Jan 08 2018
The water fountain spigot kind of acts like a ballast in this situation. A ballast regulates the current that’s coming at a lamp. It gives an initial burst just to get things going, then it makes sure the electric current is controlled and steady. Not getting the lamp’s shoes all wet. A ballast for Light Emitting Diode (LED) lights is not required – instead a driver is required.
There are two types of ballasts we deal with for existing fluorescent lights- magnetic and electronic. The difference is the mechanism they use to transform the incoming voltage.
- Magnetic ballasts – heavier than bad news on a rainy day. Average 3.5 lbs. These bad boys are also why you associate a “humming” noise with fluorescent lights – they have a transformer consisting of a magnetic core and wire wrapped around it.
- Electronic ballasts – use solid state circuitry to operate – no hum. Lighter and more efficient, they have been encouraged by energy efficient legislation dating back to the late 80s.
Alright so now that we know fluorescent lamps are like toddlers that need their food blended before they can eat it, what about LED lamps?
“LEDs are from the future! Surely they don’t need an archaic metaphoric blender!”, you say. LED lamps and fixtures use a different type of power source, in what is referred to as an LED driver. The driver converts electricity to DC, which is required for the diodes to operate.
Some LED drivers are external and wired to the fixture, and some are internal in the lamp or tube. This can create issues and confusion, especially since some ballasts can then drive internal LED drivers.
Type A – ballast for led lights compatible
Can LED lamps work off of existing ballasts? Yes, if they have an internal driver than can work off that ballast. Philips, for example, has designed a tube that is compatible with an existing electronic ballast. Cue buzzword plug-and-play. Super cost effective because it brings down the labor cost of changing the fixture. This is referred to as a Type A lamp, and can come with a $4 to $5 Instant Discount.
This solution is ideal for well maintained electronic fluorescent ballasts. If ballast are less than 10 years old, or there are staff on hand that can change a ballast, this is a good opportunity. Energy savings can be achieved quickly, with lower labor and material costs.
Type C – Driver, not ballast for LED
If you don’t have tubes that are compatible, then you will need an LED driver. You do not need a ballast for LED lights, but instead a driver. This is called a Type C application, with a tube and driver that work together.
Verde often uses this approach to replace T12 magnetic ballasts, as well as older T8 systems with aging electronic ballasts. The Type C system will typically last 70,000 hours in a system, so there is a huge benefit to replace the entire system at one time. This can be more expensive due to the higher labor costs, but this can at times be offset by incentives from the local utility.
Type B – Hard wire to socket
Finally, there are hard wired fluorescent LEDs, which take 110v electricity right to the socket. These lamps have a driver inside the tube. These are called Type B applications.
This system approach is increasingly popular around the country, as it removes a failure point (ballast or external driver) from the equation. However, it is commonly faced with safety concerns, and has less incentives available in some utility programs.
Conclusion
So, the moral of the story, kids….you’re going to need some way to control the current coming into your LED tube. It all depends on the type of tube ya got. If you need an energy efficiency expert, you should talk to someone hooked up with your local utility so they can advise you on the right approach. Depending on your labor force, price, and current pain point – as well as the incentive available, this can really change.
FAQs
You do not need a ballast for LED lights, but instead a driver. This is called a Type C application, with a tube and driver that work together. Verde often uses this approach to replace T12 magnetic ballasts, as well as older T8 systems with aging electronic ballasts.
Can a LED light work without a ballast? ›
It is not necessary for LED lights to include a ballast as a driver is already inserted in them. This element helps in managing the power flow, i.e., the current flowing in the light.
Do you need a ballast for LED grow lights? ›
No, LEDs don't require a ballast.
What happens if you put LED bulbs in a fluorescent fixture? ›
LED T8 lights can be housed in lighting fixtures that accommodate T8 fluorescent bulbs, as their size is the same. The only differences are in the light produced.
