What do I look for? - Replacement light question.

Rusty190

Looking for guidance please. 
I have an ancient, though functioning, strip light with 2 long fluorescent bulbs in it and a plastic "shade" to cover the bulbs. 
1 of the bulbs is on its way out - constantly flickering and going dim.
A quick online search tells me these sort of bulbs are no longer available and I should be looking at LED lights. 
Is there such a thing as a similar style LED light ie. one with 2 long bulbs, bright, bulbs "covered" and bulbs replaceable?
It's for a kitchen. 
Thank you. 

grumpy_codger

Why do you want to replace the whole fitting when you can replace the tube(s)?

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

Read the instructions - some LED tubes require minor changes in the light fitting.

Rusty190

@grumpy_codger, short answer is, I don't.
But, do those LED 's you linked to, not require other "tinkering"/wiring stuff to be done? - or do they just fit into the old unit as they are? 
Oops - can see you' ve already answered that. Thanks. 

WIAWSNB

Does your existing fitting have a plug-in 'starter'.
Any chance of a pic? Does it have a make and model number?

dnpark38

It might be the starter needs changing.

Eldi_Dos

@Rusty190

My experience of swapping from neon to led was not good, admittedly with a GR 10 fitting.
Ended up just replacing the whole lighting unit, less hassle and would have been the cheapest option if done first.

dnpark38

This very morning my odd job man here as just changed my old flashing tube with a LED one into original fitting, seems a lot brighter.

MarkUsl

I'd recommend changing to a new LED fitting. If your existing fluorescent has a starter, then LED tubes will usually retrofit; if they don't, then your fitting will need rewiring to bypass the control gear in order to work with LED. If you get an LED fitting now, it will be a fit-and-forget. You can also get LED fittings with replaceable tubes so once a tube fails after 10 years for example you don't have to throw the whole fitting away.

pseudodox

Highly recommend change to LED.  Light comes on immediately bright with no flicker or warm up.  I had 3 types of old fittings
1.  I could replace the fluo tube myself with an LED & exchange the old starter for the "dummy" that was supplied with LED tube.  Easy peasy.
2. Starter was not exchangeable so fluo fitting had to be rewired by my electrician to accept LED
3. Fiting in a location I cannot reach to replace tubes so had a new complete fit & forget LED unit.  If it ever needs replacing there will be minimal difference in paying electrician to do that,  rather than having to buy a new tube & pay someone to install it.
You can Google for info on all these options & a decent electrical shop will help you pick the correct replacements. 

Search on here for previous threads on this topic - may be late 2024

Rusty190

Thanks all. I did find the old thread on here which you mentioned @pseudodox, and found it very helpful. I'm off to pick up a replacement tube and starter later and will try retrofit first. If that doesn't work, I'll get an electrician in to sort it all out. 

pseudodox

The other advantage of the LED tubes is they use less energy.  20 years ago I replaced all my old incandescent bulbs with the then newish CFL energy saving bulbs.  Downside has always been that they takes a few minutes to warm up to full light (just like the long tubes) and am now having a blitz around the house changing them to LED bulbs, having got used to the better light from the long tube fittings.  Not cheap to buy, especially when I dug out a box of 5 100w incandescents labelled "89 pence".  Sigh!  But hopefully in the long run the LEDs use less electricity so eventually will pay for themselves.