How Can We Help?

Does your NortLux T8 LED Tubes compatible with Lithonia Lighting fixture?

I'm switching from a 2-bulb T8 light fixture in my oil painting studio to a 4-bulb T8 fixture, based on the lumen recommendations (my studio space is 8.5' x 11.5'). I also film a lot of YouTube videos out of this space, and I need to improve the lighting output.

I just wanted to confirm that your NorthLux lights would be compatible with this fixture. https://www.homedepot.ca/product/lithonia-lighting-4-ft-t8-4l-32w-premium-wrap/1000730017?rrec=true

According to your lumen calculator, I actually need 5 T8 bulbs, but I'm hoping that the 4 will suffice. It'll certainly be better than just the two I have.

Our T8 LED lamps sound like a great fit for your oil painting studio installation.

​We've reviewed the Lithonia Lighting fixture, but unfortunately, we are unable to confirm if this would be compatible, due to insufficient information about the ballast contained inside the fixture. We realize it may be difficult to get additional information from a large manufacturer, but if they can provide the ballast model number, we would be able to confirm if it is on our compatible ballast list, which can be found below:

https://www.waveformlighting.com/datasheets/UM_4024.pdf

Alternatively, our T8 LED-ready fixture may be a viable alternative, although we do realize that it is a two-lamp fixture that would fall short of the four-lamp quantity per fixture that you are looking for.

To supplement, you may also want to consider our T5 linear fixtures, which can be mounted on a variety of surfaces:

LED Strip vs Tube Lights in an existing T8 fixtures for Art Studio

I am helping my father order new lights for his art studio. We want to order LED lights to replace his T8 daylight fluorescent bulbs. We have two fixtures that hold six bulbs each. One fixture has a bad ballast that needs replacing; the other ballast was recently replaced.

I am trying to decide between T8 tube LEDs or adhesive LED strip lights. Your NorthLux 95 CRI T8 LED Tube for Art & Studio will work fine, but I will need to replace the ballast, correct? Or is there an easy workaround for that?

I heard that the tube lights waste a bit of luminosity because the light is directed upwards instead of all downward into the living (studio) area. On the contrary, strip lights are more efficient because ALL the light is directed toward the living area. So they are "brighter" and more lumens are shining directly into the living space. Correct?

If this is so, what product do you recommend for the strip lights for an art studio/gallery space? High CRI and color-accurate lighting are critical. My father is a professional portrait painter and color accuracy is (obviously!) important. 

Both our T8 LED tube lights and LED strip lights sound like a great option for your father's new art studio!

​In regards to your first question, you are correct on both the ballast as well as the "wasted" light situation. Unlike traditional fluorescent lamps, however, our T8 LED tube lights do not have a full 360 degree beam angle and are actually closer to 320 degrees, so there may be less concern with respect to wasted light.

​For an LED strip light solution, you will also want to consider the additional complexity of wiring and installation, as well as the additional component cost with power supplies and other accessories. That being said, we would perhaps recommend either our ABSOLUTE SERIES LED strip lights (99 CRI) or CENTRIC DAYLIGHT LED strip lights (95 CRI); links below:

As an alternative to LED strip lights, our T5 linear lamps could also be a viable option; we have provided a link for this product below:

Regarding tubes versus the strips, is there a noticeable difference in the amount of light received? Does each tube have one strip within it, or multiple strips? Is the wattage used the same?

The LED strip lights emit 450 lumens per foot, so this equates to approximately 1800 lumens for a 4-foot section, making this approximately equal to the 1800 lumens emitted by the 4-ft T8 lamp. The LED strip lights emit light in a narrower angle of 120 degrees, however, so they may be even better at reducing "wasted" lumens as we discussed prior.

The other advantage is that LED strip lights would provide you with the ability to quickly scale up or down the amount of brightness needed by installing multiple rows. Since the LED strips are quite narrow (less than half an inch), you would be able to install multiple rows in a fixture without worrying too much about footprint issues.

Is the T8 NorthLux light more suitable for art/gallery use than the strip options? The NorthLux is the only one in which there is text or reviews citing art studio/gallery use. I had assumed the Filmgrade White would be the best for artists and color rendition.

They all offer 95 CRI and 5000K, so we would not say that one is more suitable than the other. The product pages are shown primarily for marketing purposes, so if you're interested in the LED strip approach, that would certainly be fine.

The FilmGrade LED strip lights offer a color temperature of 5600K which is specific to the TV & film lighting industry. It is a perfectly suitable color temperature for art and gallery use, though keep in mind that it would not match any of the industry standards for printing or digital arts (D50 and D65, respectively).

I noticed that the Absolute offers less lumens (375/ft compared to 450/ft for the Centric and the NorthLux). Is the difference noticeable?

Yes, the difference would be noticeable, as the light output is approximately 15-20% less. That being said, installing multiple rows of the ABSOLUTE SERIES could be an easy way to make up for any brightness loss.

Lastly- (sorry for all the questions!)- if I order the T8 bulbs for my existing fluorescent fixtures, I can bypass the existing ballasts by connecting the incoming 120v wires to the blue/red wires that feed each of the "tombstones" that hold the T8 pins? Here's a short video showing that procedure: https://youtu.be/ts4dW8kLefY.

Yes, that would be a perfect way to ensure compatibility. we've included the installation manual for the T8 lamps below, which has information on wiring configurations:

https://www.waveformlighting.com/datasheets/UM_4024.pdf

Fluorescent LED Tubes Replacement

I would like to replace the fluorescent bulbs from my old grow light fixture. The bulbs are 1 3/8” in diameter and 47” long without measuring the prongs that stick out. Will your PhotonTube™ T8 LED Grow Light Tube for Horticulture fit in these old fixtures? 

Based on the dimensions provided, it appears that you are using T12 tube lights in a T12 fixture. In case it proves to be helpful, T5HO and T12 tube lights have slightly different dimensions as well as different power requirements. 

We can confirm that our PhotonTube™ T5HO LED Grow Light Tubes for Horticulture are compatible with existing 4-ft T5HO grow light fixtures & ballasts and would require ballast bypass for functionality with T8 or T12 fixtures, as illustrated within the installation guide. Unfortunately, any use with T12 fixtures without rewiring will cause hardware damage that will void the warranty due to the different power requirements. 

Fluorescent Replacement Lighting for Photo Gallery

About the Northlux 5000ºK LED tubes, what accounts for the difference I measured in CCT, and what is on the spec sheet?

Our official specification for the 5000 K LED tube lights is 5000 K plus or minus 180 K. The variation between what you measured and what is shown on our photometric report is likely caused by inherent color variation between lamps and lamp batches, as well as variations in measurement equipment, calibration, and precision.

We would expect that your spectrophotometer would also show variations between measurements, likely on the order of 25-50 K between measurements of the same lamp. Likewise, our photometric report showing 5064 K represents a single measurement only; repeated measurements of the same lamp would also likely show variation.

Also, R12 seems a little low. The spec sheet and what I measured both say 75. I noticed that the specs for R12 for the 5000ºK LED strip and what I measured are 91. Is this caused by batch-to-batch variation, or does the color of the glass in the tube have any effect? Do you use the same LEDs in all your lights?

Similar to color temperature, R12 can also vary significantly between lamps as well as measurement devices. The spectral reflection and absorption properties of the LED tube glass also play a role and are taken into consideration by utilizing different phosphor recipes for the underlying LEDs depending on the final product type (e.g. LED strip vs LED tube vs LED linear lamps).

Our end goal, however, remains the same with 95+ CRI and as tight of a color tolerance as possible.

T5 21-inch lights with CRI 90+ Replacement Bulbs for Growing Seeds

I am looking for replacement light bulbs for starting and growing seeds. I currently have under-cabinet lights that measure 21 inches. I was wondering if you sold a T5 bulb at 21 inches that has a CRI rating of 90 or more. Every other bulb on the market has an 80 CRI rating and I’m looking for something higher.

While we do not have any 2-ft T5 bulbs, we do have a 2-ft T5 linear fixture that may work for you. The fixture has a 95 CRI rating and can be installed in a variety of locations. The only issue is that these are not replacement bulbs, so you will most likely need to remove your existing fluorescent fixture and install these light fixtures instead. 

Below is the product link:

T12 LED Tube Replacement for Barn Lighting

Right now, my barn is set up with Philips 37282-1, F96T12/DX/ALTO, Single Pin T12, 75 Watt, 6500 Kelvin, 4500 Lumens. I am looking for a possible LED to replace them with that would also simulate sunlight for the animals kept there. I have 25 double-tube fixtures. Any information and recommendations would be welcome.

