Replace Strip lights with LED lights

UncleZen

There are some strip lights in my local bowls club clubhouse, there is only 1 working strip bulb out of 4, so I'm investigating replacing them with LED lights to save on energy costs.
Has anyone got any experience of doing this. Cosmetically, as this is a clubhouse, they just have to be more functional than aesthetic. 
Fyi, the strip bulbs are 150cm long, 2.5cm wide and have 2 prongs on each end and look to be 58W each.

CliveOfIndia

If you're just replacing like-for-like then it's very simple.  There are any number of bulbs available, just take your pick from ones which provide the required amount of output and match the aesthetics you're looking for.

The only thing to note is that you won't be able to just plug a new bulb into the existing fitting, it'll need a new fitting as well.  But given that the wiring is already in place, it's an easy DIY job for anyone with a modicum of experience (unless your club rules/insurance dictate that they must be fitted by an electrician).

MarkUsl

Absolutely, as Clive has mnentioned, you can replace Fluorescent bulbs with LED bulbs, but, there "may" be some rewiring involved depending how old your lights are. It would be better to replace for new LED lights considering Fluorescent tubes are no long made, new LED fittings are cost effective and will replace your existing fittings using your wiring already in place. If you are set on just replacing the tubes, then first find out if they are switch start (they will have a starter located on the body of the light) or if they are electronic start (no starter), then you can decide if they need rewiiring before replacing them.

bjorn_toby_wilde

You don’t necessarily need to rewire or replace the whole fitting. The old fluorescent fitting will have a starter (it plugs into a bayonet socket in the side of the fitting).

Replace the tube with an LED tube and the starter with a new LED starter.

Easiest job I think I’ve ever done when my garage fluorescent failed.

Section62

UncleZen said:

There are some strip lights in my local bowls club clubhouse, there is only 1 working strip bulb out of 4, so I'm investigating replacing them with LED lights to save on energy costs.
Has anyone got any experience of doing this. Cosmetically, as this is a clubhouse, they just have to be more functional than aesthetic. 
Fyi, the strip bulbs are 150cm long, 2.5cm wide and have 2 prongs on each end and look to be 58W each.

In theory fluorescent tubes can be swapped out for LED ones.  But there isn't such a thing as a standard fluorescent fitting - there are different types which work slightly differently, even if the same type of (fluorescent) tube will work in more than one type of fitting.

It is a case of pot luck really - although in more recent times people generally seem to be Ok with putting in a LED replacement tube and finding it works Ok.

One of the complications is having a high-frequency (HF) fitting, which aren't compatible with LED replacement tubes.  HF fittings are more efficient, and although they can be found in domestic properties, they are perhaps more common in commercial ones - so that could include places like a clubhouse.

Also be aware that some types of fitting have control circuits which will be redundant with LED tubes, but may still consume electricity if not removed.  If you have one like this then your energy saving won't be as good unless the redundant system is removed.

TBH I'd suggest the club gets an electrician to replace the old fluorescent fittings with new LED ones, rather than trying to retrofit LED tubes. This is because doing it DIY is a risk in premises that have some degree of public access (the insurers are unlikely to be happy with DIY electrics), the work is presumably at some height, and you'll know that you'll end up with working lights rather than having to send tubes back for a refund if they don't work.

Another aspect to think about is your emergency lighting - modern LED fittings can be supplied suitable for use as emergency lights (e.g. if there is a power cut) which could mean some of your existing emergency lighting (if any) could be decommissioned (with possible savings). If you don't have emergency lighting then this is something club members should be thinking about, even more so if you do hiring out.  And emergency lighting is really best left to professionals to install (and maintain) because if it doesn't work when it is needed then the keen DIYer could find themselves in personal trouble.

TheGreenFrog

I replaced my garage fluorescents with these.  Not much money for quite a lot of light.  

https://www.toolstation.com/v-tac-ip20-led-super-slim-batten-light-with-samsung-chip/p18144

twopenny

There was a very useful thread on here about how to and the merits of each.
Should come up in a search. I have to dash.