LED Light Tubes vs. Fluorescent: Benefits and Installation Process for Replacement

You may ask if LED Light Tubes are a better choice than fluorescent lights. Many people pick LED Light Tubes because they use less energy, which means you pay less for electricity at home or work. These LED tubes can last a long time, over 50,000 hours, so you do not need to change them as often. This helps you save money on fixing and replacing lights. Additionally, LED Light Tubes are good for the environment since they do not contain mercury. When you look at all the costs, LED tubes are often cheaper to own. To learn more About Us and how we can help you switch to LED lighting in a safe way, check out our Product offerings.

Key Takeaways

• LED light tubes use much less energy than fluorescent lights. This means you pay less for electricity.

• LED tubes last a lot longer than fluorescent tubes. They can work for 25,000 to 100,000 hours. You do not need to replace them often.

• Using LED lighting helps the environment. LED tubes do not have harmful stuff like mercury that is in fluorescent tubes.

• Some utility companies give rebates when you switch to LED. This makes it cheaper to buy LED lights at first.

• LED lights show colors better and are brighter. This makes your space look nicer.

LED vs. Fluorescent Lights: Which Is Better?

Choosing between led light tubes and fluorescent lights can feel confusing. You want to know which is better for your workspace. A side-by-side comparison helps you see the differences in energy use, lifespan, cost, and safety. Let’s look at the key benefits of led and the drawbacks of fluorescent so you can decide which is better for your workspace.

Key Benefits of LED Light Tubes

You get many advantages when you switch to led light tubes. These led lights use much less energy than fluorescent lights. You save money on your electric bill and help the environment at the same time. Look at this table to see how much energy each type uses in a year:

You can see that led shop lights use almost half the energy of fluorescent lights. This means lower costs for you. For example:

• LEDs cost about $2.81 to run for 3 hours a day over a year.

• Compact fluorescents cost about $5.04 for the same use.

Led lights also last much longer than fluorescent. Most led tubes last 25,000 to 50,000 hours. Some led shop lights can even reach 70,000 hours. In comparison, fluorescent tubes usually last only 7,000 to 15,000 hours. This means you will not need to replace led lights as often, saving you time and money.

Here are more reasons to choose led:

• Led lights use 60-80% less energy than fluorescent, so you pay less each month.

• Led shop lights give off less heat, which keeps your room cooler and lowers cooling costs.

• Led light tubes do not contain mercury, so they are safer for you and the environment.

• You can install led shop lights quickly and easily.

• Many utility companies offer rebates when you switch to led.

Tip: Using led shop lights can lower your carbon footprint. They use less power, which means fewer carbon emissions from power plants.

Drawbacks of Fluorescent Tubes

Fluorescent lights have some problems you should know about. These drawbacks can affect your health, your wallet, and the environment.

• Fluorescent tubes contain toxic materials like mercury and phosphorus. These can harm your health and the planet.

• If you turn fluorescent lights on and off often, they can fail early. This means you will need to replace them more often.

• Fluorescent tubes need a warm-up period to reach full brightness. This can be annoying if you want instant light.

• You will spend more on maintenance because fluorescent lights do not last as long as led shop lights.

"The primary health and environmental risk associated with fluorescent tubes is the presence of mercury, which is a neurotoxin. Improper disposal can lead to mercury leaching into the environment, posing risks to water supplies and the food chain. Exposure to mercury from broken bulbs can be particularly dangerous for children and pregnant individuals."

All fluorescent light bulbs contain mercury, a neurotoxin listed by the World Health Organization as a top 10 chemical of major public health concern. When fragile fluorescent glass bulbs break, the mercury inside disperses in the air allowing it to enter the lungs and blood quickly, potentially resulting in long-term health impacts for any living thing exposed to it.

You can see that led shop lights offer more benefits and fewer risks than fluorescent lights. Led vs. fluorescent lights is a common question, but led lights come out ahead in most areas of lighting.

Understanding LED Light Tubes and Fluorescent

What Are LED Light Tubes?

Led light tubes look like fluorescent lights, but they work differently. Led lights use electroluminescence to make light. Electricity moves through a semiconductor, and the led chip gives off light. This makes led shop lights last longer and use less energy than old lights.

Led light tubes have a few main parts. The led chip is the most important part. It is made from special stuff like gallium nitride. A phosphor coating changes the color of the light. The base is made of aluminum or ceramic. It helps get rid of heat so the lights last longer. There is a driver inside that controls the power and keeps the lights safe. The outside shell protects the led shop lights from getting broken.