While we do not have T12 LED products currently available, our 6500K CENTRIC DAYLIGHT™ Full Spectrum Flicker-Free T8 LED Tube Lights are usable in T12 fixtures when bypassing the ballast to utilize line voltage. In case it proves to be helpful, the instructions for this process are within the T8 LED Tube Light product user manual. That being said, our T8 LED Tube Lights provide 1600 lumens each, which is less than the 4500 lumens provided by the current products. 

If you would prefer to utilize LED Strip Lights, we might alternatively recommend utilizing the 6500K FilmGrade™ WHITE LED Strip Lights, which are able to provide 450 lumens per foot. These lights are often installed within aluminum channels and can be powered using a matching voltage power supply, such as the FilmGrade™ DC Power Supply for LED Strip or the TRIAC Dimmable Power Supply. 

For an option that provides a closer simulation of natural daylight, we would alternatively recommend our 6500K ABSOLUTE SERIES™ LED Flexible Strips. Though more expensive per unit than the above FilmGrade LED Strip Lights, this item features a much higher CRI of 99, which is virtually indistinguishable from daylight. 

Fluorescents (EIKO lights) Replacement for Painting Studio

I have a small painting studio, about 11' x 12'. I currently have two compact fluorescents (CRAPPY CRI) EIKO lights overhead that is about 85W each. I'm looking to replace them with your excellent bulbs. I can install a T8 fixture but am not sure how many I need, or which color bulbs to get for sure. I want a balanced light so I'm thinking probably 5,000K. Maybe a mixture? Also, do I just need two bulbs? Would four be too much for this small space? 

Based on my use of the Lumen Estimation Calculator, we would likely recommend utilizing four of our 1800 lumen T8 LED Tube Lights for your studio space. We generally like to recommend the 5000K color temperature option for artwork creation as it produces a neutral, balanced white color which is great for color-critical installations. 

If you utilize a third-party fluorescent fixture, it might be helpful to know that older fixtures often used ballasts for power adjustment. As not all ballasts are within our compatibility list, we generally recommend rewiring the fixtures to bypass the ballasts. This process is fairly straightforward and is featured within the T8 user manual. 

We hope that our high CRI T8 Tube Lights are a great match for your studio! 

T8 LED Tube Light to T12 Fixture Installation Guide

I just ordered 24 color-matching 4 ft led tubes. I am putting them in T12 fixtures. Can you send instructions for wiring 

We have shared a link for the T8 LED Tube Light user manual below, which contains the ballast bypass instructions. 

T8 LED Tube Light User Manual

Replacement for Daylight fluorescent bulbs

I was wondering if you could help us with trying to specify the correct LED solution to replace the daylight fluorescent bulbs we are currently using at our live animal shows. We would love to switch to LEDs, but since we are judging the animals on the color and quality of their fur we need to be as consistent as possible between the LEDs and the old fluorescents that are the current industry standard. 

The bulbs we currently use for the shows are Philips F96T 12/DX Alto and GE F96DX which are both 8' long. Our show table is usually 16'-24' long and we are trying to get a consistent, even light across the length, hence using the 8' bulbs. 

For my own use, I'm looking at ordering a pack of your Centric Daylight T8 tube lights to try out, but I'm not sure that 4' long bulbs would be ideal for the long show lights. The strip lights seem ideal as they would give us lots of flexibility on storage and set up, but I'm not sure that they would give us the same even, more diffuse light that the linear bulbs do. Currently, the bulbs are 28" above the table. 

Though we were unable to locate any details about the GE F96DX, based on my review of the Philips F96T 12/DX Alto product it appears that each 8 ft tube light provides 4200 lumens (525 lumens per foot) with a CRI of 90. 

The primary recommendation that comes to mind as an alternative is our 6500K CENTRIC DAYLIGHT™ Full Spectrum Flicker-Free T8 LED Tube Lights. Though these provide a lower 1800 lumens per 4 ft tube (450 lumens per foot), they also provide a greater CRI of 95+. That said, please note that these lights are not compatible with all ballasts found in T8 fixtures, and may require rewiring to bypass the ballasts. 

The second option would be our FilmGrade™ WHITE LED Strip Lights, which feature the same lumens per foot and CRI as the above product. The primary benefit of the LED Strip Lights is that one full 16.4 ft reel can be powered using a single power supply such as our FilmGrade™ DC Power Supply for LED Strip or TRIAC Dimmable Power Supply (for more permanent installations). These items can be installed within the aluminum channels, which feature a diffusion panel for uniform light distribution. 

As the above products would feature a substantially higher CRI than the currently utilized Philips and GE products, we might recommend purchasing an initial test order containing one unit of our 2 ft or 4 ft 6500K CENTRIC DAYLIGHT™ 95 CRI T5 LED Linear Light Fixtures to test on your show table to ensure that the color quality matches the industry standard. 

These T5 Linear Light Fixtures utilize the same LED technology as the above products, though they would not require any additional connectors or power supplies for operation. These fixtures can also be daisy-chained (or interlocked) together for a maximum length of 70 feet, which may make them a good third option for your show table installation. 

Fluorescent Bulbs Replacement for Dental Operator's Lighting

High CRI is a top priority. Shade matching is critical for dental work. Currently have two fixtures per operatory. Does each fixture have two 8ft fluorescent bulbs (32ft of fluorescent total)? Suggestions for an LED upgrade? 

Based on the details provided, we would recommend purchasing our 48” D50 5000K T8 LED Tube Lights for Color Matching as well as our LED-Ready T8 Fixtures. 

These lights are designed with color-critical installations in mind, offering a high CRI of 95+ and full spectrum output. Further, they are fully compatible with the fixtures without requiring rewiring or ballast bypass, unlike many third-party T8 fixtures. 

Do you have any options to replace bulbs in the existing T12 for 48" and 96"? Intending to use for operatory with the dual purpose of shade match and general lighting. What is the difference between D50 and D65?

While T12 fixtures are incompatible with the power requirements of T8 products, this obstacle can be overcome by rewiring the fixtures to bypass the ballast. This process will prevent the ballast from damaging the T8 lights. 

The instructions for this process can be found in the product user manual, which we have provided a link to below. We have also attached a guide to an article describing the differences between the D50 and D65 standards, which we hope is helpful for your purchase planning. 

T8 LED Tube Light - User Manual

Difference Between 5000K and 6500K Bulbs (ISO D50 & D65)

I better understand 50 v 65 now. Am I correct to think 5000k is the best for a dental operator?

Our 8ft fixtures have plunger-type connectors. Is there a D50 LED to retrofit this? Planning to bypass the ballast.

Based on the conversations that we have had with labs and other medical offices where color calibration is important, it does appear that the D50 color point is the most popular option for ensuring color accuracy. 

Regarding the connectors, it might be helpful to know that our T8 LED Tube Lights use the G13 base (Medium Bi-pin). As such, they may not be compatible with the fixtures in your office. If you would like to provide us with some photographs of the base connection within the fixture before ordering, we would be happy to review them to ensure compatibility. 

As a final note, our T8 LED Tube Light products are not compatible with all ballasts found within T8 fixtures. Before installation, we would recommend checking the compatibility list and bypassing the ballasts if they are not supported. 

Will the Seagull Lighting Fixture work for the Centric Daylight T8 LED tube?

I want to change my fluorescent bulbs to LEDs. Currently, I have:

Seagull Lighting Fixture/Model 59132LE-15/120V 60hz, 64W, 0.8Amps. Use F32T8 Replacement lamps only, E192796 Suitable for damp locations/Bulb Type: 2 medium bi-pin T-8 32w/Ballast: 120v Electronic NPF ENERGY STAR Qualified Offers energy-saving fluorescent lighting.

Will they work for the Centric Daylight one, or is it different from that one? If the other instructions will NOT work, do you have instructions for the Centric one?

Based on my review of the details provided, it unfortunately does not appear that the ballast within the fixture is compatible with out T8 LED Tube Lights. If you have a specific model number for the ballast, please let us know and we would be happy to check it against the list. 

That being said, we are happy to confirm that the ballast bypass instructions for direct wiring the T8 LED Tube Lights are identical across both the CENTRIC DAYLIGHT™ Full Spectrum Flicker-Free T8 LED Tube Light and the NorthLux™ 95 CRI T8 LED Tube for Art & Studio. As such, please feel free to utilize the user manual featured for either product. 

Flicker-free and Low Dirty Electricity Light to Convert 4" T12 Fluorescent Fixture

Looking for low dirty electricity, low flicker, and soft white type of color temp option to convert an existing 4' mag. ballast fluorescent fixture w/ T12 bulbs. What would you recommend? 

