Fluorescent fitting led retrofit

crosshair1

Have a good number of intermittently used 5ft twin fluorescent fittings in different locations.

Thought it would be a good idea to convert these to led and purchased philips corepro tubes that come with replacement starters.

Fitted led tubes and all is good, instant light, smug feeling thinking im saving energy, decide to measure current...

New led tubes and starters fitted draw 1.06A (2 tube fitting and waiting for draw to stabilise)

Refit fluorescent bulbs and starters - draw 660mA

Rewired units for direct 230v - draw 160mA

Ive checked this on 2 fittings with same results, am i missing something

Ballasts are wirewound

What am i missing?

kirk.

Dunno

You should have got new led battens anyhow

That retrofitting isn't all it's cracked up to be

Magnetic ballasts waste heat energy, it used to be you added on 20% to the lamp rating to calculate the real fitting wattage , probably a lot less now on the led dunno

10-10-20

Probably need to look at Power Factor too - I'd guess this is nearer to 1 on true LED fittings, but couldn't swear to it for ballasted systems like that.

kirk.

Better off with new , you're getting the parts designed by the manufacturer to work together

You're left with the old ballast and usually an old diffuser

Anything in a shed then is usually no longer corrosion/waterproof by the time the cover is bodged about

crosshair1

I understand where you're coming from with fitting new battens.

I was just surprised that these were pulling such high current when set up as instructed.

Ive rewired them to direct 230v (removed ballast & cap) and theyre using approx 36w per fittign and hopefully the tubes last long enough

to pay for themselves.

kirk.

Just follow the drawing, afaik there's different setups

Antenna

Whilst travelling yesterday heard a home energy advisor on the morning talk show on Radio-Kerry - towards the end of the piece someone had enquired about replacing a kitchen fluorescent light with a modern LED one.

The advisor insisted the work has to be carried out by a Registered Electrical Contractor, (even though one would assume the same existing wiring to the light in use, and just replacing the light fitting). Mention was made of the renewed advertising campaign of the TV ad of the 'cowboy' electrician arriving at some woman's front door (though after arriving in an old Nissan Micra, not riding a horse)

Is it accurate that only a REC is allowed replace a kitchen light fitting with another (rather than anyone who is competent) ?

https://www.radiokerry.ie/podcasts/kerry-today/the-heat-doctor-friday-february-3rd-2023-315768

meercat

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120201765#Comment_120201765

This is considered minor works and anyone competent can do this.

if it’s a bathroom then only a rec is permitted to do this hot

kirk.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120201765#Comment_120201765

Just playing it safe saying everything needs a rec, likely