T8 LED tubes
T8 LED TUBES
A T8 LED tube keeps the shape and the end caps of the fluorescent tube it replaces: you keep the fixture and change the light source. It is the simplest way to modernize the lighting of a garage, workshop, basement, store or warehouse whose fixtures are still in good condition. But not every tube suits every fixture: length, wattage and wiring make the difference. Here are LEDCO's T8 LED tubes, format by format.
T8 LED tube: same shape, same end caps, new light source
The T8 fluorescent tubes in your ceilings can be replaced without touching the location or the mounting of the fixture. What changes is the source: LEDs instead of the fluorescent tube, and a ballast that stays or goes depending on the tube you choose. Three questions are enough to choose: which length, which wattage and which wiring.
The 4 ft in 11.5 W, 14 W or 16 W: match the light to the room
The 4 ft format is the most widespread in offices, stores, schools and workshops. The 4 ft 11.5 W-14 W-16 W LED tube lets you match the amount of light to the room: less in a corridor or a storage room, more above a workbench or a work counter. For a garage, warehouse or workshop where details need to be seen clearly, a 4000 K to 5000 K white is recommended; a warmer white better suits a finished basement.
The 4 ft 13 W: one model for an entire floor
The 13 W 4 ft T8 tube is the fixed-wattage option in the range. It is a good choice for replacing all the tubes on the same floor, in the same store or in the same rental building at once with an identical model. The light stays uniform from one fixture to the next, and the stock of spare tubes is simplified.
The 2 ft 8 W: the small fixtures people forget
The 2 ft, 8 W T8 tube suits short fixtures: 2 ft fixtures in a drop ceiling, lighting under a work counter, a closet, a mechanical room or a display case. These small fixtures are often forgotten during a retrofit; converting them too gives the same light throughout the building.
The 8 ft 42 W: fewer fixtures in a double garage
8 ft fixtures are still found in many garages, workshops, warehouses and farm buildings. The 8 ft, 42 W T8 LED tube keeps these long fixtures in service without changing their ceiling mounting. In a double garage or a workshop, their length covers the space with fewer fixtures than 4 ft ones. An adapter for T8 LED tubes is also part of the range; ask us whether it suits your fixture.
Type A or Type B: read the ballast before ordering
Before ordering, open a fixture and look at the ballast. It determines which type of tube you can use:
- Type A tube: it works with the existing electronic ballast, without touching the wiring. Remove the fluorescent tube, insert the LED tube.
- Type B tube: it connects directly to line voltage once the ballast is removed or bypassed. It eliminates a part that eventually fails, but requires a wiring change, to be done by an electrician.
- Magnetic ballast: older, it must be removed or replaced in every case.
- When in doubt: confirm the wiring method stated for the tube you choose, or send us a photo of the ballast label.
When the fixture is worn out: change the fixture rather than the tube
If the fixtures are yellowed, rusted or hard to repair, changing the tubes does not solve everything. Integrated LED fixtures then replace the entire fixture: the 4 ft LED wraparound linear fixture and its 2, 3 and 8 ft versions, or the 4 ft 60 W multi-watt NEMA 4X LED vapour-tight fixture for a car wash. Under a very high ceiling, LED high bays take over, and in a drop ceiling, ceiling LED panels replace the old tube fixtures.
Technical tips for choosing and installing your T8 tubes
Try one fixture first. For a large number of fixtures, test one tube before ordering the whole lot.
One model per room. Mixing wattages or whites in the same room shows right away on the ceiling.
Count fixtures, not just tubes. The number of tubes per fixture and the ballast type change the order.
A cool white for work. From 4000 K to 5000 K above a workbench; a warmer white where people live.
For a fleet of fixtures to modernize, from a home garage to an entire warehouse, contact the LEDCO team. Send us the number of fixtures, their length and the type of ballast: we will suggest the right tube or fixture, along with the colour temperature that suits each room.
T8 LED Tubes FAQ
What is a ballast-bypass T8 LED tube?
"Ballast bypass" describes a Type B tube: powered by line voltage, it does without the fixture's ballast, which is removed or bypassed. The wiring changes, and that work belongs to an electrician. The intended wiring method is stated for each tube.
Can any LED tube replace a 4 ft T8 fluorescent?
The length has to match, but the wiring is what decides: a Type A tube keeps the electronic ballast, a Type B tube bypasses it. Check your ballast, then choose the wattage for the room.
Which wattage should I choose: 11.5 W, 14 W or 16 W?
Less light is enough in a corridor or a storage room; more is useful above a workbench or a work counter. If you want a single model for an entire floor, the fixed-wattage 13 W 4 ft tube keeps things simple.
How do I know whether my ballast is electronic or magnetic?
Open a fixture, with the power off at the breaker, and read the label on the ballast. If in doubt, send us a photo of that label: we will tell you which type of tube suits it, or whether it is better to change the fixture.
Should I test before ordering for an entire building?
Yes, it is the best precaution. Install one tube in one fixture first, check the wiring and the resulting light, then order the rest of the lot with the same model.