When using our T8 LED products in a T12 fixture, we strongly recommend rewiring the fixture so that the ballast is bypassed. The instructions for the ballast bypass process are illustrated within the T8 LED Tube Light product specification sheet. 

​When the ballast has not been bypassed in lieu of a direct-wire connection, electrical hazards may occur which will damage the hardware and void the product warranty. 

​While we would typically recommend the 3000K color temperature for soft white output, we unfortunately do not have T8 LED Tube Lights available in that color point. As an alternative, you may be interested in our 4000K CENTRIC DAYLIGHT™ Full Spectrum Flicker-Free T8 LED Tube Lights. 

​These products are also compatible with our newly launched line of LED Ready T8 Fixtures, which would require no rewiring or ballast to bypass. As a further note, we can confirm that our products do not create ‘dirty electricity’ as defined by the FCC. 

Can I use 2 tubes in a 4-tube fixture?

I just bought your “centric daylight, full spectrum, flicker-free T-8 in the 4-pack. I love the color of the light, but 4-tubes make it too bright. Is it ok to just use 2 tubes in the fixture? It’s the shop light style, covered with acrylic. It hangs a couple of inches below the ceiling, NOT recessed in the ceiling. We’ve had led tube lights from Lowe’s in it for 3 years but didn’t like the warm color of the tubes we had. So can we just install two tubes? 

Based on experience, we have found that most fluorescent fixtures allow for operation while only being partially filled with tube lights. 

As such, utilizing only two units within your four-bulb fixture should prove to be safe for operation. That being said, we would likely recommend looking for the light fixture user guide online, likely published on the manufacturer's website, to ensure functionality. 

Florescent Tube Replacement for Phillips F30T12/CW/RS 30-att

Could you please recommend a replacement for my lights? The bulb is a Phillips F30T12/CW/RS 30-watt. I'm not sure if there's a suitable replacement, or if I should replace the fixture entirely- in any case, I could use some product recommendations. 

Based on my review of the Phillips F30T12/CW/RS, it, unfortunately, appears that we do not have any compatible 36” T12 alternatives available. 

Currently, our catalog contains 48” T5 and T8 LED Tube Lights, which would not be compatible with any 36” T12 fixtures. We do sincerely apologize for any impact this may have on your purchase planning. 

As an alternative, you may be interested in our 4000K CENTRIC DAYLIGHT™ Full Spectrum Flicker-Free T8 LED Tube Lights, which are compatible with our line of LED-Ready T8 Fixtures. Unlike older fluorescent fixtures, our line of T8 fixtures does not contain the types of ballasts that are often incompatible with LED power requirements. 

I have a maximum width of 47", which I think will be just a touch too short for the waveform fixtures. Is there a recommended third-party fixture I could use? If not, what's the next option- may be strips? I'm not sure which components I would need. I have two of these single-bulb fluorescent fixtures in a roughly 47x47" box.

Based on the details provided, it seems as though the preexisting fixture would not accommodate the 48" T8 LED Tube Lights. 

We can confirm that our T8 LED Tube Lights can function within any T8 fixture, though they may not be compatible with the ballasts that are often found in those older fixtures. These ballasts were meant to regulate the voltage for fluorescent tube operation in ways that our LED technology is not always compatible with. 

If the fixtures are confirmed to contain incompatible ballasts, these fixtures can be rewired to bypass the ballast to allow for full LED functionality and operation.

If you would prefer to retrofit the fixture to utilize the LED Strip Lights, you might be able to rewire it to utilize a compatible TRIAC Dimmable Power Supply for LED Strip. ​

Custom Strip for Fluorescent Fixtures Replacement

I was wondering if it is feasible to create a custom strip array for a ceiling to replace fluorescent fixtures.

While we are unable to accommodate custom product fabrication at this time, we would be more than happy to tell you more about our currently available catalog of products.

For example, you might alternatively be interested in our FilmGrade™ FiveSpect 5-in-1 LED Strip Lights or LED-Ready T8 Tube Light Fixtures, the latter of which are designed to utilize our LED T8 Tube Lights. 

Do you have a 4-inch T12 LED Tube Light?

We have a drop ceiling that has 9' x 4’. Fixtures each containing 2 40-watt fluorescent bulbs (18 total needed). I’d like to get the ones that are soft white (a step down from the brightest) powered at both ends and bypass the ballast.

We would recommend our CENTRIC DAYLIGHT™ Full Spectrum Flicker-Free T8 LED Tube Lights. The closest color temperature to ‘soft white’ (usually 2700K-3000K) available is the 4000K option. 

If the ballast within the fixture has not yet been bypassed, we have attached a link to an installation guide below, which illustrates the process.

T8 LED Tube Light Installation Guide

Which LED Light Color Temperature Should I Choose?

If you would like to make a direct comparison ahead of submitting the larger T8 order, you might be interested in purchasing some of our A19 bulbs in those color temperatures and using our 30-day return policy once you’ve determined which color point is best for your space.

Replacement T8 LED Tube for T12 Fluorescents Fixture

I'm interested in the NorthLux T8 95 CRI LED tubes. Am I understanding correctly that these can be used in fixtures that now have T12 fluorescent bulbs, as long as the ballast in the fixtures is removed? Is there any advantage to replacing the fixtures?

We can confirm that our T8 LED Tube Light products are compatible with T12 fixtures, so long as the ballast within the fixture has been bypassed. We have provided a link to the installation guide below, which contains several ballast-bypass options. 

Generally speaking, so long as the fixture can utilize compatible line voltage, we would not foresee any non-cosmetic advantages to replacing the light fixture. 

Flicker-Free T8 LED Tube Installation Guide

Fluorescent Replacement for Office Space Lighting

We are moving offices, and I am searching for lighting to replace our current fluorescents. We are looking for human-centered lighting that will create a better work environment for our employees. The space needs lighting that totals 108,000 lumens. However, we already have purchased some hanging pendants that account for 24,000 lumens. As a result, we are looking for additional lighting to account for another 84,000 lumens. At this time, we are thinking that hanging linear lights would be the best option. I have looked at your Northlux Light Fixtures as an option. What would you recommend? Could you point me in the right direction for products and provide me with an estimate?

Though the NorthLux™ 95 CRI T5 LED Linear Light Fixtures are easily mountable and provide high-quality light, they are not usually used for office spaces as they are not dimmable, and require DC-plugs for power. 

These limitations can be detractors for customers who intend to connect the lights to utilize in-wall power, or for customers who want to be able to adjust the output using a wall dimmer or smart dimmer system. These same considerations are true for our NorthLux™ 95 CRI LED Shop Light Fixtures, which also rely on DC plugs. 

As an alternative, you might be interested in our NorthLux™ 95 CRI T8 LED Tube for Art & Studio, as they can be installed within T8 fixtures as well as easily replaced if the individual lights encounter any malfunction. 

​For an installation where utilizing dimming and in-wall power are preferred, we would recommend the 99 CRI ABSOLUTE SERIES™ LED Flexible Strip Lights. These products can be ceiling-mounted within channels and are able to offer our highest quality of light output. 

Do you have a 48-inch bulb for standard 4-ft LED fixtures?

Do you make a 48-inch bulb that I can use in standard four-foot LED fixtures for my birds? 

Based on the details provided, we would recommend our 6500K NorthLux™ 95 CRI T8 LED Tube for Art & Studio, which is designed to fit F32T8 4-ft (48 inches) fluorescent lamps. 

For reference, the 6500K option is the same color temperature as found in our Avian line of products. Additionally, it might be helpful to ensure that the T8 fixtures to be utilized are compatible. 

Though many older units utilized ballasts that are not compatible with the power requirements of LED products, those fixtures can be adjusted to accommodate our products through 'ballast bypass'. Instructions for this process can be found in the below installation guide. 

T8 LED Tube Light Installation Guide

How T8 LED tube light products are compatible with many fluorescent fixtures?

Reading a lot about r&r fluorescent 4' bulbs. I have some confusing thoughts, where and how is 120V AC step down to a DC or small AC voltage? Also, is there a better connection than the " tombstone" type? I have a constant problem with them and that may be the main reason to switch to LED. 

We are happy to confirm that our T8 LED tube light products are compatible with many fluorescent fixtures due to the internal hardware which converts the electricity from AC to DC. 

As voltage drop is often caused by large distances between the power supply and light product, or alternatively due to the improper gauge of wiring being used, we would not assume that our T8 LED Tube Lights would be affected by them when installed within a compatible fixture. 

