Five Affordable Methods to Go From Fluorescent to LED Lighting
With their superior energy efficiency, LED lighting offers substantial savings. You can shave $200 or more off your annual electric bill by switching from fluorescent to LED.
LEDs also offer several other benefits. For example, they can be dimmable and have various color temperatures to suit your space. They also have a longer lifespan than fluorescent bulbs.
Instant Fit Conversions
If you have fluorescent lighting fixtures and want to replace them, there are several affordable methods to go from fluorescent to LED lighting. The main benefits of switching to LED include significant energy savings and longer lamp life.
One of the most common ways to do this is through instant-fit conversions. These are the quickest and easiest way to convert your existing fluorescent fixtures.
They are also a low-cost option for those seeking a quick, high-quality upgrade without breaking the bank. They are also straightforward to install. They plug in place of the old fluorescent tubes and don’t require any electrical modifications.
Direct-Wire Conversions
LEDs offer a variety of benefits over traditional fluorescent and incandescent bulbs. They last longer, require less maintenance, and are energy-efficient.
Direct-Wire Conversions are an affordable method to go from fluorescent to LED lighting. These conversions can save you time and money on installation.
You can also convert fixtures that use traditional metal halide or high-pressure sodium lamps to LED. These conversions will provide a dramatic upgrade to your lights and can significantly reduce your energy bill.
Another popular way to convert fluorescent to LED lighting is by rewiring. This involves bypassing the ballast and wiring the LED tubes directly into existing sockets.
Retrofit Kits
Retrofit kits are one of the more affordable methods to go from fluorescent to LED lighting. These kits are available for various fixtures and are great for commercial applications.
These kits are UL certified and can be purchased online. They are easy to install and have all the necessary components for a quick, cost-effective retrofit.
Unlike traditional fluorescent tubes, plug-and-play LED tubes don’t require ballasts to function correctly. They work with direct wire lighting fixtures and fluorescent fixtures that are still outfitted with ballasts.
Ballast Bypass Conversions
Ballast Bypass Conversions are a great way to go from fluorescent to LED lighting without replacing all your fixtures. This method requires rewiring and removing the original fluorescent ballast, but the results are substantial energy savings.
This solution is also a lot more affordable than replacing your entire fixture. It’s a good choice for businesses looking for long-term savings and no maintenance.
This method is a smart option for two or four-bulb fluorescent fixtures that have a supply wire (black or red) and a neutral wire to each socket. This means that you only need to wire up the supply wire to the end of the lamp and all of the sockets to the neutral wire in a series, making this a much faster conversion than rewiring for single-ended tubes.
Integrated Fixtures
Integrated LED fixtures offer an affordable method from fluorescent to LED lighting. They have a small up-front cost, often offset by savings on energy bills and typical globe replacements.
They also last much longer than screw-in lights because they dissipate heat better. This is due to the way that these fixtures are designed.
Typically, these fixtures have built-in metal heat sinks to dissipate heat. That helps keep the LED chips cool so they can last longer.