LED Tube or conventional Fluorescent Tube

1. Advantages of LED light against fluorescent light

It’s a fact that LED have various advantages against fluorescent lights, but the three most important aspect that individuals often care about are:

Higher performance, energy saving (up to 30 – 50%)
Longer service life (25,000 to 50,000 hours)
Safer for users and the environment as it does not contain any harmful substances, such as mercury

2. The various dimensions of tube light

Fluorescent lightings fixtures are usually mounted on ceilings or walls and directly connected to the main power supply. It is relatively expensive to install and require a huge amount of time and effort to install on a large scale.

As such, LED tube lights offer an alternative to ing down overall power consumption yet emitting the same or more lumens/watt. By changing to LED tube, it ings higher economic savings, without having to replace the whole light fixture.

There are various dimensions of tube lighting being introduced over the years, they are as follows:

T8 4-ft: The most common T8 fluorescent tube is 48 inches in length and 1 inch in diameter.

T12 4-ft: T12 tube lights have the same length as T8 tube light, but spot a larger diameter at 1.5 inches.

T5 fluorescent lamps, is introduced in the 2000s in United States, and according to T5HO standard, T5 have a higher luminous flux compared to T8 tube light. T5 is also available in different lengths (1ft, 2ft and 3ft) and a diameter of 0.6 inch.

LED tube lamps share the same dimensions of fluorescent tubes to ensure that it is compatible to work on fluorescent fixtures, and it undertake the same naming convention of fluorescent tube.

T8 and T12 are usually cross compatible, as they share the same length and use the same connection point, but T5 tubes are not cross-compatible with T8 and T12 lamps due to the difference in diameter.

3. Ballast Fluorescent tube and LED tube light

All fluorescent tube lights use a device called a ballast (installed inside the trough) to adjust the ightness of the lamp when the light heats up.

Fluorescent Tube T5, T8 and T12 operate slightly differently, and therefore have different types of fluorescent ballasts.

LED Tube lamps have long removed fluorescent ballasts and replaced them with internal components. Currently, many LED Tube lights are designed to be compatible with fluorescent ballasts, allowing replacement of fluorescent tubes, without re-connecting the device.

There are two types of LED Tube lights:

Type A LED tube light – Compatible with fluorescent ballasts

Ideal for: Consumers don’t like to be exposed to wiring or install lights or don’t want to spend money on electricians.

Disadvantages: Fluorescent ballasts may be damaged, requiring further maintenance and replacement or removal of ballasts; potential issues with fluorescent ballast compatibility; Lower electrical efficiency due to ballast.

LED Tube Type B – Incompatible with fluorescent ballasts

Ideal for: installation in places where fluorescent tube trough systems can be replaced; Higher efficiency and lower maintenance costs.

Disadvantages: requires users to have knowledge of wiring and electrical safety.

4. Photometric specifications for LED tube lights – colour temperature (CCT), lumens and CRI:

The top consideration when choosing to buy LED Tube lights is the basic photovoltaic specifications. Besides the light quality of the lights also need to be carefully considered.

Color temperature (CCT)

Most fluorescent tubes have a color temperature (CCT) of 4200K or 5000K, because they are considered to be best suited for residential and office use. However, the development of Fluorescent Tube phosphorus over the years has spawned a range of color temperatures.

Similarly, LED Tube lights are also available in a range of color temperatures (3000k / 4200k / 6500k). In general, the color will be the same between LED Tube and Fluorescent Tube with the same color temperature.

Luminous flux

Typically, 35W T8 fluorescent tube lights have a luminous flux of about 2500 lumens. Meanwhile, LED Tube lights with the same luminous flux have a capacity of only 20w.

One thing to note about LED Tube lights is that they are narrower, instead of 360 degrees like fluorescent tubes. Therefore, when fixed to a ceiling, Tube LED lights can provide more useful ightness, because the light is directed downwards, not back into the trough like fluorescent tubes.

Color rendering index (CRI)

CRI measures the degree of color rendering of objects that appear properly and accurately under light sources. Most fluorescent tubes have a CRI rating equal to or greater than 80 similar to LED Tube lights.

In addition, the support policy and after-purchase warranty should also be considered. Led Tube Paragon products always ensure high quality when used and the long-term warranty of up to 2-3 years. See more Paragon Tube Tube LED products here