Additionally, we can confirm that we have not heard of any drawbacks to the tombstone connector versus other options. For better insight regarding the fluorescent tube light connector options, we would recommend reaching out to a lighting specialist or hardware store. In the interim, we can confirm that our T8 LED tube lights only utilize the tombstone connectors. 

8-ft T12 Fluorescent Replacement for Shop/Studio Lighting

I'm very interested in replacing the lighting in my shop/studio. I have 8' T12 fluorescent lighting that I replaced with LED, and they're hurting my eyes more than fluorescents do. I was told that 2700k and the high 90s or above CRI rating possible was best. I don't see an 8' replacement on your site, just 4ft. Is that correct? I'm feeling overwhelmed and confused with this project. Could you recommend lighting options for my shop with something as close to daylight as you have? Am I better off having rows of screw-in type bulbs everywhere or do you carry strip or tube lighting that you would recommend? 

First of all, I suspect that the eye strain you are experiencing may be the result of hidden flicker in the new LED lamps, rather than a color specification issue. Here is a video that explains how you would be able to detect this using an iPhone: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QTVjokUy2Dw

Since your fixtures are only able to accommodate 8 ft lamps, we, unfortunately, would not be able to utilize them with any of our lamps. Without having to replace the fixtures entirely, however, you may be able to use our NorthLux T5 linear fixtures as a retrofit solution (https://store.waveformlighting.com/products/northlux-95-cri-t5-led-linear-light-fixture).

​The T5 linear fixtures are available in 2-ft and 4-ft lengths and can be mounted inside existing fluorescent fixtures using the included magnet mounts. These could very well "replace" the 8 ft lamps without actually needing to use the same lamp sockets, and this could also allow you to repurpose your existing fixtures as housings for the new lamps.

​These are flicker-free, and have 95 CRI and 5000K / 6500K light output, ensuring excellent color accuracy that matches natural daylight.

I was actually just looking at those calculating how many it would require to at least match the lumen levels I have now. Great CRI rating, though I was looking more in the 3-400k (max) bulbs as anything higher than that is just too blue for me. I have an eye condition and no longer wear the proper contacts. 

It's a 3800 sq ft area so unfortunately it's going to require a number of lights to illuminate properly. 

Determining the total brightness needed is indeed a bit tricky, as sufficient brightness is very important for studio work, but having too much brightness could lead to potentially unpleasant glare effects as you've experienced. We offer a lumen calculator on our website here, which may be of interest: https://www.waveformlighting.com/lumen-calculator

Based on the 3800 square feet input, the calculator suggests approximately 150,000 lumens for your space if you are looking to reach a sufficient illumination level for studio work (80 footcandles). This would require approximately 85 of our 4-ft T5 lights to illuminate the entire space with sufficient brightness.

Of course, based on your personal preference, 80 footcandles may be too bright and intense. We could definitely cut this down to half, to 40 footcandles using 43 of the 4-ft T5 lamps, which is the generally recommended brightness level for a standard commercial or office space installation. 

What's the difference between the T-5 and T-8? Is that just a matter of what fixture you have? 

In addition, I also meant to ask if the daylight tube bulbs work differently than the non-daylight ones. I'm expecting to have to replace all the sockets as I have a variety of lights that would complicate things to match. I think it would be best to just replace them all and start off with matching sockets. Can I assume these plug into power directly as others do? Or do they need some sort of ballast?

The primary difference between the T8 lamps and the T5 fixtures is that the T8 lamps require a fixture to house them (typically traditional T8 fluorescent fixtures), while the T5 fixtures are an integrated LED fixture that does not require installation inside a fixture.

​Generally speaking, we would recommend the T8 lamps for customers who have an existing 4-ft T8 fluorescent fixture. You mentioned that you have 8-ft fixtures, which are unfortunately not compatible. As such, we would recommend foregoing the T8 lamps unless you had plans to reinstall new T8 fluorescent fixtures.

​The T5 fixtures, on the other hand, do not require a separate fixture and can be installed in virtually any location. A fluorescent ballast is not required, and the product can plug into any wall outlet or extension cord.

​Our daylight/non-daylight designations relate to color temperature and do not have any bearing on the installation configuration.

Sounds like T8's may fit the bill. I'm a fabricator, so if need be I can retrofit the 8ft fixtures or fabricate new ones with new sockets. Though purchasing T8 fixtures sounds best. I think we may still have some in storage actually. 

Sounds like a plan! As long as the sockets are spaced at the correct spacing to accommodate the 4-ft T8 tube lights, there shouldn't be any issues there. From a liability perspective, we do need to mention that the company's official recommendation is to only use fixtures designed specifically for 4-ft tube lights, but from an electrical standpoint there should not be any issues operating the 4-ft T8 lamps.

The "CENTRIC DAYLIGHT™ Full Spectrum Flicker-Free T8 LED Tube Light" can be used with both shunted and non-shunted sockets. Please see below for the installation manual showing the various permissible wiring configurations:

https://www.waveformlighting.com/datasheets/UM_4024.pdf

What's the highest wattage available? Is 1,800 lumens the brightest 4ft T8 you carry? My 8-footers are 110w @ 8,800k per bulb, with 4 in each bank. 

The only as well as the highest wattage available is 18 watts at 1800 lumens each.

For the sake of confusion would you mind forwarding me links to the T5 and T8s you're referring to? 

Please see below:

Do the T8s need a reflector-type hood to be more efficient because the light radiates out? Or do they already focus downward? 

The light is emitted at a 320-degree angle. A reflector is not necessary but may help in producing a bit more "useful" brightness.

Do you have a UV LED black light to decorate a costume with fluorescent paint?

I’m thinking about making a costume for Halloween that I can light up with LED black light strips and decorate the costume with fluorescent paint. The party is on the pool deck of a cruise ship at night, so the lighting is semi-dark. Do you have any black light products that would work?

Based on the details provided, one installation option that comes to mind would be applying lengths of the realUV™ LED Strip Lights to the costume which would be powered by a stand-alone compatible 12V battery. That said, we do have some recommended considerations and safety advice for your costume installation below. 

First and foremost - never look directly into the UV output. UV light is invisible and does not induce the same natural reaction to squint or look away to avoid the output in the same way we would if we were to look directly into bright white lights or the sun. Just because it doesn’t appear bright, doesn’t mean that it’s not emitting lots of UV light. Second, be sure to keep the UV light output away from children or anyone who is not aware that the product emits UV light.

To further protect yourself or the individuals utilizing the product, you may want to purchase UV-blocking safety goggles or sunglasses, which will help reduce the amount of UV light from hitting your eyes. When using the UV light, you can also try to avoid shining the light directly onto bare skin and wear long-sleeved clothing. And, as a practical matter, keep the UV product turned on only as long as necessary.

​Further, you may also want to ensure that the power capacity of the battery to utilize is high enough to provide the preferred output. For more information on the power draw, we recommend reviewing the below product specification sheet. 

Product Specification Sheet

Finally, please note that our LED strip lights are not IP-rated for protection against water, liquid, or condensation. Any contact these products have with moisture may create an unsafe electrical hazard and will void the product warranty. 

LED Tube Light for Slow Motion Video

We are moving into a 30k+ sq ft facility here over the next few months and are looking to outfit the space with "flicker-free" LED tube lights. We are a baseball development company that utilizes high-speed video regularly and in a perfect world. We would be able to shoot 1000 fps anywhere in the facility, given that the lighting was outfitted correctly. Would love to hear your thoughts on the matter. 

We are happy to confirm that our flicker-free T8 LED tube light products operate with a refresh rate that is much higher than the referenced 1000 frames per second capture rate for filming. As such, they could be a great match for your installation purposes.

That being said, it would be worth confirming whether our T8 LED tube light products are compatible with the preferred lighting fixture ballasts to be installed in the new space to ensure optimal functionality prior to ordering.

If the ballast within the fixtures is not on the compatibility list, we would then recommend either identifying an alternative compatible fixture or looking into the available ballast-bypass installation methods listed in the product installation guide.

​In the interim, you may be interested in our CENTRIC DAYLIGHT™ Full Spectrum Flicker-Free T8 LED Tube Lights, which are available in both 5000K and 6500K, which are commonly recommended for industrial settings.

Our main concern is outfitting our space with true "flicker-free" lighting systems to ensure 1000 FPS comes out in the highest quality possible for content purposes.

If you can make some recommendations accordingly in regards to outfitting our whole space with this type of light would be greatly appreciated and a general quote for the bulbs as well. In addition what would be the most compatible fixture to ensure proper performance of the lighting system.