Can you put LED bulbs in a T8 fixture? ›
Yes, you can replace fluorescent tubes with LED tubes or LED-integrated fixtures. If you just want to replace the bulbs, you can use plug-and-play, direct-wire, or hybrid LED tubes. Plug-and-play tubes are the easiest to install as they do not require any rewiring to the fixture.
Is it worth replacing fluorescent tubes with LED? ›
Compared to fluorescent bulbs, LED lights are up to 80% more efficient. Unlike fluorescent lights, LED lights convert 95% of their energy into light and only 5% is wasted as heat; this is all while still using far less power to provide a strong and consistent output at a lower wattage.
Can you use normal LED as grow light? ›
You can use “white” LED lights, but the “grow light” versions are more efficient. Photosynthesis uses energy from the very short (blue) wavelengths of visible light, and also the longer red light. That's why plants look green - they reflect the colour of light they don't make use of.
Can regular LED lights be grow lights? ›
You can use regular LEDs but you'll get better results with LED grow lights. LED bulbs and strips usually produce white light, which is helpful for general plant growth. However, plants really need blue and red light to thrive.
Do all LED lights work as grow lights? ›
The best photosynthesis wavelengths on the visible light spectrum occur in the blue range (425 to 450 nanometers) and the red range (600 to 700 nanometers). Regular LED lights, on the other hand, lack many of the wavelengths needed for plant growth; the light they produce is only good for illumination.
How to replace fluorescent bulbs with LED? ›
Retrofitting your existing fluorescent fixtures with LED tubes that are compatible with ballasts is a common approach and involves simply removing the old fluorescent tubes and replacing them with compatible LED tubes. The ballast remains in place and continues to regulate the electrical current to the new LED tubes.
Simply turn the light on, then take a photo of the fixture using your smartphone or digital camera. If there are no dark bands on the resulting image, you have an electronic ballast that is likely to work with direct drop-in LED tubes (with caveats: see the next section below).
What type of LED lamps are referred to as ballast bypass? ›
Type B Linear LED Tubes (Ballast Bypass)
Type B lamps are also known as line voltage lamps. These tubes have an internal driver built into the lamp and are intended to be directly wired to the power source bypassing the ballast. The benefits of Type B LED tubes are the cost savings and maintenance savings.
Can you put LED bulbs in old fixtures? ›
LED light bulbs are safe to use in the majority of fixtures and fittings. There are some applications where specific LED bulbs should not be fully enclosed because they can overheat, which results in the bulb burning out prematurely.
Can LED and fluorescent be on the same circuit? ›
LED and fluorescent lights on the same circuit? Some things were never meant to work together. If you intend to upgrade some lights to LED, ensure that there are no old technology lights remaining on the same circuit. LED drivers contain electronics that may be upset by old technology transformers on the same circuit.
What happens if I put an LED on a ballast? ›
Ballasts are used to regulate the voltage and current that is sent to fluorescent and HID lamps, and they are not compatible with LED lights. One of the main issues that can occur if you don't bypass the ballast is reduced energy efficiency.
Can you direct wire a plug and play LED bulb? ›
The catch with single-ended T8 LED bulbs is: You can direct-wire a 'plug and play' light but not vice-versa. Before you start reading the process, know that the single-ended tubes are different from double-ended ones. The difference lies in the way the tubes receive power.
Can type a LED be direct wired? ›
Simply remove the fluorescent lamps from the fixture, and insert the new LED tube lights. This configuration is sometimes also called UL Type A or "plug and play" compatible. "Direct-wire" refers to a wiring configuration where line voltage wires are connected directly to the LED tube light.
Can you replace a fluorescent light fixture with an LED fixture? ›
Yes, you can replace your fluorescent tubes with LED tube lights. This conversion involves removing the old fluorescent tubes and replacing them with compatible LED tubes and wire upgrades, if needed. It's a cost-effective way to upgrade your lighting system for improved energy efficiency and better light quality.
How to tell if ballast is bad? ›
When a ballast starts failing, it will typically buzz or causes the bulbs to flicker. These issues can sometimes happen while it is operating as expected, so it's important to check the equipment before assuming a replacement is necessary.
