Buying a new tube light is not an easy task. With so many variants to choose from and so many different options to go through, it is easy for anyone to get confused about which one would be the best fit for them. In such a scenario, the customers, you, are left with more questions than answers.
That is why we have painstakingly taken it upon ourselves to sort out the most frequently asked questions about LED tube lights and have answered those with our expertise.
Most Frequently Asked Questions About LED Tubes
What is a ballast and do LED tubes need it?
One of the most commonly asked questions that we have come across in our research is about Ballast and its compatibility with LED tubes. A ballast is a component that was in use when fluorescent tubes were in use. A ballast maintains the voltage passing through the filament thus regulating its temperature. For a complete understanding of ballast and its relation with LED tubes read Here
Another question which people frequently ask is how to bypass a ballast.
For a complete understanding of the procedure read here
Color temperature also becomes a concern when choosing the right LED tube light.
- A CCT less than 2000 Kelvin is a dim glow of light..
- 2000-3000 Kelvin is a soft white light that often appears yellowish in color.
- 3100-4500 Kelvin gives a bright white light
- 4600-6500 Kelvin is similar to daylight and is best for display areas
- Lighting with a CCT of more than 6500 Kelvin is a bright bluish hue of light
People also often ask that will LED tubes work in fluorescent fixtures.
The answer is yes, they will, as long as the pins of the LED tube are similar to the sockets of the fixture. Rest, the type of LED tube will determine whether you’ll have to remove or keep the ballast.
Another query is about the notation of T5, T8 and T12 and what they mean.
Essentially the diameter of LED tubes is divided by a factor of 8. Therefore the diameter of a T5 LED tube will be ⅝ which converts to 0.625 inch. Similarly, T8 is one inch in diameter and T12 is 1.5 inches.
People also often ask about what is a tombstone.
Tombstones are essentially bulb holders at the very end of the tube fixture through which electricity passes into the tube. For a complete understanding of tombstones, you can read here.