Upon review, our primary recommendation will be to ensure that the fixtures contain compatible ballasts.

If the ballasts are incompatible, then they may experience flickering, sub-optimal operation, or failure to operate. As such, we strongly recommend comparing the ballasts within those ballasts with the compatibility guide. 

It appears that you are currently utilizing a series of 6500K color temperature tube lights. As such, we would suggest our 6500K CENTRIC DAYLIGHT™ Full Spectrum Flicker-Free T8 LED Tube Light product.

We also recommend comparing the lumen output of the preexisting fluorescent tubes to ours in order to ensure that the current quantity of light fixtures emitting light at that output level would be sufficient for any industrial or capture purposes. If our T8 lights emit fewer lumens than the existing fixtures, we would then suggest installing additional fixtures.

Finally, we also recommend getting in touch with a local lighting designer in order to ensure that the entire building and work areas are sufficiently and evenly illuminated by the T8 lights.

UV Blacklight LED Replacement for Fluorescent Bulbs

I’m looking for the closest UV-LED option to potentially replace a fluorescent blacklight bulb that we use for artificial weathering of materials like plastics, sealants, adhesives, and the like. We currently use a F72 T12 / BL HO 350 fluorescent bulb. 

I have not been able to find a 350 nm UV LED, but I have found 365 nm which may work. The LED option would not have to be 72” long like our current bulbs. Other form factors would work.

Though we currently do not have ultraviolet products available in the T8 or T12 form factors, we do offer the 365nm realUV™ LED Strip Lights product which might be of interest for your installation. 

Further, we have recently spoken to other customers who have applied the above product within pre-existing T8 and T12 fixtures to reduce the need for new fixtures or hardware. 

The cabinet I would use these in runs at 140 F. Would that pose any issues for the LEDs?

The power vs. run time chart is a good one as we would run these 24/7. Do you have any data beyond 2000 hours? Do you have any ideas on how long they would last in a 24/7 application?

We can confirm that our LED products and components can withstand temperatures of 185 degrees Fahrenheit (64 C).

As such, we expect that the products would be able to safely operate within the 150-degree environment mentioned.

Though, we have the performance test results listed within the 365 nm realUVTM LED Longevity Test Data document, we currently do not have any data above 2000 hours. We apologize!

Does your T5HO Grow Light Tube Compatible with SunBlaster T5HO Fixtures?

I have 4' Sunblaster T5HO self-ballasted fixtures. Are your tubes compatible with these? They were not on the list of compatible brands, but the FAQ for tubes indicates they are compatible in ANY T8HO fixture, which is not T5HOs. 

Do your tubes retain CRI value throughout their life? Is that the 3 years you posted for other tubes? 

Based on the details provided, it does appear that the PhotonTube™ T5HO LED Grow Light Tube for Horticulture would be compatible with the SunBlaster fixture that was mentioned. However, if you find the products to be incompatible for any reason, please let us know and we would be happy to assist with returning your order.

Though the T5H0 fixture will exhibit a slightly reduced output throughout the lifetime, the CRI will not reduce during the lifetime use of the product. 

Light Fixture for PhotonTube T8 LED Grow Lights

I am inquiring about where/what type of light/lamp I can purchase that would hold your 48” Photon tube LED ”grow” tubes. I am also hoping you can clarify the statement about being able to interchange them with fluorescent tubes, either with or without removing the ballast. 

The key term to look for when selecting compatible T5 or T8 fixtures that do not require ballast adjustment is ‘LED Ready’. LED Ready fixtures are typically designed without ballasts and allow for the T5 or T8 products to be immediately functional. Based on my review, there appear to be several T5 and T8 fixtures available from online marketplaces.

As older fluorescent light fixtures often utilize ballasts, there can be instances where the LED retrofit lights (such as ours) are incompatible with the ballast hardware. In these instances, we recommend a ballast-bypass, which allows for the lights to be directly powered by the wiring in your space.

I have attached a link below for the product specification sheet, which illustrates the ballast-bypass configuration.

Product specification sheet: https://www.waveformlighting.com/datasheets/CS_4020-4000.pdf

My understanding is your photontubes replicate the sunlight spectrum and are good to use on seedlings, is this correct? Are there fixtures you can recommend that work with these (not sure you are allowed to do that), or alternatively is there anything that I should be on the lookout for with regards to purchasing?

One other question, what is the area (sq. footage?) that 2 lights (2 bulbs) would illuminate if at about a 4 inch distance from its subject? 

We can confirm that our 6500K PhotonTube™ T8 LED products are designed to output light that closely simulates daylight to benefit seedling growth.

Though we do not have any fixtures to recommend at this time, we would be more than happy to check any fixtures that you are considering for compatibility. Regarding the square foot light output, I would be more than happy to confirm the technical details with my team. As soon as I have received confirmation, I will plan to let you know right away.

It might also be helpful to know that we offer a 30-day return policy for all orders. In the event that these products don’t work well for your installation, just reach out and we will gladly issue a prepaid return label.

F40T12 48" Fluorescent Replacement for Bathroom Lighting

I need to get a replacement for the F40T12 48" natural light fluorescent in the bathroom. My wife liked the LED lights I purchased from you in the past. 

While we only sell T8 LED tube light products, we're happy to confirm that our T8 lamps can be used in your existing T12 fixture with the T12 fluorescent ballast removed or bypassed.

You may refer to the installation guide below. 

ballast-bypass installation method described within the product guide.

T8 LED Tube Light for Art Studio

I'm trying to find the best way to light a small studio. I came across your website and I think I'm interested in the Northlux 95 CRI T8. I'm having trouble locating a shop-style plugin/pull cord light fixture where I could use these bulbs. Do you have any recommendations on a specific light fixture or would you point me in a different direction using alternate bulbs for my situation? I currently don't have any hard-wired 4ft fixtures in my studio.

It is indeed a bit difficult to locate compatible fixtures as those available today are still configured for fluorescent lamps, which will almost always include a fluorescent ballast which may or may not cause compatibility issues.

​One tip we've had other customers have success with is searching online for "LED ready" T8 fixtures, which are configured without ballast and can accommodate our LED tube lights directly.

LED Lights in Overhead Soffit to Reflect Off the Ceiling

I generally sit in that recliner at the far end to read. Want to put sufficient light in the overhead soffit to reflect off the ceiling and illuminate the read. The table lamp shown is decorative the task light, barely visible by the chair, is what I use now. Has an LED bulb in it. Glares for the wife seated on the couch. It works well if I bring it down close to the read (magazine or newspaper) bulb is white.

It sounds like we have a few lighting fixtures in your space. To start, are you able to confirm what type of lamps or bulbs your fixtures can accommodate?

​For example, the soffit looks like it may accommodate fluorescent fixtures, but it's a bit difficult to tell from the photo.

​Similarly, are the table lamp and task light standard fixtures that use medium-screw Edison bases (E26)? (E26 is the most commonly seen, traditional screw-in lamp type with a base that is approximately 1 inch in diameter).

Once you can let us know what types of lamps may be compatible with your existing fixtures, we'll have a better idea of what options we have available for you. 

​Additionally, can you let us know what challenges you're facing with your existing lighting - is it the color, clarity, brightness, or a combination of these factors?

​The soffit has a string of incandescent mini lights, circa 1992. We do not use the table lamp but it and the task light use standard e26 screw-in bulbs, the problem is insufficient illumination. The task light if I bring it close to the reading material will work but is ungainly and if it is set higher is not quite enough light but glares at anyone sitting on the couch. I had thought that linear LEDs in both soffits above the chair reflecting off the ceiling might work but leave that to your expertise. Using dimmers they could also provide illumination for the room. The soffit runs on three sides of the room.

We are in full agreement that improving the brightness from your soffit lighting fixture would be the best approach here to simultaneously increase brightness without causing additional glare issues.

​Unfortunately, despite their ubiquity, standard light bulbs induce significant amounts of glare due to their high brightness levels from a relatively small size.

Our first thought here would be to recommend our CENTRIC HOME LED strip lights in 3000K. These LED strip lights emit approximately 450 lumens per foot, which is approximately equal in brightness to a 40-watt incandescent bulb. 

It's a bit difficult to determine from your photo, but my best guess would be that your soffit is approximately 10 feet long. If you were to install the LED strip lights across the entire soffit, this would provide you with approximately 4500 lumens, or 400 watts worth of incandescent bulb brightness.

The LED strip lights could of course extend and span multiple soffits across the three sides of the room as you suggest.

