How do I know if my ballast is T8 or T12?

If no markings are available, the size in diameter of the tube is the easiest way to determine the type you have installed. T8 tubes are 1-inch in diameter and T12 tubes are 1 1/2 -inch.

How do I know what type of ballast I have?

Simply turn the light on, then take a photo of the fixture using your smartphone or digital camera. If there are no dark bands on the resulting image, you have an electronic ballast that will work with direct drop-in LED tubes.

Will a T8 work in a T12 ballast?

T8 LED lamps which are not direct-wire compatible (with ballast) will require a T8 ballast to operate, so unless the T12 ballast in the T12 fixture is replaced with a T8 ballast, a non-direct-wire compatible T8 LED lamp will not work in a T12 fixture.

How do I know if my bulb is a T8?

If you do not see markings, the size or diameter of the tube will be the easiest way to tell the kind that you have installed. T8 tubes will be one inch in diam. and T12 will be 1 1/2 inch in diameter. If you happen to have a tube that is relatively small in diameter, about 5/8 of an inch, it is a T5.

Do T8 bulbs fit in T12 fixtures?

T8 tubes are simply 1 inch in diameter versus the 1.5 inch diameter of T12 tubes. In an effort to make LED tube lights compatible with the internal dimensions of most fixtures, you will find that most LED tube lights feature a T8 or 1 inch diameter. They can indeed be used in T12 fixtures.

Electrical converting a T12 ballast to a T8 ballast fixture

What do the letters on a ballast mean?

The most common types are T12, T8, and T5. The T stands for tubular and the number indicates the diameter in 1/8 of an inch. Lamp diameter is determined by ballast type. A fixture with a T12 ballast must use a T12 bulb. A fixture with a T8 ballast must use a T8 bulb, etc.

How do I know if my bulb is T12?

Read the lettering on the burned-out lamp. You will see either T8 or T12 stamped on one side near the end with the prongs. You also will see the lamp's rated wattage, usually 32 watts for T8 and 40 watts for T12. Measure the diameter of the lamp.

Can you use a T8 LED bulb without a ballast?

Most T8 LED bulbs do not need a ballast. The only type of LED tube that requires a ballast is plug-and-play. Used as direct replacements for fluorescent tubes, plug-and-play LED tube lights install without fixture rewiring, and operate off the existing fluorescent ballast.

Do you have to bypass ballast for LED lights?

An LED light does not require a ballast because it uses a component called a “driver” to regulate the power going into the bulb.

Are T8 and T12 pins the same?

The main difference between T8 and T12 tubes is the tube's diameter. T12 tubes are 1.5" in diameter while T8s are just one inch. All other things—socket sizes, lengths, distance between pins—are the same. T8 LED tubes won't fall out if you try to install them in a T12 fixture—they'll fit just fine.

Which is brighter T12 or T8?

The Standard T12 lamp produces 2,650 initial lumens per lamp. The standard T8 produces 2,800 initial lumens per lamp, 6% brighter. But the standard T12 lamp produces 2,300 design lumens and the T8 produces 2,660 design lumens.

Can you put LED lights in a fluorescent fixture?

You have fluorescent tube lights in your home or business already, and you're wondering if you can pop LED tubes in these fixtures or if you'll need to change out the fixtures for something designed for LED. Good news! You can use LED tubes in your existing fixtures!

Will ballast compatible LED tubes work without a ballast?

The T8 LED tube won't work without the ballast, so you are forced to continue buying and replacing ballasts as long as you have an LED tube that is ONLY ballast dependent.

Are all fluorescent ballasts the same?

Types of fluorescent ballasts

Fluorescent ballasts use three different types of starting technologies: rapid, instant, and programmed.

Can you mix fluorescent and LED bulbs?

Many LED tubes are "plug and play", meaning you can just install them like you would a fluorescent bulb. For this to be true, look for bulbs that are "ballast-compatible" meaning that they can use the ballast already installed in your fluorescent fixture to power the LEDs.

Will LED bulbs work if ballast is bad?

Can LED lamps work off of existing ballasts? Yes, if they have an internal driver than can work off that ballast. Philips, for example, has designed a tube that is compatible with an existing electronic ballast.

Can I replace my T12 bulbs with LED?

Can you actually retrofit T12 to LED without changing out the ballast? Actually, yes. But before you make a decision, there are other LED solutions to consider for a high-efficiency lighting option for existing T12s. A lot has changed in just a few years in the lighting industry.

Can I use a T8 LED tube in a T8 fluorescent fixture?

Type A - LED tube has an Integrated Driver for use on Existing Fluorescent Ballast. Type A LED tubes need an existing T8 electronic ballast to operate. If you have T8 electronic ballasts this makes installation very easy. All you need to do is remove the existing T8 fluorescent lamp and install a new T8 LED Type A lamp ...

Can I use electronic ballast on T12?

Have you tried to order T12 fluorescent tubes lately? While we still have plenty in stock in our online store, manufacturers are producing less overall. The product has also changed. These days, most T12s will work with an electronic ballast instead of a magnetic ballast.

What is a T8 ballast?

The "T" in T8 indicates the bulb is Tubular, while the "8" means they are eight / eighths inch (or 1") in diameter. 1/2 Lamps F32T8. 2/3 Lamps F32T8. 3/4 Lamps F32T8. F96T8 Ballasts.

What do the letters and numbers mean on a ballast?

The most common types are T12, T8, and T5. The T stands for tubular and the number indicates the diameter in 1/8 of an inch. Lamp diameter is determined by ballast type. A fixture with a T12 ballast must use a T12 bulb.

What voltage does a T8 ballast put out?

These ballasts deliver >550 open circuit volts when starting lamps and operate lamps at high frequencies which offers flicker-free operation and better lamp efficiencies.