Flourescent/strip light help if possible please.

[scooby1]

I wonder if someone would be very kind and tell me what sort of light I have over the bench in my workshop please ? I installed it many years ago and it has suddenly stopped working and I assumed that it would be the "starter". But I have added some images below because I don't know what type of light it is (Flourescent or LED ?) and I don't know what to look for when I go shopping. Apologies for my ignorance but I would be very grateful for any help. The bulb is 1.5m in length and 35mm in diameter. Is the unit so old that I would be better buying a complete new light ? EDIT. I have checked the fuse in the 13 amp plug and that is O.K.

 

[fixitflav]

I think that's a fluorescent (note spelling!) lamp, ~5ft long so 50 watt. It could be the starter or the tube itself. If you have a spare starter you could try that. I would guess a new starter is cheaper than a new tube, but if that's wrong I'm sure somebody will correct me. Start with the cheaper of the 2.

 

[flameport]

That is a very old fluorescent fixture which when fitted with the correct T12 tube will start without needing a starter.

However T12 tubes have not been made for well over a decade, T8s will fit in it but are unlikely to work reliably or at all, and as all fluorescent tubes are now obsolete, it's time to buy a new LED fitting such as this https://www.toolstation.com/integral-led-lightspan-ip20-ik08-batten/p88377

 

[Harry Bloomfield]

I installed it many years ago and it has suddenly stopped working and I assumed that it would be the "starter".

Correct - that is a very old fitting, not really worth bothering to get it working, better to just replace it with a new LED version.

 

[scooby1]

Wow, thank you so much Gentlemen for all that advice. There is some text on the tube and I did take some photos. but they werem't legible. I would like a really bright light above the workbench. Do I look for the amounty of lumens in a new unit to determine that ? And thank you @flameport for the Toolstation link. I really do appreciate the help that you have all given me. Thank you.

 

[ericmark]

The old tube was 65 watt, fat, it could be replaced with a 58 watt thin, but I found they did not last long, but these could be replaced with a 22 watt LED tube. With the ballast and starter they could be a direct replacement, but not sure with the capacitor? It can be rewired.

Then you can use a LED tube, wired as shown, does not matter which way around. Not sure about the integral units, problem is if they fail, whole new unit required, and it seems there are moves to ban them, so in the future may need to return to a fitting and lamp.

 

[martygturner]

For the cost and mucking around you could just replace it with say : https://www.toolstation.com/v-tac-led-batten-cw-tubes-ip20/p33970

 

[scooby1]

The old tube was 65 watt, fat, it could be replaced with a 58 watt thin, but I found they did not last long, but these could be replaced with a 22 watt LED tube. With the ballast and starter they could be a direct replacement, but not sure with the capacitor? It can be rewired. View attachment 379889 Then you can use a LED tube, wired as shown, does not matter which way around. Not sure about the integral units, problem is if they fail, whole new unit required, and it seems there are moves to ban them, so in the future may need to return to a fitting and lamp.

Thank you for that very comprehensive reply. It was much appreciated.

 

[scooby1]

For the cost and mucking around you could just replace it with say : https://www.toolstation.com/v-tac-led-batten-cw-tubes-ip20/p33970

Yes. I think that you are right and what you have suggested is the way to go. I never had the cover on the old lamp and it looks as if the one in your link doesn't have one either which doesn't bother me. I assume that it lets more light out without a cover. It would be handy if I could find one that was 1500mm in length tather than 1200mm though. And 1850LM (Lumens ?) doesn't seem very bright although I have to admit I am totally out of my depth at tis stage !!!

 

[martygturner]

Its pretty bright... but if you want brighter and 1500mm length then https://www.toolstation.com/v-tac-ip20-led-super-slim-batten-with-samsung-chip/p34382

 

[scooby1]

Its pretty bright... but if you want brighter and 1500mm length then https://www.toolstation.com/v-tac-ip20-led-super-slim-batten-with-samsung-chip/p34382

You are being so helpful. Thank you very much for that link. I presume that the light tubes are readily available if the one supplied ceases to work ? Some of the reviews aren't very good, particularly as far as the warranty is concerned. But they have 3 in stock at my local TS and so it might be the one for me. Thanks again for your help.

 

[flameport]

And 1850LM (Lumens ?) doesn't seem very bright although I have to admit I am totally out of my depth at tis stage !!!

It isn't.

Led 'tubes' are an exercise in shoehorning LEDs into places they were never designed for, and using such items will result in disappointment. Overheating, short life, inadequate light output and so on.
In many cases including yours, the fitting will need to be rewired internally to use such things.
Far quicker and easier to dispose of the obsolete fluorescent fitting and just fit a new LED batten.

 

[martygturner]

it depends on the weight, for say under 7kg then https://www.toolstation.com/fischer-self-drill-driva-pd100-plasterboard-fixing/p75893

or above :

GripIt Plasterboard Fixings

Hanging heavy stuff on plasterboard? It's a doddle with GripIt - these 18mm plasterboard fixings can hold weights of up to 74kg, making them perfect for installing items such as large shelves and cabinets.Installation couldn't be easier. Simply use a 18mm flat drill bit to drill a hole in the...

www.toolstation.com

 

[plugwash]

Far quicker and easier to dispose of the obsolete fluorescent fitting and just fit a new LED batten.

The fundamental problem is there are no standards for LED fittings and lamps. So your options are either integrated LED fittings, or retrofits for fittings designed for other types of lamp. Both suck in their own ways.

 

[scooby1]

it depends on the weight, for say under 7kg then https://www.toolstation.com/fischer-self-drill-driva-pd100-plasterboard-fixing/p75893

or above :

GripIt Plasterboard Fixings

Hanging heavy stuff on plasterboard? It's a doddle with GripIt - these 18mm plasterboard fixings can hold weights of up to 74kg, making them perfect for installing items such as large shelves and cabinets.Installation couldn't be easier. Simply use a 18mm flat drill bit to drill a hole in the...

www.toolstation.com

I'm not sure how the question that prompted this reply arose but my lamp is not going into plasterboard, it is going into vertical 1" chipboard which in turn is screwed into one of the 6" thick concrete panels that make up the walls of my workshop.