The LED strip lights do require some in-wall wiring and assembly work, but I do believe that this would be an excellent option for you. Below is an example wiring diagram that shows how the LED strips can be wired to a wall dimmer:

https://www.waveformlighting.com/layoutmaps/3001_1A

Sometimes sitting on the end of the couch to utilize the halogen Torch which almost does the job but could be better. The new light needs to be dimmable, and maybe the color change? 

Each one of the curtains is approx 6 ft across giving us approx 12 ft of the strip light. Approx 5500 lumens per your calculations. You mentioned 3000 Kelvin. Is that overly yellow for reading? Are your strip lights disabled and what dimmer do you suggest for the best performance? 

Is there an approved dimmer for 3-circuit control? I note that LeGrand makes a couple although I am partial to Lutron. 

I personally do not believe that 3000K is "too yellow" although that would certainly be within the realm of personal preference. Do you know what the color temperature of the lamps in your current space is, and what your thoughts on those might be? (Incandescent bulbs are typically 2700K and lower).

To cover the distances you quoted, you will likely need three sets of 16.4 ft LED strip reels, each with its own dimmable power supply. The cost estimate is as follows:

CENTRIC HOME™ LED Strip Lights for Home & Residential: $99 ea

TRIAC Dimmable Power Supply for LED Strip: $139 ea

​We do not have any three-circuit control suggestions, but we do have a list of tested dimmers which are available here:

https://www.waveformlighting.com/files/DC_3093.pdf

The reading lamp has a 790-lumen GE REVEAL built therein. It is I think overly bright white. If I bring it clues to the reading material it works but is glary with poor contrast and if further away not bright enough but not heavy. The soffit has a string of very old very small incandescent. I think we might try one set in the two soffits over the Chair to see how this indirect lighting works. 

We believe the GE Reveal lamps use a modified 3000K spectrum. If you find the incandescent lights in the soffit to be acceptable from a color perspective (i.e. not too yellow), then 2700K could also be a good option for you.

Below is an article that might help choose between the two options:

https://www.waveformlighting.com/home-residential/choosing-between-2700k-and-3000k

LED Strips for Space Lighting Upgrade

I'm trying to decide what I need to set up your product in my space. Currently, I have fluorescent tubes in a 500 ft. workspace. I would like to replace these with your 99 CRI LED strips and hardwire them to my existing wiring and use a dimmer. I'm not sure if I need 12 or 24, or if I need the Junction box on my power source. 

Our 99 CRI ABSOLUTE SERIES sounds like a great option for upgrading your space's lighting! The flexible LED strip version is available in 12 volts only, so you will want to use the 12 volt TRIAC dimmable power supply to power the LED strip.

​Below is the direct link to the dimmable power supply:

If you intend to install the power supply unit directly inside the fixture, I do not believe that there will be a need for the junction box; typically the junction box is used when the power supply is mounted in an interior wall location.

If you are comfortable with and able to solder your own wires, that would perhaps provide you with the most flexibility and cleanest wiring installation, however, if not, our PN 3070 and PN 3071 connectors may be convenient options for you.

I am replacing five T12 tubes in this space (2500 lumens each), and it seems to be about 60% as bright, even though the lumens should be very close. 

The strip that is wired to the power source is brighter than the second strip, which is wired to the first strip. 

The brighter strip also seems very noticeably brighter closer to the connection that goes to the power source. The channel is also quite hot close to the connection, and warm at the other end. The second strip channel is not warm. 

The brightness drop you are observing may be caused by voltage drop, which can occur during longer LED strip installations. Can you provide some additional detail on how the two LED strip reels are connected?

For voltage drop and safety reasons, the maximum run length specification for any LED strip section is 16.4 ft. Therefore, if you are attempting to connect multiple reels to a single LED power supply, this would likely cause the voltage drop and reduction in brightness you are observing in the second reel.

​As such, we generally recommend connecting each 16.4 ft reel to a separate power supply unit to ensure that the maximum run length is not exceeded.

Can you point me to where in your documentation you recommend using a separate power supply for each 16 ft strip? 

Please see below for the datasheet which indicates the "max run" specification of 16.4 ft.

​https://www.waveformlighting.com/datasheets/CS_7101.pdf

T8 LED Tubes Lighting for Dental Office Operatories

I am interested in new lighting for my dental office operatories. My lighting needs have a very high level of color matching. Existing fixtures are approximately 20+-year-old fluorescent recessed troffers. I use T12 CRI 90 5000k bulb. Each fixture uses four 48" bulbs. I would like to improve my color-match lighting. What do you recommend? Do you have LED bulbs that will work in my existing fixtures? Do you recommend LED over fluorescent bulbs? 

Based on the details provided, we might recommend our D50 5000K T8 LED Tube Lights for Color Matching (ISO3664:2000) product, as it is designed to be compatible with the D50 global standard for color-critical applications.

Regarding fixtures, we can confirm that these items are not compatible with all ballasts which are pre-installed within fluorescent T8 fixtures. However, we have compiled a list of tested ballasts, and include instructions on how to install these tube lights via ballast bypass methods on the product sheet.

As most fluorescent tube lights have a CRI of 80, the light output will likely wash out some colors. However, as our LED tube lights have a CRI of 95+, your office will benefit from much improved light output.

Does Centric Daylight T8 LED Tube Compatible with PLT Solutions Fixture?

I'm interested in buying these tubes because I can get them in 4000K. I need to buy fixtures though. I want them to be corded with a pull chain. I found these online - PLT Solutions (PLT-11668). Can you tell me if this fixture will be compatible? 

Based on our review of the product link provided, we are happy to confirm that the fixture appears to be compatible with our CENTRIC DAYLIGHT™ Full Spectrum T8 LED Tube Lights.

PhotonTube T8 LED Tubes Replacement

I'd like to replace some standard T8 fluorescent lights with your PhotonTube T8 bulbs (4-pack). I'm pretty sure my lamps have an electronic ballast.

Our PhotonTube T8 LED tube lamps can be used in existing fixtures, as long as they have their ballasts removed, or their ballast is listed on the compatible ballast list shown on the user manual page below:

https://www.waveformlighting.com/datasheets/UM_4024.pdf

​Since you mention that your fixture already contains an electronic ballast, you will want to check for compatibility before installing our lamps.

Centric Daylight vs Northlux

Which 95 CRI T8 LED Tube light is better? We are filming videos. Our other studio lights are 5500K but I am thinking the 5000K can work. They would be replacing the current ceiling lights which are quite warm. I was interested in the flicker-free Centric but the Northlux is advertised as studio lighting. Are there potential flicker issues with the Northlux? 

Our NorthLux T8 LED tube lights should work quite well for your needs! They are also flicker-free but not listed as such, since flicker is generally not a concern for most of our visual arts studio customers.

​On the other hand, we completely understand the concerns you have concerning flicker and on-camera use. As such, as an additional layer of assurance of flicker-free performance, we would recommend installing these lamps in a ballast-bypass configuration so that any flicker or other interference from electronic ballasts is not introduced into the light output stream.

We also do find that many TV/cinematography lighting systems are calibrated to 5500K / 5600K, however, the NorthLux 5000K should be a similar match, and the 95 CRI color accuracy should be a great fit for the film.

Does the T8 LED Grow Lights compatible with T12 fixtures?

I am looking to purchase the T8 LED Grow Lights for my kitchen. I just wanted to ensure these would be compatible with the current fixture. Currently, my kitchen is lit by 4 Philips f40t12/CW supreme 40-watt bulbs. I believe this to be a T12 bulb. I've heard T8 and T12 are supposed to be interchangeable. However, I was unsure if the ballast capable of powering the current T12s might be too much voltage for these T8 grow lights I'm looking to replace them with. Would the T8 LED grow lights work as a replacement for the Philips f40t12/cw supreme? Ad if not, do you have a suitable grow light replacement for a T12? 

The T8 LED lamps will fit mechanically in your current T12 fixture, but the T12 fluorescent ballasts will need to be removed and/or bypassed.

​Instructions for how to perform the fixture rewiring can be found in the instructional manual below:

https://www.waveformlighting.com/datasheets/UM_4024.pdf

​If you were interested in purchasing a new fixture all together, you may also be interested in our PhotonBlast fixture, which I have provided a link to below:

​

NorthLux 95 CRI T8 LED Tube for Painting Studio

I'm setting up my painting studio where I create realistic works, and I am looking at using your NorthLux™ 95 CRI T8 LED Tube for Art & Studio. What do I use to hook them up to? Do I purchase one for fluorescents and remove the ballast? A wraparound will look nicer than bulbs, but does it affect the CRI? Also, I have to purchase 4 from you, but I believe 2 will be enough for my space; the room is approx 13' x 15', with a double Easterly window and a single Southerly one. 

