T8 to T5 adapters for fluorescent lighting

brigbrown

Hi,

I'm look for some help from someone electrically minded regarding updating lighting.

Not exactly for my home but for my shop, I have 9 x T8 modular recessed ceiling light fittings each taking 4 x 18W tubes. So 72W for the tubes per fitting. I understand each fitting also consumes some power for the ballast and figures for this seem to vary across the web. Perhaps an additional 23-32W per fitting. Taking the top of these estimates gives 104W per fitting. Is this accurate?

Now, in the ideal world it would be great to replace these with LED panels but, with a budget in mind, new T5 modular recessed ceiling light fittings each taking, e.g., 3 x 14W tubes is probably a better compromise. I understand with T5 there is no ballast so we would have 42W per fitting. Which seems a reasonable saving, with payback including fitting taking I estimate no more than 3 years.

Great one would think, but another solution I have found is the 'Save it Easy' T8 to T5 adapter kits available on eBay. My question is what exactly happens to the existing T8 fitting if you replace all the tubes with these adapter kits? Presumably the tubes now draw 4 x 14W = 56W. But what wattage does the old ballast now draw? Am I wasting my time by considering these 'adapter kits'?

Any expert advise greatly welcomed.

Jonesya

https://www.2degreesnetwork.com/groups/2degrees-community/resources/t5-vs-t8-tubes-should-your-company-upgrade/

brigbrown

Many thanks for that link. That's something I hadn't found in my research. I think I have to come to the conclusion echoed in that article: that adapter kits are not a long term solution.

I wish I could know the switch gear running cost accurately so I can properly assess what the payback would be from replacing my old 4 x T8s with new 3 x T5s fittings. Estimates vary across the web and I feel T5 sales literature may be over estimating it.

justjohn

I know its an old post, but I assume these are panel lights.


much better to replace the t8's with led tubes they are not hard to rewire.


just done some 600mm panels 3 and 4 tube, replaced with Philips led tubes and should save a few pounds on the electricity,(trouble is I cannot afford to replace all the tubes , well over 60 lol)