Replacing fluorescent light tubes with LED equivalent, guidance please

daveyjp

I just swapped out the whole units in kitchen and loft for batten LEDs.

They are far less bulky and weighty than the units I removed.  Easy enough job.

BooJewels

sk2402005 said:

I recently swapped my kitchen florecent tube for an LED one, its really easy, literally 2 mins.

I went for a white one, its much better and instantly bright.

I think the old one was 56w, new one only 22w and its brighter.

Remove the old tube, fit LED tube, swap the starter for the one in the box.

https://www.toolstation.com/v-tac-t8-nano-plastic-led-tube/p77622

The spec on that page states:
"Suitable for magnetic switch start ballast fittings or LED fittings only"  

...and that for fittings with an electronic ballast, it must be fitted by a qualified electrician. 

So maybe you struck lucky, or knew what you were doing, but I don't know what sort of ballast I have - hence my unease when I'm just not confident in view of what I'm learning here.

FreeBear

Replaced the old fluorescent tube in my kitchen with four downlights and added another two in the gloomy half - The kitchen was extended in the 70s and never had lighting in the new part... A major transformation !

Best done as part of fitting a new kitchen. Also replaced a couple of old fluorescent light fittings in the garage. Got new fittings from Screwfix complete with tubes. Whilst not a huge improvement in lighting, it certainly saves a few pennies to run them.

BooJewels

@daveyjp - I already understand that it's perhaps easy enough to just swap the whole fitting, but certainly not me.  I'd be happy to learn how to do it, but it won't make me any taller, or more physically comfortable climbing steps, or able to lift anything above my head - all by torchlight.  So this is one for a professional.

@FreeBear - my whole house is gloomy (long thin property, tiny low windows on one side, big windows on the other, but flanked by mature trees), so I already use a lot of lighting and most now is LED - hence revisiting these flu tubes as they're costing me almost 20 quid a month alone - I'd more than halve that by changing to LED fittings.  I'm open to the idea of something nicer in the kitchen, but want to retain the light level I already have.  If I do get an electrician to change the fitting, I might look at an upgrade in style too.

sk2402005

BooJewels said:

sk2402005 said:

I recently swapped my kitchen florecent tube for an LED one, its really easy, literally 2 mins.

I went for a white one, its much better and instantly bright.

I think the old one was 56w, new one only 22w and its brighter.

Remove the old tube, fit LED tube, swap the starter for the one in the box.

https://www.toolstation.com/v-tac-t8-nano-plastic-led-tube/p77622

The spec on that page states:
"Suitable for magnetic switch start ballast fittings or LED fittings only"  

...and that for fittings with an electronic ballast, it must be fitted by a qualified electrician. 

So maybe you struck lucky, or knew what you were doing, but I don't know what sort of ballast I have - hence my unease when I'm just not confident in view of what I'm learning here.

Buy one and fit it, what have you got to loose other than £10?

Here is a guide how to tell

https://greenled.co.nz/content/10-how-to-tell-if-you-have-a-magnetic-ballast-or-electronic-ballast

BooJewels

sk2402005 said:

BooJewels said:

sk2402005 said:

I recently swapped my kitchen florecent tube for an LED one, its really easy, literally 2 mins.

I went for a white one, its much better and instantly bright.

I think the old one was 56w, new one only 22w and its brighter.

Remove the old tube, fit LED tube, swap the starter for the one in the box.

https://www.toolstation.com/v-tac-t8-nano-plastic-led-tube/p77622

The spec on that page states:
"Suitable for magnetic switch start ballast fittings or LED fittings only"  

...and that for fittings with an electronic ballast, it must be fitted by a qualified electrician. 

So maybe you struck lucky, or knew what you were doing, but I don't know what sort of ballast I have - hence my unease when I'm just not confident in view of what I'm learning here.

Buy one and fit it, what have you got to loose other than £10?

Here is a guide how to tell

https://greenled.co.nz/content/10-how-to-tell-if-you-have-a-magnetic-ballast-or-electronic-ballast

If you read my opening post, I'm not able to fit it myself as I'm not physically able really - so I'm going to need assistance even for just changing the tube.

But what have I got to lose - well, blowing my electrics, setting fire to something, it exploding in my face and maiming me for life - or far worse, the person I ask to help me  . . . . at best, I'd blow the light fitting itself and be plunged into darkness and unable to function well until I could source an electrician with the opportunity to sort me out.  Those risks are worth way more than wasting a tenner.  

Electrics are just not something you mess with unless you actually know what you're doing.  I don't, so I am not prepared to risk it.  I'm not sure your post is very responsible.

bob_a_builder

BooJewels said:

sk2402005 said:

I recently swapped my kitchen florecent tube for an LED one, its really easy, literally 2 mins.

I went for a white one, its much better and instantly bright.

I think the old one was 56w, new one only 22w and its brighter.

Remove the old tube, fit LED tube, swap the starter for the one in the box.

https://www.toolstation.com/v-tac-t8-nano-plastic-led-tube/p77622

The spec on that page states:
"Suitable for magnetic switch start ballast fittings or LED fittings only"  

...and that for fittings with an electronic ballast, it must be fitted by a qualified electrician. 

So maybe you struck lucky, or knew what you were doing, but I don't know what sort of ballast I have - hence my unease when I'm just not confident in view of what I'm learning here.

If its currently a florescent fitting, If its got a starter - it doesn't have an electronic ballast

sk2402005

BooJewels said:

sk2402005 said:

BooJewels said:

sk2402005 said:

I recently swapped my kitchen florecent tube for an LED one, its really easy, literally 2 mins.

