Want to use LED lighting.

bc buck
bc buck Registered Users Posts: 59 ✭✭
My cabin is set up using fluorescent lighting. Fixtures use two 35w t12 bulbs. Was looking at  LED bulbs that would fit in these fixtures.  I like the lighting these fixtures emit. What gets confusing is they dont advertise 70w ratings. They use ether Luminous or Calvin ratings. Does anyone know which product would be equivalent to my 70w set up.

Comments

  • westbranch
    westbranch Solar Expert Posts: 5,183 ✭✭✭✭
    You may have to work this backwards by looking up the # of lumens that the old t12's give you...
     
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  • softdown
    softdown Solar Expert Posts: 3,812 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November 2016 #3
    T12 bulbs are 1.2 inches in diameter. 35 watt is not a common power figure for T12 bulbs. LEDS are more efficient than fluorescent but not by a great deal.....maybe ~25% or so.
    First Bank:16 180 watt Grape Solar with  FM80 controller and 3648 Inverter....Fullriver 8D AGM solar batteries. Second Bank/MacGyver Special: 10 165(?) watt BP Solar with Renogy MPPT 40A controller/ and Xantrex C-35 PWM controller/ and Morningstar PWM controller...Cotek 24V PSW inverter....forklift and diesel locomotive batteries
  • westbranch
    westbranch Solar Expert Posts: 5,183 ✭✭✭✭
     
    KID #51B  4s 140W to 24V 900Ah C&D AGM
    CL#29032 FW 2126/ 2073/ 2133 175A E-Panel WBjr, 3 x 4s 140W to 24V 900Ah C&D AGM 
    Cotek ST1500W 24V Inverter,OmniCharge 3024,
    2 x Cisco WRT54GL i/c DD-WRT Rtr & Bridge,
    Eu3/2/1000i Gens, 1680W & E-Panel/WBjr to come, CL #647 asleep
    West Chilcotin, BC, Canada
  • softdown
    softdown Solar Expert Posts: 3,812 ✭✭✭✭
    Fluorescents do grow weaker over time. They usually get dark at the ends towards the latter part of their lives.
    First Bank:16 180 watt Grape Solar with  FM80 controller and 3648 Inverter....Fullriver 8D AGM solar batteries. Second Bank/MacGyver Special: 10 165(?) watt BP Solar with Renogy MPPT 40A controller/ and Xantrex C-35 PWM controller/ and Morningstar PWM controller...Cotek 24V PSW inverter....forklift and diesel locomotive batteries
  • mcgivor
    mcgivor Solar Expert Posts: 3,854 ✭✭✭✭✭✭
    T12 tube are obsolete, T8 took over in North America in the late 80's and the cool and warm designation was dropped in favor of Kelvin rateing, there are various numbers but 3500K & 4100K are the most common, 3500K is a warm white and 4100K a cool white, approximately, the Kelvin rating is the temperature of the light emmited.  The lumen (or foot candle)  rating is the measured light output, T8's have a higher light output per watt than T12 the latter are magnetic ballast, which means the light turns on and off at the frequency of the electrical supply 50/60 hertz. The T8 and smaller T5 or T4 use electronic ballasts which up the frequency 15000 hertz up, thus less off time results in more latent light for less power and eliminates strobescopic effect. There are linear LED replacements for T8 but not T12 and the power savings over fluorescent are negligible, they are used mostly in institutions to lower labor costs for replacement.The best solution is to use 12V strip lighting, with or without a driver, personally I use these without a driver off a 12v battery, a 4 foot strip uses about 40 mA and light output is almost what a F32 T8 so 0.48W vs 32W. The led strip lights are available in 5 meter lengths and can be cut to length as required and wires soldered to new lengths.Always observe local electrical code requiremen's when modification of fixtures is involved  as it will void UL certification, personally I'm not concerned but others may.
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  • mike95490
    mike95490 Solar Expert Posts: 9,583 ✭✭✭✭✭
    The latest LED offerings surpass the fluorescent tubes finally.  But beware - last years stuff is still being sold off.
    And for color temperature, you have to get yourself (print it out and carry with you) a color chart.   For indoor domestic, my family prefers the Soft White, Warm White colors in the 2700K range.  The higher you get, the bluer it gets.  I don't consider 3500K a warm color at all, so get the chart to compare ratings in the store - as Dr House says "Everybody lies"
    google for led color temperature chart  lots of choices

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  • jonr
    jonr Solar Expert Posts: 1,386 ✭✭✭✭
    Note that the efficiency of LEDs varies widely.  Don't count on them being more efficient than fluorescents without checking the numbers.

