How to assemble a fluorescent lamp with LED. Instructions for replacing T8 G13 fluorescent lamps with LED ones. Alteration for LED strip

Improving lighting by replacing fluorescent lamps with LEDs saves electricity by two to three times. The absence of flickering LED lamps, and an almost natural spectrum of the light flux, LED lighting does not tire the eyes.

Replacing fluorescent lamps with LEDs

Calculation of the efficiency of replacing fluorescent lamps with LEDs

It is incorrect to compare the characteristics of the luminous flux of fluorescent and LED lamps. The luminous flux of these lamps has its own characteristics. The technology for emitting the light flux of these types of lighting is different.

It will be wrong to focus only on the luminous flux. The illumination of fluorescent devices largely depends on the loss in the lamps, the size of the room and a number of characteristics of the illuminated objects.

Although the same lighting parameters and objects are used in the calculation of the illumination of LED lamps, with the same light fluxes (in lumens) as fluorescent lamps, the LED lamp illuminates a place or room much better than fluorescent lighting. Below is a table for replacing fluorescent lamps with LEDs.

LED counterparts to replace common fluorescent lamps

Wiring diagram for LED lamps instead of fluorescent

There are three possible options for replacing fluorescent lamps with LEDs.

First option is the purchase of a new LED lamp and replacement of fluorescent ones.

Second option when the fluorescent lamp circuit is not violated and an LED device of the same size is installed. Linear LED lamps are now being produced with G13 type connectors, like those of fluorescent lamps, and with a length of 60, 90, 120 cm and so on.

The second option for connecting an LED lamp without removing wiring

Therefore, it will not be difficult to replace these lamps. The starter must be removed in this case. If you leave the electromagnetic choke in place, then the illumination of the LED lamp will drop somewhat. The throttle can simply be shorted. The capacitor installed in the network block is removed.

In the third option the scheme for connecting an LED lamp instead of connected fluorescent devices changes completely. Since LED lamps are powered directly from 220 V, their connection diagram is greatly simplified. In this option, you need to de-energize (turn off the introductory machine) the lamp completely, turn off the network block and remove the lamp housing from the ceiling.

Wiring diagram for LED lamp

Alteration of the circuit for an LED lamp consists in removing all the electrical wiring of the lamp and connecting the contact connectors of the devices directly to the network block. In this case, of course, you need to remove all unnecessary elements - these are electronic ballasts, ballasts, network capacitors and starters. If the luminaire contains two linear LED lamps, then they are connected in parallel.

Wiring diagram for four LED lamps in one lamp

The terminal for grounding the luminaire body is left. LED linear lamps contain their filters a stabilized voltage source. LED lamps are inserted into the block as well as fluorescent ones, with a turn of 90 degrees until they click. If there is a ground wire, then it is connected to the "Ground" terminal.

The main disadvantage of fluorescent lamps is the presence of mercury inside them, the vapors of which are deadly to humans.

But technologies do not stand still, their active development has led to the creation of LED lamps, which have surpassed fluorescent lamps in almost all respects. Currently, their only drawback is the cost in comparison with fluorescent lamps, but in terms of the sum of all the characteristics and benefits, and most importantly for safety reasons, they are unrivaled.

It is not profitable to replace old fluorescent lamps entirely with similar LED ones., even if only economically, best to just replace the bulbs, after all, manufacturers have long been producing T8 tubular LED lamps for the G13 base and you can install them, leaving the old lamp body, only slightly upgrading it.

To put LED lamps instead of fluorescent, you need to slightly modify the lamp, make it easier by removing a few unnecessary components from the wiring diagram. Now I will show in detail how easy it is to do it yourself.

First of all, let's look at schemes of standard raster fixtures designed for the installation of four fluorescent lamps, these are most often mounted in ceilings, such as "Armstrong".

There are only two varieties, two different schemes, the first with a ballast and a starter, is most common:

The second circuit is more modern, with an electronic ballast:

In modern tubular LED lamps, in particular T8 for the g13 base, the driver necessary for the LEDs to burn is already built into the lamp body itself and you do not need to install anything additional.

