Line voltage or direct-wire linear LEDs – also known as ballast-bypass LEDs – work straight off the line voltage flowing directly to the sockets, requiring you to remove the original fluorescent ballast. They are more efficient than plug-and-play LED tubes, as they don't lose energy to ballast draw.
How to bypass ballast to install LED tubes?
How to Bypass a Ballast
- Turn off the power. Flipping the light switch to the “off” position does not necessarily end the flow of electricity. ...
- Locate your ballast. In many T8 fixtures, the ballast is covered by a casing and the T8 tubes are on top of it, meaning you need to take out ...
- Cut the hot and neutral wires. ...
- Cut the socket lead wires. ...
- Remove the ballast. ...
How to remove ballast for led?
The basic process involves a few steps:
- Turn off the breaker to the light fixture, and confirm that the power to that light fixture is off.
- Remove the fluorescent tube bulbs from the fixture. ...
- Cut the wires coming from the ballast with wire cutters. ...
- Remove the screws that hold the ballast in place and remove it from the fixture.
Which light bulbs need a ballast?
No incandescent bulbs require a ballast. No halogen bulbs require a ballast. All fluorescent bulbs require a ballast. All compact fluorescent (CFL) bulbs require a ballast, which is often integrated. All HID bulbs require a ballast, which is sometimes integrated.
Do LED tubes need a ballast?
Unlike fluorescent tubes, LEDs don't require a ballast to regulate current. When using direct fit LEDs, the ballast is still using energy and eating into your possible energy savings. With a ballast bypass, you are only paying for the energy the LED lights use, which is up to 70% less than traditional bulbs! Click to see full answer.
Should I bypass ballast for LED lights?
An LED light does not require a ballast because it uses a component called a “driver” to regulate the power going into the bulb.
Why would you bypass a ballast?
Additionally, because ballasts eventually fail over time, removing and bypassing the ballast when installing your new lights guarantees a longer lifespan, since direct-wiring LEDs is significantly more energy-efficient.
What happens if you don't bypass ballast?
The most significant negative to a ballast-bypass linear LED is the risk of electric shock since the sockets carry line voltage. It's a common practice to place a finger on the lamp pins while you are trying to install it, and this becomes a risky endeavor when using single-ended ballast-bypass lamps .
Can all LED tubes work without a ballast?
No LED bulbs require a ballast, although some are engineered to work with an existing ballast. You will find ballast-compatible or "plug-and-play" LEDs that are designed to replace linear fluorescents, compact fluorescents, or HIDs. Incandescent and halogen lamps do not require a ballast.
Can I put an LED bulb in a fluorescent fixture?
You have fluorescent tube lights in your home or business already, and you're wondering if you can pop LED tubes in these fixtures or if you'll need to change out the fixtures for something designed for LED. Good news! You can use LED tubes in your existing fixtures!
Can you use a T8 LED bulb without a ballast?
Most T8 LED bulbs do not need a ballast. The only type of LED tube that requires a ballast is plug-and-play. Used as direct replacements for fluorescent tubes, plug-and-play LED tube lights install without fixture rewiring, and operate off the existing fluorescent ballast.
Will a bad ballast burn out bulbs?
Causes of Ballast Failure When it's too hot or too cold, the ballast can burn or fail to start your lamps at all.
Should I replace ballast or buy new fixture?
Replacing the ballast in an old fixture is a must T-12 fluorescent bulbs, long used in garages and shops, are being replaced by energy-saving T-8 bulbs. However, you'll probably need to replace the old ballast; otherwise the new bulb will burn out too fast.
How do I convert fluorescent tubes to LED?
1:3113:36How to easily convert fluorescent Lights to LED - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipYou'll see three wire nuts one on the black one on the white and one on the green. You'll want toMoreYou'll see three wire nuts one on the black one on the white and one on the green. You'll want to unscrew. The wire nuts on the black and the white wires.
How do I convert a fluorescent light fixture to LED?
3:3010:42How to easily convert fluorescent Lights to LED – UPDATED! - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipThis one you have options it will work with either yes you heard that right so this will work withMoreThis one you have options it will work with either yes you heard that right so this will work with or without a ballast. It will work with single-ended. Or double-ended power configuration. Allow me
Are LED bulbs self ballasted?
The LED Bulb, LED Lamp, and other LED Lights are self ballasted using LED energy saving green technology which is environmentally friendly and energy efficient.
Can a fluorescent light work without a ballast?
In a fluorescent lighting system, the ballast regulates the current to the lamps and provides sufficient voltage to start the lamps. Without a ballast to limit its current, a fluorescent lamp connected directly to a high voltage power source would rapidly and uncontrollably increase its current draw.
Can you bypass a ballast on a fluorescent light?
If the existing fluorescent tube fixture you want to replace has a non-shunted tombstone, you can proceed with the ballast bypass procedure. Nonetheless, if the existing fixture offers a shunted tombstone, you should replace it with a non-shunted variant.