    LEDs can be dimmable - which allows using just as much as light as is needed. Not clear to me if typical LEDs also increase lumens/watts when dimmed with 120VAC dimmers.

    I am available for custom hardware/firmware development

  • BB.
    BB. Super Moderators, Administrators Posts: 33,431 admin
    With any of the "new" LED lamps--I suggest getting just a couple and try them out. They are all "different" (color temperature, brightness, beam pattern, etc.).

    I tossed a couple of the new LED 4' 2 pin lamps (Costco) in an old fixture in our shed--And they do work just fine.

    The LED tubes I got--You can rotate the ends to, somewhat, direct the light.

    -Bill
    Near San Francisco California: 3.5kWatt Grid Tied Solar power system+small backup genset
  • jonr
    jonr Solar Expert Posts: 1,386 ✭✭✭✭
    Interesting - this one claims 111 lumens/watt which is as good as filament LED bulbs.  

    https://www.walmart.com/ip/4-ft-T8-T12-Direct-Wire-LED-Tube-120-277V-18W-2000-Lumens-3500K-LifeBulb-LBP8F2035A/186239562

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  • mcgivor
    mcgivor Solar Expert Posts: 3,854 ✭✭✭✭✭✭
    Re. Walmart LED tubes.
    These tubes eliminate the ballast and use line voltage on the bi-pins, had a problem getting CSA/UL approval as they stated someone might replace them with a regular tube, so recertification of the fixtures was denied. This was for a commercial application where all rules had to be followed.
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    Second system 1890W  3 × 300W No name brand poly, 3×330 Sunsolar Poly panels, Morningstar TS 60 PWM controller, no name 2000W inverter 400Ah LFP 24V nominal battery with Daly BMS, used for water pumping and day time air conditioning.  
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  • mcgivor
    mcgivor Solar Expert Posts: 3,854 ✭✭✭✭✭✭
    Re. Re. Walmart tubes, the tubes I referee to were not Walmart, but a similar product, if memory serves me right they were from US Lighting.
    1500W, 6× Schutten 250W Poly panels , Schneider MPPT 60 150 CC, Schneider SW 2524 inverter, 400Ah LFP 24V nominal battery with Battery Bodyguard BMS 
    Second system 1890W  3 × 300W No name brand poly, 3×330 Sunsolar Poly panels, Morningstar TS 60 PWM controller, no name 2000W inverter 400Ah LFP 24V nominal battery with Daly BMS, used for water pumping and day time air conditioning.  
    5Kw Yanmar clone single cylinder air cooled diesel generator for rare emergency charging and welding.
  • softdown
    softdown Solar Expert Posts: 3,812 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November 2016 #13
    The efficiency is not the overriding issue. The buyer would be prudent to consider the CRI (color rendition index)....looking for the color spectrum that best meets their goals. Some people like yellowish light, others greenish...or bluish....or....

    LEDS offer instant 100% on ...which I prefer. However they focus the light a lot more when using a single bulb versus a 3' or 4' tube. Pros and cons.

    I think the warm yellowish glow of the old incandescent is the reason for the hangers on. Incandescent bulbs also double as small heaters since ~70% of the energy is consumed by heat.
    First Bank:16 180 watt Grape Solar with  FM80 controller and 3648 Inverter....Fullriver 8D AGM solar batteries. Second Bank/MacGyver Special: 10 165(?) watt BP Solar with Renogy MPPT 40A controller/ and Xantrex C-35 PWM controller/ and Morningstar PWM controller...Cotek 24V PSW inverter....forklift and diesel locomotive batteries