Led shop lights do not use glass tubes or break easily. This makes them safer and stronger. You get bright light right away when you turn them on. Led lighting uses up to 44% less energy than fluorescent lights. This saves you money and helps the planet.

What Are Fluorescent Tubes?

Fluorescent tubes have been used in offices, schools, and stores for a long time. These lights make light in a different way. Inside the tube is a little mercury vapor and a phosphor coating. When you turn on the light, electricity goes through the electrodes. This excites the mercury vapor and makes ultraviolet light. The ultraviolet light hits the phosphor and turns into visible light.

Fluorescent lights need time to get bright. They can flicker, especially when they get old. The glass tubes can break easily. The mercury inside can hurt the environment if not thrown away right. Many places have recycling programs for old fluorescent lights. You should always be careful when handling these lights.

Note: Fluorescent lights have mercury, so you must recycle them to keep the environment safe.

Led shop lights and fluorescent lights both give bright light. But led light tubes save more energy, last longer, and are safer to use.

LED Light Tubes vs. Fluorescent: Performance Comparison

Energy Efficiency and Savings

You want lights that save energy and money. Led shop lights use less power than fluorescent lights. Led tubes make about 130 lumens for each watt. Fluorescent lights make only 50 to 100 lumens per watt. Led shop lights give you more light with less energy.

• Led tubes give you 130 lumens per watt.

• Fluorescent lights give 50 to 100 lumens per watt and waste energy as heat.

• Led lighting has higher luminous efficacy, so you get more light for less power.

• Picking efficient lighting can lower your energy use and costs.

Switching to led can cut your lighting energy use by up to 75%. If your building spends $2,000 each month on lighting, you could save $1,200 every month by using led shop lights. That means you save $14,400 every year. You will see these savings in your bills and your wallet.

Lifespan and Maintenance

Led shop lights last a long time. Most led lights work for over 50,000 hours. Some led light tubes can last up to 100,000 hours. Fluorescent lights usually last about 10,000 hours. This means you change led shop lights much less often than fluorescent tubes.

Led lights need less maintenance. You spend less time and money changing bulbs. Heat can affect how long led shop lights last. High-wattage led tubes make more heat, which can wear out parts faster. If you pick the right wattage, your led shop lights will last longer and need less fixing.

Brightness and Light Quality

You want your lights to look good and show colors clearly. Led shop lights have a high color rendering index, or CRI. This means they show colors better than fluorescent lights. Look at this table to see the difference:

• Fluorescent lights can make colors look faded.

• High-CRI fluorescent lights are better but not as good as led shop lights.

• Led lights give you better color accuracy and use less energy.

1. Led lights have a CRI of 80 to 90+.

2. Fluorescent lights have a CRI range of 70 to 85.

Led shop lights give you bright, clear light. Your space looks better, and you see true colors.

Environmental Impact

You care about the planet. Led shop lights help you protect the environment. Fluorescent tubes have mercury, which is bad for people and nature. Led light tubes do not have toxic materials. You can recycle them safely.

Led shop lights last longer, so you throw away fewer bulbs. This means less waste and helps the planet. Led lights do not have toxic stuff. Their long life means less trash and less need for new materials. Switching to led lighting can also lower greenhouse gas emissions.

Cost Factors

You want to know if led shop lights are worth the price. Led light tubes cost more at first than fluorescent tubes. Over time, you save money on energy, replacements, and fixing. Look at this table to see the cost difference over 10 years:

You can get rebates for switching to led shop lights. Many utility companies give money back when you buy led lighting. Here are some average rebate amounts:

Safety Considerations

Safety is important when you pick lights. Fluorescent tubes have harmful gases like argon and mercury vapor. If a fluorescent tube breaks, it can release these gases and cause health problems. Led shop lights do not have dangerous substances, so they are safer for you and your family.

• Fluorescent tubes have harmful gases like argon and mercury vapor, which can be risky if broken.

• Led tubes do not have hazardous substances, so they are safer for kids.

• Fluorescent lights make UV radiation, which can hurt your skin or eyes, but leds make much less UV radiation.

• Fluorescent lights need careful handling and disposal because of mercury.

• Leds are free of hazardous materials, so disposal is safer.

You can see that led shop lights are safer, better for the environment, and more efficient. When you compare performance, led shop lights are the best choice for your lighting needs.

Replacing Fluorescent with LED Light Tubes

Types of LED Tubes for Replacement

There are different led light tubes you can use to replace fluorescent lights. Each type works in a special way with your old lights. Look at this table to see how they are different:

Check your light fixture before buying led shop lights. Some led tubes need new wiring, but others fit right in. Picking the right one makes installing easier and helps you avoid mistakes.