How can you tell if the ballast is bad?
If your fluorescent lighting is displaying any of the signs below, it could be a symptom of a bad ballast:Flickering. ... Buzzing. ... Delayed start. ... Low output. ... Inconsistent lighting levels. ... Switch to an electronic ballast, keep lamp. ... Switch to an electronic ballast, switch to a T8 fluorescent.More items...•
Will a bad ballast burn out bulbs?
Causes of Ballast Failure When it's too hot or too cold, the ballast can burn or fail to start your lamps at all.
What does the red wire mean on a ballast?
It is typically covered in black or red, meaning “hot” or “live”. A neutral wire (for the sake of simplicity) is a white wire which completes the circuit back to the electrical panel. In any case, once you identify the hot wire, the neutral will be on the same side. You need to cut these wires close to the ballast;
How to turn off a light switch?
1. Turn off the power. Flipping the light switch to the “off” position does not necessarily end the flow of electricity. You need to find the breaker box and determine the breaker switch for the power in that area. Turn the breaker switch off.
Can you retrofit LED lights without ballast?
Choosing the best retrofit LED can be a daunting task; some retrofit LEDs can even be installed without bypassing the ballast. So if you’re ready to upgrade to LED tube lights, give us a call at 1-800-624-4488. Our lighting experts can help you find direct wire LED tubes if you’re ready to tackle bypassing the ballast, or plug and play if you don’t want the hassle. We’ll help you pick the right wattage and color temperature for your specific application so that you can get the most out of your lights.
What is a snap back LED lamp?
The term snap-back refers to replacing the energy efficient lamp with the older, less energy efficient technologies (in this case, linear fluorescents). When the LED lamp needs replacing, if you try to replace with a fluorescent, the lamp will not be compatible and not function properly with the LED driver.
What is a plug and play LED?
A plug-and-play, or direct fit, linear LED is probably what you're imagining – a simple, one-for-one swap out of the original linear fluorescent lamp. This lamp works directly with the existing fluorescent ballast, so there is no rewiring or ballast change required. But you do want to make sure your ballast is compatible.
Can LED lights be used as plug and play?
Hybrid linear LED lamps are able to work both as a plug and play – with the existing ballast – and, once the ballast peters out, you can remove it and have the lamp run off of line voltage.
Do plug and play LEDs have ballast compatibility?
Ballast compatibility. While plug-and-play linear LEDs are getting better with ballast compatibility, it's still something you should check. The best way to do this is to take a sample of your common ballasts and make sure they are listed on the manufacturer's approved compatibility list.
Can you replace a ballast with a linear LED?
This linear LED solution requires a ballast change, except instead of replacing the ballast with another ballast, you will replace it with an LED driver and your fluorescent lamps are replaced with linear LED lamps.
Do you need to change a socket when bypassing ballast?
When bypassing the ballast, you may need to change your sockets from the most common shunted sockets to non-shunted sockets. Non-shunted sockets are required if you're using single-ended tubes. This will require a small amount of additional material cost and more labor to replace them all. In addition, some manufacturers may no longer honor the socket warranty if line voltage is direct-wired to their sockets. If you're using double-ended LED tubes, you typically do not need to change your sockets.
Is LED driver better than ballast?
LED lamp and driver (Type C) pros: Better energy savings. LED drivers are more energy efficient than today's ballasts. The wattage of the LED lamp is all that is consumed, whereas when used with a fluorescent ballast, the energy consumed increases by about two watts per lamp on average. Reduced maintenance.
What is a magnetic ballast?
Magnetic Ballast. Magnetic ballasts are basically inductors that provide the proper starting and operating electrical condition to power certain lamps. The work as a transformer, providing clean and specific power. Invented in the 1960’s, they say big usage in the 70-90s. They are seen in Metal Halide, mercury vapory, florescent lamps, neon lamp, ...
Why don't LEDs need a ballast?
Why LEDs don’t use a Ballast. LEDs don’t need a ballast because of a number of reasons. First, large amounts of current aren’t needed in LED bulbs. Also, the LEDs typically use Direct current (DC) and thus need an AC to DC converter. This is why when retrofitting to LED Corn Light Bulbs you need to direct wire the socket.
What is an LED driver?
An LED driver is an electrical device which regulates the power to an LED light. It has the capacity to regulate power to a single LED Light or strings of LEDs. An LED driver responds effectively to the changing power needs of the LED. The drier provides constant and uniform levels of power to the LED as its electrical properties change ...
What happens to a lamp without a ballast?
Without a ballast, a lamp or a bulb will rapidly increase its current draw and it can become uncontrollable as well. When a ballast is present in a lamp, the power becomes stable, and even if such lamps are connected to high power sources, the ballast will regulate the energy and avoid the current rise.
What are some examples of ballasts?