Respectively, alteration of any fluorescent lamp, comes down to the dismantling of all unnecessary equipment: ballast, starter, epra, etc. and connecting power directly to the contacts of the LED lamp. For both types of fixtures, the connection diagram is common, all green conductors on the diagram, we connect to the neutral wire, and all red to the phase, it should turn out something like this:

Wiring diagram for LED lamps instead of fluorescent

And once again, everything is quite simple, on the one hand, a phase is supplied to the llamas, and on the other, zero. In this case, the polarity is not important, since an alternating current is connected, connect it in the way that is more convenient for you. In addition, it does not matter which of the contact pins the electrical wire is connected to, because each pair of them, on each side of the LED lamp, is closed.

In the case of reworking a raster fluorescent lamp, we simply take the wires that come from the g13 bases and cut them, and then we connect all the wires of one side to the phase terminal, and all the wires of the other, to zero. As a result, you should get something like the following scheme for installing led lamps instead of fluorescent lamps:

As you can see, the technology is simple , you do not need to have any special education to convert to LED lamps, for example, all fluorescent lamps in the office, in production or in a store.

By the way, how to mount and connect a fluorescent lamp, and most importantly, how to install T8 tubular lamps - we wrote in the article "Connecting a fluorescent lamp"

As a result of this rework, you get a new, modern LED lamp, safe, low energy consumption and long service life.

remember, that old fluorescent lamps cannot simply be thrown away or, worse, simply broken, they must be disposed of because they contain mercury. There are centers in every major city where you can donate your energy-saving lamps, often for free.

Converting a failed fluorescent lamp into an LED one is a very good idea. Diodes with comparable power consumption shine brighter and last longer. The method of converting a fluorescent lamp into an LED one depends on the type of lamp itself.

Types of luminaire designs for fluorescent lamps:

linear;
compact.

How to convert a linear daylight lamp to LED

If you have a luminaire with a linear housing, it will not be difficult to convert it to the LED version. The easiest way is to use diode tapes. There are even options for connecting to a 220V network without special power drivers. Their peculiarity is that all LEDs are connected in series and the output of one of them will lead to the inoperability of the entire segment.

The wiring diagram is very simple:

Characteristics of the LED strip for 220V:

Matrix type: SMD 5050;
number of diodes per running meter: 60 pcs. (60 x 3.5V = 210V);
load power: 10W;
light flow: 2100Lm.

According to the brightness of the glow, a meter of such a tape will correspond to an ordinary 100W incandescent light bulb.

Design Benefits:

Very easy and fast installation and connection.

Design flaws:

Due to the lack of a smoothing capacitor, the LEDs flicker at a frequency of 100 Hz. According to sanitary standards, such lighting sources cannot be used in residential premises.
Along the entire length of the tape there are a large number of contact pads through which 220V voltage passes. To prevent a short circuit, this type of tape is produced only in a sealed case, which makes it difficult to repair if one of the diode arrays burns out.
The minimum segment length of 50 cm makes it difficult to create compact structures.

The main disadvantage of such tapes is high-frequency flicker. It is practically not perceived by sight, but causes rapid fatigue when performing precise work or reading. The problem is partially solved by installing a high-voltage capacitor in front of the diode bridge at the rate of 60-70 uF x 500V per 10W of tape power.

How to convert a table fluorescent lamp to LED

It will not work to remake such a lamp with little blood, mounting a 220V tape there. With a minimum segment length of 50 cm, it will not fit into the case, and its design has a very negative attitude to bends. In such a lamp, you can install several strips of diode tapes designed for a voltage of 12V.

The optimal design in this case is as follows:

We use four strips of 25 cm each with 12V wiring. As a result, the brightness will be at the level of 75W incandescent lamps.

Power supply for compact lamp

A meter of tape consumes about 15W and is designed for a current of 1.2A. For such power, buying a 30-watt specialized driver does not make sense. You can use a ready-made factory solution. This miniature power supply with a total power of up to 20W. But the dimensions of 79 x 30 x 24 mm will not allow it to fit in the lamp body.

You can assemble a compact switching power supply with your own hands according to the following scheme. Capacitor 20-30 uF x 400V, Zener diode for 9-12V.

How to convert fluorescent lamps to LED

There are two options for modifying such a light bulb into an LED one:

use of pieces of diode tape;
compact lamp with bright LEDs.

Alteration for LED strip

Materials for alteration and connection diagram:

Detailed video instruction for alteration:

For compact desktop solutions, you can convert a fluorescent lamp into an LED lamp as follows. Unlike the previous version, this design gives a directional light flux and is ideal for illuminating the workplace. Diodes can be used at 0.5 or 1W. Then the final brightness will be 350 Lm or 700 Lm, respectively.

