Light Emitting Diode (LED) lamps are getting popular, more diverse and cheaper. Time to think more seriously about them especially for fluorescent fixtures: LED Fluorescent Bypass lamps.
There’s a lot to hate about fluorescents: the ballasts go out; the ballasts hum; it’s hard to change the bulbs and hard to dispose of all the parts: ballasts, bulbs. Because they’re filled with PCB’s (ballasts) and mercury (bulbs).
Multiple sources and colors are now available. Some LED floodlights that we put installed in some recessed cans the other day were under $10 retail.
What we want to talk about today is the LED lamps that replace fluorescent tubes. The ones we like best are called “bypass” lamps because they hook up directly to the AC (alternating current) power supply. The benefit? You don’t need ballasts anymore and these LED lamps are real efficient compared to a fluorescent with a ballast.
Plus, you don’t have to worry about the ballast failing or humming anymore: a great gift. I just put a set of them in my office and the missing hum is not something I miss.
Lots of choices of “colors” or temperature: soft / bright / cool white, daylight. 2700K, 3000K, 4000K, 5000K.
Philips Lighting has a simulator:
http://www.usa.philips.com/c-m-li/led-li…
We are a small but sophisticated group of professional electricians offering high-end services to discerning customers. With our constant research and training on cutting-edge products, we help our customers make better decisions by knowing and explaining all their options.