Metal halide, mercury vapor, and HID are also the prime examples of lights using ballasts. There are two main types of ballasts; magnetic ballast and electric Ballast (aka Electronic Ballast) and we will review both.
Why is ballast used in T8 bulbs?
Ballast is still used in bulbs and tube lights to avoid current rise in the lights.
When was LED lighting invented?
Invented in the 1960’s, they say big usage in the 70-90s. They are seen in Metal Halide, mercury vapory, florescent lamps, neon lamp, or High Intensity Discharge (HID) lamps. Almost all major parking lot lights and street lights used this technology for about 30 years before LED started taking over around 2010.
Can you bypass fluorescent ballasts?
Although removing or bypassing the fluorescent ballasts may require the services of a licensed electrician and incur extra installation cost and inconvenience, the benefit is obvious - there'll be no concern over failed ballasts like those in ballast-compatible LED tubes.
Do LED ballasts work with plug and play?
The ballast-compatible LED tubes work only with selected types of ballasts. This will bring inconvenience if the existing ballast is not compatible with the plug-and-play LED tubes. Moreover, a ballast has a limited life and must be replaced after failure.
Do LED lights require a ballast?
The labor costs and long-term maintenance costs will be unacceptable to end users. Ballast-bypass, line voltage, or direct wire LED tubes do not require a ballasts to operate, but the existing ballast in a fixture must be removed or bypassed and the sockets need to be changed from shunted sockets to non-shunted sockets before installing ...
Why remove ballast from LED light fixture?
Removing the ballast simplifies the number of fixture components that need to be maintained. An extra couple of watts is consumed when you pair an LED lamp with a ballast. Since you're bypassing the ballast, the wattage on the lamp is the wattage consumed. This is called ballast factor.
What are the pros and cons of direct wire or ballast-bypass (UL type B) LEDs?
The below is borrowed from our post "Plug-and-play vs. ballast-bypass and other linear LED solutions." Read more here.
What is a direct wire LED?
Line voltage or direct-wire linear LEDs – also known as ballast-bypass LEDs – work straight off the line voltage flowing directly to the sockets, requiring you to remove the original fluorescent ballast. They are more efficient than plug-and-play LED tubes, as they don't lose energy to ballast draw.
When bypassing ballast, do you need to change sockets?
When bypassing the ballast, you may need to change your sockets from the most common shunted sockets to non-shunted sockets. Non-shunted sockets are required if you're using single-ended tubes. This will require a small amount of additional material cost and more labor to replace them all.
Do linear LEDs need a ballast?
Unlike fluorescents, some linear LEDs do not need a ballast to power up and produce light. So, a lot of our customers have been asking us about the safety of just bypassing the ballast and direct-wiring their LED tubes. Several years ago, we saw a lot of problems with this. People were using the wrong sockets.
Is it safe to use a ballast bypass LED?
Safety risk. The most significant negative to a ballast-bypass linear LED is the risk of electric shock since the sockets carry line voltage. It's a common practice to place a finger on the lamp pins while you are trying to install it, and this becomes a risky endeavor when using single-ended ballast-bypass lamps.
Do you need to change your LED sockets?
In addition, some manufacturers may no longer honor the socket warranty if line voltage is direct-wired to their sockets. If you're using double-ended LED tubes, you typically do not need to change your sockets. One of our key partners recently came out with a product that could fix the socket compatibility problem.
Why are direct wire LEDs so difficult to set up?
Direct wire LEDs are more difficult to set up initially because the ballast must be removed. But, by eliminating the ballast from the future equation, this means never having the LED go out because of a ballast failure. There is also no time or cost is involved in replacing ballasts.
Do LED lights have drivers?
In both instances, there are drivers inside the LED, one designed to work with electronic ballasts and one designed to work directly with the power source. There are advantages to each option with the choice being the one that would make the most sense for each individual's needs.
Do LED lights use ballasts?
LEDs need something to safely moderate the energy running through them just as fluorescent tubes do. Fluorescent tubes use ballasts, external to the lamp, for this purpose and LEDs originally used drivers (also external to the lamp) which effectively do the same thing. Many LED lamps still use external drivers.
Can you connect an LED bulb to a power source?
These allow you to entirely remove old lamps and ballasts and connect the new LED lamp directly to the power source without a separate (external) driver.
Do you need to remove the ballast to use LEDs?
Direct connect LEDs (those that work with ballasts) are much easier to set up because there's no need to remove the ballast. Simply remove the old fluorescent lights and replace them with LEDs and you're up and running. However, at some point that ballast is likely to fail, probably long before the LED light would. And so, the time and cost involved in replacing that ballast is needed to get the LED working again.
Do LED lights use external drivers?
Many LED lamps still use external drivers. So initially to upgrade from fluorescent tubes, one would remove the old lamps and their ballasts; direct wire drivers instead of ballasts; and then connect the LED tubes to these external drivers. In the interest of making things simpler, manufacturers developed LEDs that could work directly off ...