I went for a white one, its much better and instantly bright.

I think the old one was 56w, new one only 22w and its brighter.

Remove the old tube, fit LED tube, swap the starter for the one in the box.

https://www.toolstation.com/v-tac-t8-nano-plastic-led-tube/p77622

The spec on that page states:
"Suitable for magnetic switch start ballast fittings or LED fittings only"  

...and that for fittings with an electronic ballast, it must be fitted by a qualified electrician. 

So maybe you struck lucky, or knew what you were doing, but I don't know what sort of ballast I have - hence my unease when I'm just not confident in view of what I'm learning here.

Buy one and fit it, what have you got to loose other than £10?

Here is a guide how to tell

https://greenled.co.nz/content/10-how-to-tell-if-you-have-a-magnetic-ballast-or-electronic-ballast

If you read my opening post, I'm not able to fit it myself as I'm not physically able really - so I'm going to need assistance even for just changing the tube.

But what have I got to lose - well, blowing my electrics, setting fire to something, it exploding in my face and maiming me for life - or far worse, the person I ask to help me  . . . . at best, I'd blow the light fitting itself and be plunged into darkness and unable to function well until I could source an electrician with the opportunity to sort me out.  Those risks are worth way more than wasting a tenner.  

Electrics are just not something you mess with unless you actually know what you're doing.  I don't, so I am not prepared to risk it.  I'm not sure your post is very responsible.

Fair enough on the mobility issue, however you have received a perfectly valid anwser to your question, which would allow you to tell if you have a magnetic or electronic ballast, and how to change the tube, along with a recommendation of what to buy.

If you didnt want an anwser to the question, why ask?

BooJewels

bob_a_builder said:

BooJewels said:

sk2402005 said:

I recently swapped my kitchen florecent tube for an LED one, its really easy, literally 2 mins.

I went for a white one, its much better and instantly bright.

I think the old one was 56w, new one only 22w and its brighter.

Remove the old tube, fit LED tube, swap the starter for the one in the box.

https://www.toolstation.com/v-tac-t8-nano-plastic-led-tube/p77622

The spec on that page states:
"Suitable for magnetic switch start ballast fittings or LED fittings only"  

...and that for fittings with an electronic ballast, it must be fitted by a qualified electrician. 

So maybe you struck lucky, or knew what you were doing, but I don't know what sort of ballast I have - hence my unease when I'm just not confident in view of what I'm learning here.

If its currently a florescent fitting, If its got a starter - it doesn't have an electronic ballast

Thanks.  I'm going to engage an electrician to change the whole fitting - it's probably long overdue anyway.  It's much more confusing than I was anticipating, so I'm going to accept defeat and use a qualified professional.  

BooJewels

sk2402005 said:

BooJewels said:

sk2402005 said:

BooJewels said:

sk2402005 said:

I recently swapped my kitchen florecent tube for an LED one, its really easy, literally 2 mins.

I went for a white one, its much better and instantly bright.

I think the old one was 56w, new one only 22w and its brighter.

Remove the old tube, fit LED tube, swap the starter for the one in the box.

https://www.toolstation.com/v-tac-t8-nano-plastic-led-tube/p77622

The spec on that page states:
"Suitable for magnetic switch start ballast fittings or LED fittings only"  

...and that for fittings with an electronic ballast, it must be fitted by a qualified electrician. 

So maybe you struck lucky, or knew what you were doing, but I don't know what sort of ballast I have - hence my unease when I'm just not confident in view of what I'm learning here.

Buy one and fit it, what have you got to loose other than £10?

Here is a guide how to tell

https://greenled.co.nz/content/10-how-to-tell-if-you-have-a-magnetic-ballast-or-electronic-ballast

If you read my opening post, I'm not able to fit it myself as I'm not physically able really - so I'm going to need assistance even for just changing the tube.

But what have I got to lose - well, blowing my electrics, setting fire to something, it exploding in my face and maiming me for life - or far worse, the person I ask to help me  . . . . at best, I'd blow the light fitting itself and be plunged into darkness and unable to function well until I could source an electrician with the opportunity to sort me out.  Those risks are worth way more than wasting a tenner.  

Electrics are just not something you mess with unless you actually know what you're doing.  I don't, so I am not prepared to risk it.  I'm not sure your post is very responsible.

Fair enough on the mobility issue, however you have received a perfectly valid anwser to your question, which would allow you to tell if you have a magnetic or electronic ballast, and how to change the tube, along with a recommendation of what to buy.

If you didnt want an anwser to the question, why ask?

Unfortunately, I have received enough contradictory information that I'm just not prepared to risk it myself, with electricity.  I'll engage a professional, if I can find one willing and if not, just learn to switch the tube off more often if I'm not in the room.  

I asked the question as I've had very good help in this forum before, but the answers here have left me with more remaining uncertainty than I'm comfortable with.  You referenced a site in New Zealand - I have no idea if household circuity is the same for the Kiwis as here and it consequently didn't fill me with confidence.

Thanks for trying to help, but on this occasion I'm going to admit defeat and use a qualified and insured professional.  Only one person in this thread declares being actually qualified and that was their advice.   My son is always quoting the Dunning Kruger Effect to me - how a bit of knowledge (and unshakable belief in it) can give rise to inflated ideas of ability and become dangerous, so I want to try and avoid that here as it truly could be right proper dangerous.