Lighting

[oldhudson]

Sorry no pics on this post. The info here is probably only relevant to those in the US.

 

I entered our master bath last week flipped the switch and nothing. The circuit also has a light in the shower and that was fine. The fixture is a 4 bulb - 4 foot fluorescent, with T-8 bulbs. It wasn't hard to figure out the ballast was bad. Ballasts aren't cheap, about $25, there is a fair amount of wiring to replace them, and their durability is always a question so...... I decided to try one of those conversion kits to change over the lamp to LED.

 

There are a couple different kits on the market but only one at the Menards store. Each bulb is it's own kit. There is a LED bulb and two el cheapo wire connectors. Here are the steps:

1. Turn off the power to the circuit
2. remove the diffuser
3. remove the cover plate that hides the ballast and wiring
4. cut the wires to all the 'tombstones'
5. unscrew the wire nuts from the hot and neutral leads coming to the lamp
6. remove the ballast
7. remove the bulbs
8. (On the kit I purchased the ends of the bulbs do not conduct the power they are just 2-prong plastic pieces that fit in the 'tombstones'. The wiring come directly out of the glass of the bulb about 4-5 inches from one end. The harness is about about 3 feet long.)
9. the hot and neutral from each of the 4 bulbs has to get under the cover plate that used to cover the ballast. You either have to drill a hole(s) for the wire or what I did was cut an inch and half from on end with tin snips.
10. I covered the cut end of the cover plate with duct tape so there was no chance the wire could short out.
11. Install the new bulbs
12. Group all the hot wires together into one of the wire connectors and all the neutrals into another
13. Add the hot and neutral leads coming into the lamp to the correct connector
14. Re-install the cover plate and diffuser

It was a bit of work but no more than replacing the ballast would have been. Given the supposed life of LED bulbs I should never have to look at this fixture in what's left of my life. The light itself is exactly like the bulbs that were replaced.

 

I'm anxious to see how this works over time.

 

Thanks for reading.

Edited January 29, 2015 by oldhudson

[amazingkevin]

You did it like a pro! Well your correct in what you say that led's have much longer life than fluorescent.Cost is a little more but maintenance free much longer.I commend you for taking this root.Your keeping up with technology!

[Scrolling Steve]

Well you are a brave man......My step 1 would be to have the power company shut down the entire grid!.....Hope it gives you years of service .

[Dan]

Great undertaking Berry. I was looking at LED bulbs and decided to wait for the initial cost to come down a bit. I guess if I were to replace a fixture I would lean toward the upgrade.

[Phantom Scroller]

Funny your talking about LEDS I've just replaced my outside light on my workshop because I was forever buying bulbs and replace it with a lamp with 12 leds in 3 year warranty a mere £11.99 from LIDL it's bright great deal. Roly

 

http://www.lidl.co.uk/en/our-offers-2491.htm?action=showDetail&id=20235

[LarryEA]

I'm calling you for instructions when I have an elecric  problem.

[amazingkevin]

I like the low energy use with LED'S

[browders]

I am slowly changing the bulbs in my house to LED as the old ones fail. Costco has pretty good prices on them usually. So far I've only done the two bathrooms and a couple of areas in the garage. They seem to be brighter than the incandescents I was using. I'm considering doing something in my shop as time and money permit.

 

Jim