Installation Steps

You can put led shop lights in place of fluorescent lights by following these steps. Always read the instructions from the company before you begin. Here is an easy guide:

1. Turn off the power to the light.

2. Take off the cover if your light has one.

3. Remove the old fluorescent tubes.

4. If needed, take off the ballast cover and disconnect the ballast for Type B or Type C led tubes.

5. Put in the new led light tubes.

6. Put the cover back if you took it off.

7. Turn the power back on and check the lights.

Tip: Wear gloves and safety glasses when you work. This keeps you safe from broken glass and shocks.

You may need tools like a screwdriver and wire cutters for some jobs. Make sure your led tubes fit your light fixture. If you are not sure what to do, ask an expert for help.

Tips and Common Issues

You might have some problems when you change from fluorescent lights to led shop lights. Here are some common problems and ways to fix them:

• Bad wiring can make buzzing sounds or keep lights from turning on. Check your wires again.

• Sometimes your light fixture does not work with led tubes. Look at the product label and fixture details.

• Flickering or dim lights can happen with cheap led tubes or wrong dimmer switches. Use good products and check if they work together.

Note: If you follow the instructions from the company, you will avoid most problems. You will get better light and save energy when you install led light tubes the right way.

Practical Considerations for Switching to LED Lights

Fixture Compatibility

Before you upgrade your lights, check if your fixtures work with new tubes. Not all fixtures can use both led and fluorescent tubes. You need to know what type of led tube you want. Some led tubes can go into your old fluorescent fixture without changes. Other led tubes need you to change the wiring. Look at this table to see your choices:

Always check your fixture before picking your new lights. This step helps you avoid problems when you install them.

Upfront Costs vs. Long-Term Savings

Led tubes usually cost more than fluorescent tubes at first. The higher price might make you wait. But led tubes use less energy and last longer. You will not have to replace them as often. This means you spend less money fixing or changing lights. When you pick your lights, think about how much you will save on your electric bill and how often you will need new tubes. Led tubes help you save more money over time.

Tip: Even if led tubes cost more at first, you save money later because you use less energy and buy fewer replacements.

Warranty and Support

You want your new lights to last a long time. Led tubes often have a longer warranty than fluorescent tubes. Most led warranties last from 3 to 10 years. Fluorescent tube warranties are usually only 1 to 2 years. Here is a quick look:

• Most led warranties are between 3 and 5 years.

• Labor for putting in the lights is not usually covered.

• You might need to show you installed the lights the right way to use the warranty.

A good warranty helps you feel safe about your lighting upgrade. Always read the warranty details before you buy.

You get lots of good things when you pick led light tubes instead of fluorescent. You use less energy, so your bills go down. You do not have to change bulbs as much. Led tubes last longer than fluorescent tubes. You also stay away from the dangerous stuff in fluorescent tubes.

• Led tubes help you spend less on electricity.

• You will not need to buy new bulbs as often.

• You do not have to worry about the bad materials in fluorescent tubes.

Make sure you know what kind of lights and fixtures you have. If you are not sure, talk to a lighting expert for advice.

FAQ

What are the main benefits of switching to LED light tubes?

You save energy and money with LED light tubes. They last longer than fluorescent tubes. You also avoid harmful materials like mercury. LED tubes give you bright, clear light right away.

Can I use LED tubes in my old fluorescent fixtures?

You can use some LED tubes in your old fixtures. Plug-and-play types work with existing ballasts. Direct-wire types need rewiring. Always check your fixture and the LED tube type before you start.

How do LED shop lights compare to fluorescent lights in brightness?

LED shop lights often look brighter than fluorescent lights. They use less power but give more light. You see colors more clearly with LEDs. Understanding LED shop lights helps you pick the best option for your space.

Are there any safety concerns with fluorescent tubes?

Yes, fluorescent tubes contain mercury. Broken tubes can release this toxic material. You must handle and dispose of them carefully. Understanding fluorescent lights helps you stay safe and protect the environment.

Do LED tubes need maintenance?

You do not need to change LED tubes often. They last many years. You spend less time and money on maintenance. Just clean them sometimes to keep them bright.

See Also

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Understanding LED Light Bulbs: Features, Advantages, and Choosing

Measuring LED Tubes: Tips for Choosing the Right Replacements

GE LED Bulbs: Key Features, Advantages, and Buying Guide