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How To Convert Your Fluorescent Light Fixtures To LED

You can easily update the fluorescent light fixtures anywhere in your home to new LED technology and get better light as well as saving money at the same time! Plus it only takes from 10-15 minutes per fixture to do so!


That sounds like a great combination doesn't it?


Fluorescent fixtures used to be the way to go to light large areas and save money at the same time, but today with all of our advances in technology we can get better quality light that operates even more efficiently.


There are several advantages to LED lights. No longer do you have to deal with the problems that the ballast box creates in a conventional fluorescent fixture. Typically a bad or weak ballast would shorten the life of your fluorescent tubes, cause them to flicker, operate at only a partial output, or not function all together. Replacing them with new LED tubes eliminates most of those problems altogether.


There are at least four different ways to convert to LED tubes in your old fluorescent light fixtures.



The first and usually the most expensive way is to simply replace your entire fluorescent fixture with a new LED fixture. They are readily available at most home improvement stores and are no more difficult to install than a conventional light fixture with one exception, you must figure out how to attach the extra long fixture to the ceiling. This is not difficult, but does require a couple of extra steps in the process. Most conventional light fixtures simply mount to the electrical box itself. But because most of the fixtures that you are replacing your 2', 4' and 8' fluorescent fixtures with will be longer units themselves, you will need to find a different way to fasten them to the ceiling such as drilling a hole through the case to put a support screw into a ceiling joist.


The simplest way to upgrade your fluorescents to LED's is to use what is called a Plug And Play LED replacement tube. These are clearly labeled on the package as "Plug And Play" tubes.


To use one of these tubes, you simply remove your old fluorescent tube and replace it with the new Plug And Play tube. Boom! Simple! And you're done! HOWEVER....


The drawback to this method is that you are still using the ballast box to power up the whole light fixture even though it is unnecessary to the operation of the LED tube itself. So while it is not a large energy draw, it is still wasting unnecessary electricity. Also the bigger problem with this system is that it still leaves you with the unnecessary ballast box as a potential failure point at some time in the future. This is not a huge problem, but simply something that you should be aware of and possibly factor into your decision.


The third and fourth ways are basically two different methods of bypassing the ballast box entirely. Each one requires a different type of LED tube and requires that the fixture be rewired in two completely different ways.


The first is called a "power to either end" tube, the second is a "power to one end" tube.


Because I prefer the "power to either end" type of tube, that is the one that I am going to recommend and focus on in this article. I believe it is the simplest way to rewire and therefore the most fool proof, which is always important to me!


Oh and by the way, I have found that the new LED tubes put out so much more light than the old fluorescent tubes that I only need to use one LED tube in a two tube fixture to get the same lighting effect! That saves me even more on the cost of the conversion!


Here is the simple "How To" process to do the conversion. The nice part is that it only takes 10-15 minutes to do so. You are only going to need a few basic tools such as a screwdriver, a pair of wire cutters and a way to strip the insulation off of the ends of the wires, (wire strippers or simply a sharp knife). You may also need up to 4 yellow wire nuts.


Step 1: Remove any covers that exist on the light fixture and remove the old fluorescent tubes.


Step 2: Remove the metal cover plate in the center of the fixture that covers the ballast box and the wiring. Usually this is accomplished with a simple twist tab or a couple of screws.


Step 3: Make sure the power is turned off at your breaker panel to avoid getting shocked!


Step 4: Remove the wire nuts from the white and black romex wires coming into the fixture. These are the wires that are supplying power to the fixture. The black wire is your "power in" or "line" wire and the white wire is your "power out" or "neutral" wire. You do not need to mess with the bare copper ground wire. Just leave it attached.


Step 5: Cut all of the wires loose from the ballast box as close to the box as you can. Save the black and white wires that will come loose from the box and set them aside. Remove the ballast box and discard. (optional) Strip about 1/2 inch of the plastic insulation off of each of the wires running to the ends of your fixture as well from each end of the white and black wires that you removed from the ballast box.


Step 6: On a two tube fixture you will have 4 wires running to each end of the fixture, on a single tube fixture it will only be two to each end. Take all of the wires running to one end of the fixture and twist them together then wire nut them to the white romex wire.


Step 7: Take all of the wires from the other end of the fixture and twist them together and then wire nut them to the black romex wire.


Step 8: In most light fixtures that I have done you will have one set of wires from one end of the fixture that won't reach your romex wires. Simply decide which romex wire you are going to fasten your short wires to. Is it white or black? Select the extra white or black wire that you cut off of the ballast box which matches the color of the romex wire that you have chosen and use it as a jumper wire to extend the length. It doesn't matter at all which romex wire you choose. Just be sure to use the matching color of jumper wire.


Twist the wires from the end of the fixture together with the jumper wire and wire nut them. Then wire nut the other end of the jumper wire to your remaining romex wire (black in this case) and you are finished with the wiring. It's that simple!


Sep 9: Carefully replace the metal center cover being particularly cautious to get all of the wires tucked inside of the cover and not pinched between the parts which could cause a short circuit.


Step 10: Install your new "ballast bypass" LED tubes into the fixture so that any labels on them are facing up into the fixture because the light from the LED's comes out the side opposite of the label.


Step 11: Turn the power back on at your breaker panel and test your installation skills!


Step 12: Replace any covers that might have been on or around the fixture.


Step 13: The lucky step! You're done! Enjoy your new LED light fixtures!


Additional side note: Most of the time, I have found that my new LED tubes put out so much more light that I usually only need one tube in each two tube fixture! this also saves me more money on the cost of the conversion. Using only one tube in a two tube fixture creates absolutely no adverse effects and it doesn't matter which side of the fixture that you put it in.


There you go! A super simple DIY way to upgrade the lighting in your home to new technology with minimal expense and hassle!




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