To power the structure, you can use any 12V 2A power supply if you connect all the LEDs in parallel, or a 5V 2A mobile phone charger when connected in three parallel lines.

Drivers for powering energy-saving light bulbs for LEDs are not suitable, so feel free to solder the wires going to the base from them, and send the boards for further processing.

P enkov A.A., Stroy-TK LLC, 2014

Periodic requests from Customers to replace 18W fluorescent lamps in office luminaires with LED ones without replacing the luminaires themselves forced us to analyze the current state of affairs in this direction in order to clearly understand the Customer’s material and labor costs for modernization, as well as the pros and cons acquired in connection with this modernization .

Lamp replacement procedure

An undoubted advantage of such a solution can also be the fact that in the event of a malfunction of the LED lamp, it can subsequently be replaced by any employee, even poorly versed in electrics.

The flip side of the coin is that it will be difficult for a simple layman to understand the technical characteristics of the LED lamps currently on the market and their connection options, therefore, without consulting with specialists, choose LED lamps, calculate the predicted illumination, and even more so, install them in lamps, it will most likely be a lottery for him .

Devices of light are constantly being improved. This process can be easily traced, starting from the moment the “light bulb of Ilyich” appeared. As a result of modernization, in addition to direct incandescent lamps, fluorescent options appeared, and in modern conditions, replacing fluorescent lamps with LED devices is a rather urgent task.

Society strives for the best, and this is obvious. The main criteria of aspirations are convenience, comfort and, of course, savings. But how to properly replace and what should be remembered? We will consider these issues in detail in our article, we will deal with the features of LED and fluorescent light bulbs, their pros and cons.

In order to more clearly understand the desire of society to replace fluorescent lamps with LED devices, it is logical to take a closer look at the gas structure.

Indeed, a light device with a luminescent coating is a sealed glass tube, usually filled with mercury vapor.

Fluorescent lamps with lamps filled with a gaseous medium are “feeded” by electricity through a choke element. More advanced designs are equipped with an electronic circuit without chokes and are considered somewhat improved in terms of operation.

Two modifications of such devices are produced:

For outdoor installation (with high pressure flasks).
For domestic installation (with low pressure flasks).

In fact, inside the bulb of a fluorescent lamp there is a mixture of gases, consisting of mercury vapor and argon. From the inside, the walls of the glass flask are coated with a special composition - a phosphor. When an electric discharge is formed in a gaseous medium, a gas glow is formed, and due to the phosphor, this glow is transformed into visible light.

We wrote in more detail about the device of luminescents.

Advantages of fluorescent lamps

The development and production of luminaires of this type, above all, was the result of a constant request for energy savings. It should be given credit - fluorescent lamps can save a lot.

Also of the shortcomings should be noted "cold" light and the effect of "strobe". Both effects have an adverse effect on vision. That is why fluorescent lamps are not widely used in the domestic sphere. In a word, there was every reason to raise the question of replacing fluorescent lamps point-blank. A suitable alternative was found quickly.

Lighting fixtures based on LEDs

An alternative to fluorescent lamps, LEDs, is relatively recent and has been a clear success from a technical and environmental point of view.

LED design of the artificial lighting device: 1 - installation disk for LEDs; 2 - metal tubular part; 3 – power supply conductors; 4 - AC to DC converter

The variety of LED lighting fixtures is great. There are very miniature designs that fit in the palm of your hand, and there are lamps for fixtures that are similar in shape to fluorescent lamps.

Based on the operating conditions, lamps are selected according to the protection class. For domestic use, IP40 rating is usually a satisfactory option. For rooms with higher requirements - protection class 50 and above. Learn more about the protection class and interpretation of values.

High protection parameters are required for luminaires installed in special rooms with an explosive environment.

Conclusions and useful video on the topic

The video material clearly demonstrates the practice of replacing one type of lamp with another. Consistent actions for the dismantling and installation of working elements.

An example that is sure to come in handy in practice:

If we evaluate the technical characteristics, operating conditions and the functioning of devices in everyday life, LED light sources win. They also have their drawbacks, but even if they are available, they save energy and last a long time.

On an industrial scale, the savings are very significant if you choose reliable light bulbs from trusted manufacturers with a good warranty period.

Do you have experience replacing fluorescents with LED bulbs? Please share your opinion in the comment block. Or maybe you still have questions after reading our material? Ask for advice from our experts and other site visitors - competent users will gladly share their experience with you.