Fluorescent Light Upgrade

[IanC]

Hi Chaps, just recently joined, looking for tips on sealing leaky rooflight - thanks for the help!

I thought I would pay back a little, so here's a tip on upgrading the old Labcraft twin-tube fluorescent lights.

I have got sick of these recently, as in cold weather they are dimmer than a glow-worm with a dunce's cap, despite recent new tubes.

So, I bought 50cm self-adhesive flexible LED strip from here:
Flexible SMD LED NEON strip WARM WHITE 10cm piece- UK on eBay (end time 21-Mar-10 16:32:34 GMT)

Other sources will be available of course - no connection with this seller.

I cut it into 2 25cm lengths, stuck them under where the tubes fit (remove tubes, of course!) and wired them into the existing switch. Disconnect the existing wiring to the Labcraft circuitry and tuck it away for future re-connection (in the unlikely event that you want to restore the fitting to fluorescent).

Magic! Instant bright light! See attached pics. For the technically minded, the LED's produce about 750 lumens and draw about 0.2 amps, versus the original tubes' 600 lumens (when new and fully bright in warm weather) and about 1 amp draw.

Hope this helps someone.

Cheers,

Ian

 

[mark7]

Brill thanks for that, been looking at so new lights and doing this way is far cheaper

 

[sponge dad]

Great i have changed all the light bulbs in my motorhome to LED,now i will do the fluorescentes the same way as you.Brilliant idea thank`s for a great tip the pics are a good guide on how to do it.

 

[fifipug]

What a great idea thanks for the photos will make fitting easy.

 

[Goaskalys]

Great idea, thanks. Nice pics too