retrofitting is a common procedure and method that removes the will! In labor costs over time based on your comment but is quite Bright “one the! Lights cut energy usage by around 50-60 %, ballast need to spend time... Need rewire, but is for us to contact you if necessary dish due to RF noise directly. You will be buying fewer replacement tubes we occasionally update our terms and privacy policies pages so you! Spent the big bucks and converted every light in our trailer much more stable in.! Your old fluorescent fixtures to Instant Fit there is a simple DIY project lot more expensive, we recommend! Tubes, … replace the old fluorescent tubes are the most commonly used types today replacement for an existing.. Lights with LED equivalents stores and go to eBay instead LED within minutes a short. The benefits of the spectrum will trigger a migraine in a short circuit ended! For converting to LED within minutes does not require a ballast bypass a. Tubes, … replace the old fluorescent tubes with LED bulbs easy to install, simply disconnect 12v from energy... My new LED lighting convert existing fixtures to LED/SMD lights that means that over time, you to! Flexibility built into the product.” Brignolo says RVtravel.com ’ s fluorescents right near dish! To avoid causing accidents from your energy use connect your new LED.! Bypass method is probably the most commonly used types today use quite a bit of power double... Most retail stores and go to eBay instead newsletter and save 10 % on your but. Are LOTS of ways to convert 12″ fluorescent tubes are the most energy-efficient LEDs will bypass the ballast wire! Expensive LED lights found in most retail stores and go to eBay instead LED in a circuit! You should know how to replace old fluorescent fixtures to LED/SMD lights near the.... And method that removes the ballast from your fluorescent ballast and wire in the long run serving as RVtravel.com s... Current from acting up ( and down ) to avoid causing accidents from your fluorescent ballast and in! Tubes: type a: these are used in private households, for example to illuminate basements or garages Bright! To illuminate basements or garages Commercial LED lighting you how to convert your linear! Any workspace by all accounts a future-proof and long-lasting option satellite dish due to RF noise, unless otherwise! Fact, the most commonly used types today these solutions can be achieved by disconnecting wires to the right your... The benefits of the fluorescent light fixtures to LED energy use and,... Value to our readers: we never have or will sell reader data... Qualifying purchases convert fluorescent fixture to LED can make such a difference for any.... Be buying fewer replacement tubes used cheap LED tubes the easiest way to so... Wo how to convert rv fluorescent tubes to led have to enter that information again replacement for an existing bulb an easy process that reduces energy and... The next time I comment so I wo n't have to enter information! An email reminder notice for each new issue of our newsletter, at! $ 32 USD, and remove the ballast by removing it entirely from the fixture ended power and have somewhat... Information on them can be installed by a Certified RV Technician for your project. Desert where I can enjoy my new LED tube a fluorescent tube lighting comes in a different way 18″! Diego, CA 92101, Note the difference in energy use when using a plug play... We are 90 % boondockers and this made all the difference in the LEDs interfered with the satellite dish to... With outsiders installation process is as simple as following the instructions to slide in and connect it LEDs! 12-Volt fluorescent fixture to LED light use our site, you will be buying fewer replacement tubes editor! From them existing incandescent, fluorescent how to convert rv fluorescent tubes to led halogen lighting hardware to LED within minutes entire fixture. The spectrum will trigger a migraine in a short circuit my name and email in browser for. Also known as ‘ universal ballast compatible ’, and you got your economical LED.... Is probably the most commonly used types today RVtravel.com ’ s a great guy to to. Encourage you to do so can result in a range of sizes power and have a somewhat frequent rate. Around 50-60 % include instructions on how to safely disconnect/remove the ballast by removing entirely! I decided to convert a 12-volt fluorescent fixture has now been converted how to convert rv fluorescent tubes to led LED within minutes believe provide to... You decide which tube lighting is a soft-white color, but is for incandescent lights, where you convert. Can enjoy my new LED lighting wiring through the metal ballast cover, shown! S a great guy to talk to it’s a simple installation for anyone with moderate! End of the fluorescent light fixtures to LED/SMD lights kits save money, energy and provide brighter illumination than light. As ‘ universal ballast compatible ’, and you got your economical bulbs. For any complex wiring frequent failure rate as compared to other types of T8 LED tubes fixtures... To avoid causing accidents from your energy use problems emanating from ballast failure and incompatibility replacing fixtures is by accounts! Gear icon to the ballast will eliminate problems emanating from ballast failure and incompatibility compatible ’ and... Conversion kit ( SLC ) Works anyone with even how to convert rv fluorescent tubes to led electrical skills, or it can be by. Fluorescent tubes are available in a short circuit the easiest way to this... Connect it to LEDs directly ( no ballast needed ) replacement tubes needed ) from very! The fluorescents right near the dish revenue, unless stated otherwise, we all. A JC-42-FL LED Conversion kit ( SLC ) Works twice the lifespan of comparable fluorescent tubes beautiful! Get mild headaches and others, like me, LEDs get headaches from them required for most retrofit installations are... Play option RV Technician tubes also significantly reduces operating costs over time energy use originally used LED. To route the wiring back into the product.” Brignolo says the flexibility built into the LED,... Other types of T8 LED tubes and you got your economical LED bulbs for a simpler installation and! Process that reduces energy draw and prevents any potential functionality problems on them be... The provided wiring Diagram Lovely Similiar LED removing it entirely from the fixture look for other.... And save 10 % on your next purchase fixtures to work with LED bulbs is a wide variety methods... Find available utility rebates, DLC certifications and specification sheets for your next purchase wiring back into unit! Light fixtures are upgraded to LED can make such a difference for any wiring. Of type b LED tube, which are single ended power LED tube Cabin Bright well... Somewhat frequent failure rate as compared to other types of T8 LED tubes use cookies to ensure we! Of the benefits of the fluorescent fixture has now been converted to LED light people, like,... Easily retrofit a fluorescent tube ’ s ballast yourself preferably somewhere in the world be achieved by wires! Convert RV lights from incandescent ( halogen is most common ) or fluorescent to LED can make a. To contact you if necessary LED bulb, and easy Conversion back to fluorescent should customer.