Our NorthLux T8 LED lamps sound like a great option for your art studio! As you mention correctly, these T8 lamps require a 4-ft fixture housing. Most fixtures that are available today do indeed have fluorescent ballast, so we would recommend removing the ballast and rewiring the fixture to ensure compatibility. Once the ballast is removed, the T8 lamps can be installed directly.

As long as the diffuser cover in the fixture is transparent or semi-transparent (as opposed to having a colored tint), there should be no effect on the light quality and will not pose any problems from a color accuracy perspective.

​Finally, I've plugged the dimensions of your space into the lumen estimation calculator which you can find at the link below:

https://www.waveformlighting.com/lumen-calculator

The suggested brightness level to achieve 80 footcandles (recommended for art studios) is 15,722 lumens. Based on this lumen output target, we would recommend up to nine of our T8 lamps. (Your initial estimate for just two lamps may have been based on lower brightness needs in line with a residential space).

Do you have a 4-ft full spectrum bulb suitable for T12 fixtures?

I have two 4-ft spectrum bulbs that are getting old they are fluorescent (TRU LIGHT ULTRA F40T 12TLU). I don't know if I need a fixture or not.

It appears that you currently have a T12 fluorescent lamp in a 4-ft T12 fixture. The good news is that our T8 lamps will fit in your existing fixtures, but the existing fluorescent ballast will need to be removed or bypassed.

​Once the ballast removal or bypass is complete, you will be able to use our T8 LED tube lights in the same fixture. 

Is any retrofitting required for T8 LED Grow Light Tube installation?

I want to use the PhotonTube™ T8 LED Grow Light Tube in a fluorescent fixture. Is any retrofitting required, or do I merely use this bulb as a replacement without re-wiring/ballast changes? 

Our T8 LED tube lights can fit into all fluorescent fixtures that are 4 ft in length. So, if you can confirm that your existing fluorescent fixture is 4 ft in length, we can be quite certain that our T8 LED tube lights will fit!

​In terms of the electrical connections, you will want to check if the fluorescent fixture has a ballast inside. If the fluorescent fixture contains a fluorescent ballast, you will want to check that it is listed on our list of fluorescent ballasts, which can be found at the link below: 

https://www.waveformlighting.com/datasheets/UM_4024.pdf

If the fluorescent ballast is not listed, you will want to remove or bypass the ballast from the fixture.

Replacement T8 LED Tube Light Output Equivalent

I'm looking for replacement tubes for my kitchen light, which currently has 4x 2900 lumen 40W T12 fluorescent tubes. I'd like to purchase your 48" CENTRIC DAYLIGHT Tubes, however at 1800 Lumens and 320 light distribution angle, I am concerned they won't be bright enough. However, the spec sheet says they are comparable to a 40W bulb. Since there is only one light fixture, and I do not intend to add another, I need clarification on the bulb brightness before I can make this purchase.

We can confirm that our T8 LED tube light products offer an output of 1800 lumens per light. As such, it does appear that the output may be less than your current tube lights.

However, please note that we offer a 30-day return policy. If these items wind up not working well for your space, simply let us know and we would be happy to issue a prepaid return label so that they can be returned for a refund.

Fluorescent Replacement LEDs for Above-stove Lighting Installation

I would like to replace the fluorescent lights above my stove with LED lighting. Any suggestions? This vent is about 27 years old and the adjacent fluorescents turn on at the same time as the hood light.

Unfortunately, we do not have any products which would be suitable for an above-stove lighting installation.

​For an above-stove installation, you will want to keep in mind that the lighting fixtures must also be able to withstand high temperatures, grease splatters and smoke. Our products are not rated for such environments, and as such, we would recommend seeking out a specialized product and/or electrician to complete the lighting upgrade.

Do your T8 tubes directly go into T12 fixtures as replacements?

Do your T8 tubes directly go into T12 fixtures as replacements? How are the Sidewinder bias strips daisy chained? Are there connectors supplied, and is soldering required?

It sounds like you currently have 4-ft T12 fluorescent lamps. If so, our T8 LED tube lights can be used in the same fixture, as long as the ballast is either bypassed or completely removed. (The new T8 LED tube lights are NOT compatible with T12 fluorescent ballasts, and should be wired directly to line voltage).

For further instructions on installation and wiring, please reference our installation manual:

https://www.waveformlighting.com/datasheets/UM_4024.pdf

As far as the SideWinder product is concerned, located on each end of the LED strip reel is one male DC jack and one female DC jack. As such, no special components or accessories are needed if you are looking to simply daisy-chain the LED strip light reels in an extended run.

NorthLux T8 LED Tube Lights for Art Studio

I presently have fluorescent tubes in my art studio I have 2 ceiling flush-mounted units, each with 4 fluorescent bulbs of 40 watts each. How many of your LED tubes do I need to replace the light of 8 fluorescent 40-watt tubes? Also, can I install these new LED tubes into the fluorescent unit that houses 4 tubes and has a ballast? I do not want to use the ballast anymore as it is over 30 years old and hums make the fluorescent lights flicker.

Our NorthLux T8 LED tube lights sound like a great fit for your lighting upgrade project.

It sounds like you currently have 4-ft T12 fluorescent lamps. If so, our T8 LED tube lights can be used in the same fixture, as long as the ballast is either bypassed, or completely removed. (The new T8 LED tube lights are NOT compatible with T12 fluorescent ballasts, and should be wired directly to line voltage).

Since you mention that the existing ballasts are old and in need of replacement, hopefully this should not be too much of an inconvenience. Additionally, the flicker-free feature of our LED T8 lamps should provide you with a very nice improvement in the lighting environment.

For further instructions on installation and wiring, please reference our installation manual:

https://www.waveformlighting.com/datasheets/UM_4024.pdf

In terms of brightness, each one of our T8 LED tubes will produce the same or slightly more light than a T12 fluorescent tube. As such, if you felt that the existing 8 fluorescent tubes provided you with sufficient brightness, a one-to-one replacement with 8 of our T8 LED tube lights should be a good starting point.

Can I hardwire the LED Shop Lights to the ceiling?

Would an electrician be able to ‘hardwire’ the Shop Lights to the ceiling replacing the regular ceiling light? I’m trying to figure out how to change the light over my work table without having cords hanging from the ceiling.

The shop lights are unfortunately not designed to be hard-wired and modifying the product is not recommended and would result in voiding the warranty.​From a purely electrical standpoint, however, the fixture could be configured to be connected directly to the wiring in your ceiling/walls and would operate without any performance issues. We would recommend consulting with your electrician as well as fire and safety regulators for further guidance.

As an alternative, we would perhaps suggest installing ceiling fixtures that can house our T8 lamps, which can be used to provide the same level of light quality as shop lights.

Recommended LED Lights for Basement Fluorescent Replacement

What would you recommend for me to improve lighting in my basement family room? At present, there are 2 four foot long fluorescent long outlets (2 bulbs each) installed in the 80's. We like reading and I like to draw. I am more aware now about the necessity of healthy lighting choices. 

We've reviewed your requirements for your basement, and understand that you have two primary concerns:

​(1) Increase of daylight-like lighting to use during the day, due to the limited amount of natural daylight available in a basement.

(2) Reduction of blue-light intensity during evening hours to reduce impacts on melatonin and circadian rhythm cycles.

Blue light vs natural light can get a bit tricky, since natural light has lots of blue light, and it is not so much the case that "blue light is bad" but "blue light during evening hours can be bad."

For additional background reading, you might find the following article helpful: https://www.waveformlighting.com/human-centric/blue-light-melatonin-and-circadian-rhythms

Will my existing fixtures work with NorthLux™ 95 CRI T8 LED Tube Lights?

I'm an artist and I need better lights for my studio. I currently have 8 fluorescent bulbs that measure 47" from end to end. The NorthLux sounds perfect but I need to know exactly what I need in order to use them. Will my existing fixtures work or will I have to replace them? 

The first thing to check is to ensure that our 4-ft T8 lamps will physically fit in your fixture. If your current lamps measure 47" (hopefully 48" if you include the pins), that sounds like we're definitely in the ballpark!

​If you can provide additional photos or model numbers of the current lamps, that should be helpful for us to confirm. A common designation, which would affirm physical fit, would be "F32T8".

