Fluorescent tube lights replacement/alternative

littlemoney

I have a number of fluorescent tube lights throughout the house. The fittings have been there probably since the 1970's. It's getting more difficult to buy new tubes and starters. Currently I have T8 5 foot warm white fluorescent tubes. I like the good light from these lights and appearances don't bother me. Good light is much more important than looks.

If I can't get more tubes or starters, I need to buy both, what can I do using my existing fittings. I have no electrical knowledge and looking at lighting web sites I am totally confused by the range available and what would be a like for like swap.  To change the fittings I would need to get someone in and as I have 6 tubes in the house and 2 in the garage it would be very expensive.

What should I be looking for. On one site I've  seen "triphosphor tubes" what ever they are. I just can find a clear explanation. Hopefully there is someone here who can help explain it all to me before I go totally confused. Thanks

Doozergirl

If you have eight lights, then getting someone in to change the lot would be quite good value. 

I wonder how much those things cost to run, I'm not very good with electrical
calcs, but just looking at the size of the things they must cost a fortune to run. 

Quality of light is important to me to, but as long as it is focussed in the right places, it really doesn't need to light up the whole room in one 'big light'.  

Something running LEDs would be ideal these days, even a light fitting running a few different GU10 directional spots.  Running costs should be low and replacements much easier to find. 

grumbler

littlemoney said:

It's getting more difficult to buy new tubes and starters. Currently I have T8 5 foot warm white fluorescent tubes.

I don't see why it's difficult -

https://www.screwfix.com/c/electrical-lighting/tube-lights/cat2690010

https://www.screwfix.com/c/electrical-lighting/fluorescent-starters/cat840802

However, you can buy a LED replacement and it doesn't need a starter - https://www.screwfix.com/p/philips-g13-t8-led-tube-2000lm-20w-1500mm-5ft/6280v

TadleyBaggie

I've replaced all my old tubes with LED equivalents, very happy with the result.

Rodders53

Sylvania T8 5 foot tubes are 65 Watt cost £5 from Wickes.
They have an output of 5400 lumens, 4000 Kelvin rather than 2700-3000K warm white.
Colour rendering Index of 85.

Triphosphor relates to using three fluorescing phosphor colours to give better colour rendering. All fluorescent (and leds for that matter) use multiple phosphor colours to mix the light to be a white.

Sylvania's equivalent LED replacement tube https://www.wickes.co.uk/Sylvania-ToLEDo-T8-5ft-Cool-White-LED-Tube---27W/p/185082 costs £15  Consumes 27W, is also 4000K with output of only 2700 lumens (despite claiming 60W equivalent, it's only half the light output - I guess they're comparing incandescent lamps not fluorescent).
Colour rendering index of 80 so not as good as the fluoroscent.
The Philips LED replacement has similar numbers, CRI 80, 20W and 2200 lumens... for more money.

Beware these direct replacements only work with older magnetic ballasts (1970s models probably are) but it may need checking.  More recent fluorescent fittings have electronic ballasts (no starter).

If you prefer a warmer white the LEDs can be got it 3000K if you search - electrical factors most likely (who will usually sell to the public, not just trade).