We will next want to confirm electrical compatibility. Our T8 lamps can be used in fixtures without rewiring anything, if the fluorescent ballast used in the fixture is listed on our compatible ballast list. The compatible ballast list can be found in the instruction manual below:

https://www.waveformlighting.com/datasheets/UM_4024.pdf

Should the ballast model not be listed on our compatible ballast list, the fixture will need to be rewired to bypass the ballast completely. Additional connectivity diagrams are also shown on the instruction manual posted above.

Below is the photo of what I have. I put these lights up sometime in the early 90s so everything is quite old. I see the code F40T12 which is not what you specified (F32T8) so something tells me I'm going to have to replace everything. 

The F40T12 is an older, larger lamp compared to the F32T8, but the length and pin connection are identical, so the good news is that the existing fixture will physically accommodate our T8 LED lamps.

​The (slightly) bad news is that the F40T12 fluorescent lamps use a different type of ballast technology that our lamps are not compatible with. This means that the existing fixture will need to be rewired such that the fluorescent ballast is completely removed, or bypassed.

The fixture will need to be rewired according to the diagrams shown in the installation manual, which I have linked to below:

https://www.waveformlighting.com/datasheets/UM_4024.pdf

If you are not familiar with or are uncomfortable with rewiring your fixture, we would recommend working with an electrician to get that complete.

The fixtures I have are really old and were pretty cheap to begin with. Would it make more sense to just take them out and get new ones? If so, could you point me to ones that you would recommend? 

From a safety and performance perspective, old fixtures are generally not a problem, unless you are seeing some significant corrosion or other signs of fixture degradation.​If, however, for aesthetics or other reasons you are looking to replace the fixtures completely, that can also be an option for sure.​It can be a bit tricky to identify new compatible fixtures, however, as many are still sold with fluorescent ballasts inside, and we have no way to guarantee compatibility since fixture manufacturers will often swap out the ballast inside the fixture without advance notice.

We wish we had a list of tested fixtures, but unfortunately we do not have any at this time. A search for "LED ready T8 fixtures" online may yield some results for fixtures which specifically do not have the fluorescent ballast pre-installed. Our lamps should be fully and immediately compatible with fixtures that have this designation.

How about these? LED Ready High Bay

We've reviewed the specs for PLT-20023, and while we have not tested this product, I believe this should work well with our T8 LED lamps.​The "single ended direct-wire" and T8 4-ft length specifications are the key specs, both of which are a match with ours.​

LED Strip Lights for Copying Film with DSLR Camera

I'm planning on replacing the fluorescent tubes in the 24"x36" light table I use for copying film negatives and positives with a DSLR camera. High CRI is important and I want to stay in the D50 or 5600k color temperature range. Do you have any recommendations or know of customer experiences for this kind of application? I'd like to do some tests with the FilmGrade and Absolute series, but I don't see a sample kit for the Absolute D50 lights.

Our D50 and 5600K light sources with 95/99 CRI sound like a great fit for your needs. While we do not have any specific case studies that we could point you towards, I'm confident that these specifications will optimize for color fidelity and accuracy in image capture.

You mention that the dimensions of the light table are 24" x 36" - in which case, it may not be feasible to fit our 4-ft T8 LED tube lights in the fixtures unless your light fixtures happen to be 48".

As you mention, our LED strip lights may be a great alternative option. While some additional assembly and wiring will be required, our ABSOLUTE SERIES D50 LED strip lights, or our FilmGrade 5600K LED strip lights could be installed into your current fixture and provide you with a nice improvement in color quality.

We unfortunately do not offer a sample kit for the ABSOLUTE SERIES LED strip lights. We do offer a free returns policy, however, so you may want to take advantage of that to test and compare the two products. All we ask is that you keep the LED strips in tact, including keeping the adhesive liner in place.

When evaluating the options for the Absolute LED series the linear modules 5 pack made the most sense for my application, both from a cost stand point and installation in the light table. The listing for the Absolute module 5 pack says they are individually packaged, but they are all on one board. There’s no way to properly compare the FilmGrade strip and the Absolute modules in the light table without separating the modules. Also there’s no information about how to separate the modules.

What should I do? I feel the Absolute linear module listing on the web site is misleading. From the listing I expected to get 5 separate Absolute modules. That would be easy to compare to the FilmGrade by putting two Absolute modules on each side within the light table and running the FilmGrade strip around the perimeter inside the light table. With the 5 modules on a single board it will be very difficult to get even lighting to compare to the FilmGrade strip.

The 5-pack of the ABSOLUTE SERIES are joined together along the long-edge, and can be separated by bending the modules along the score-line. They can be a bit difficult to separate, and may require a bit of force before they begin to loosen a bit.

The 5-pack modules are eligible for return even after they are separated into individual modules, so please feel free to proceed with the installation for testing. Should there be any need to return the modules, we would be more than happy to accept your return.

Full Spectrum Flicker-Free T8 LED Tube Light for Fluorescent Replacement

I am looking to replace our light table fluorescent tubes with your CENTRIC DAYLIGHT™ Full Spectrum Flicker-Free T8 LED Tube Lights. In this situation where one is working on top of the lights would we order the 5000 or 6500K lamps? Also, these Mainline Tables have fluorescent dimmers, would this work with your lamps? 

Without knowing more about light table usage, the color temperature selection may come down to personal preference and comfort. The 5000K color point lamps will emit more of a cool warm light, while the 6500K color point lamps will emit light similar to direct full sunlight.

Below is the related article which may help with your question.https://www.waveformlighting.com/art-painting/difference-between-5000k-and-6500k-bulbs

However, if you find one option to be preferable over the other, simply let us know and we would be happy to issue a return label for a full refund under our 30-day return policy.

Unfortunately, our T8 LED tube light products are not compatible with dimmers, which would include the dimmer on your light table.

LED Tube Lights Fluorescent Replacement Installation

If I have Type A bulbs that are designed for use with a ballast system, will they still function correctly in a non-ballast environment? Can they be connected as if they are Type B, or will the lack of ballast create problems?

Is there an easy way to tell if the lamp is single-ended? Should I assume they are all double-ended unless otherwise marked?

We are certainly in agreement that removing the fluorescent ballast is an excellent idea, especially given the compatibility and potential safety concerns that you experienced.

By definition, UL Type A lamps will require a fluorescent ballast to operate, so once the fluorescent ballast have been removed, you will not be able to use the UL Type A lamps in those fixtures anymore.

That being said, some products, such as Waveform Lighting's T8 LED tubes, can be used in both ballast and non-ballast fixtures. In terms of the UL Type nomenclature, they are considered UL Type A+B.

If you've been able to confirm that your lamps are UL Type B (ballast-bypass), you will need to confirm with the manufacturer or product marking to see whether those lamps are designed for single-ended or double-ended installation. All single-ended installations will use non-shunted lampholders, while double-ended installations may be shunted or non-shunted.

Do you have a high CRI T8 replacement in a 2-foot length?

I see you have a T8 CRI in a 4-foot tube. I am looking for a direct replacement for 2-foot T8 Fluorescents in the Studio. We need a total of 8 lamps for now. Do you have a suitable product? 

Unfortunately, we do not sell T8 LED lamps in the 2-ft length at this time.

Do you have a high CRI 48" 5000k T8 LED tubes replacement with no PWM flicker?

I am currently looking for replacement 48" 5000k T8 LED tubes for my office. I want something with a high CRI and also no PWM flicker. I see your company has two listings. "CENTRIC DAYLIGHT™ Full Spectrum Flicker-Free T8 LED Tube Light" and "NorthLux™ 95 CRI T8 LED Tube for Art & Studio" Is there a difference between the two? How "Flicker-Free" are they?

Our 5000K high CRI, flicker-free LED tube lights sound like a great fit for your office space!

As mentioned, the two products that have the same part number listing are indeed the same product. They have been listed on separate product pages for marketing purposes, and we do apologize for the confusion caused.

Our T8 lamps do not use PWM as they are not designed to be dimmable. As such, their flicker % is kept to below 2%. (All PWM dimming systems have a 100% flicker rate). In addition to photometric testing, we also periodically perform tests using a smartphone's slow motion video capture mode and can confirm that we do not observe any flashing behaviors associated with non flicker-free lamps.

Also, our test report for T8 LED tube light in 6500K shows the measured flicker values of 2% and a flicker index of 0.00. The electronics of the 5000K are the same and we would expect similar, if not identical, flicker metrics.

One additional factor to consider would be whether or not a fluorescent ballast is installed and used in the current T8 fixture. For our lamps, eliminating the fluorescent ballast can be a sure-fire way to ensure that the ballast is not introducing any extra voltage or current fluctuations that can lead to additional flicker.

https://www.waveformlighting.com/photometrics/TR_4024.65.pdf

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