Flourescent Battens

[dishman]

Is there any difference in T8 tube battens these days? Not the tube but the actual batten with the ballast.

Is one from Wickes just as good as a big brand Philips?

 

[Taylortwocities]

There are two types
Basic ballast - this uses a electro-mechanical starter. You can spot these as the tube flashes a coupleof times before it comes on
High frequency fitting. This uses an elkectronic 'ballast' so the tube comes on when you hit the switch. Much more reliable. No flicker effect.

Personally, buy an HF fitting.

Info on the benefits here http://www.lyco.co.uk/advice/high-frequency-lighting-what-is-it/

Or you could go really modern and go for an LED fitting
https://www.tlc-direct.co.uk/Main_I...ting_Fluorescent_Index/LED_Battens/index.html

 

[ericmark]

Be it non HF or HF yes there is a difference between makes. Often hard to quantise however. With non HF ballast it's down to voltage. At X volts the unit will start to work, as the voltage rises then so will the current used but not like a simple resistor ohms law goes out of the window. So if your house has a supply of 240 volts most of the time and you select a ballast that will start a tube at 230 volts then that will work great, but if your house is at 230 volts most of the time then the same fitting will fail to start due to volt drop. But buy a fitting designed for 220 volt and run at 240 then may say 60W but will use more like 100W.

This is the main advantage getting a HF ballast it auto adjusts to voltage variations however here we start looking at fail rates. When a tube starts to flash swapping it for a new tube and most HF filling will last 25 years. However ignore that sign that the tube is on it's last legs and you could end up swapping the HF ballast with every tube change. Some units stand abuse better than others.

As to LED in the main the LED has half the output to fluorescent. Used in corridors they work well, but in work rooms you may need to double the number of lamps.

 

[winston1]

Be it non HF or HF yes there is a difference between makes. Often hard to quantise however. With non HF ballast it's down to voltage. At X volts the unit will start to work, as the voltage rises then so will the current used but not like a simple resistor ohms law goes out of the window. So if your house has a supply of 240 volts most of the time and you select a ballast that will start a tube at 230 volts then that will work great, but if your house is at 230 volts most of the time then the same fitting will fail to start due to volt drop. But buy a fitting designed for 220 volt and run at 240 then may say 60W but will use more like 100W.

This is the main advantage getting a HF ballast it auto adjusts to voltage variations however here we start looking at fail rates. When a tube starts to flash swapping it for a new tube and most HF filling will last 25 years. However ignore that sign that the tube is on it's last legs and you could end up swapping the HF ballast with every tube change. Some units stand abuse better than others.

As to LED in the main the LED has half the output to fluorescent. Used in corridors they work well, but in work rooms you may need to double the number of lamps.

A lot of rubbish in the first paragraph. You should use the correct ballast for the voltage. Using a lower voltage ballast will over run the tubes.

 

[Taylortwocities]

WInston, eric. He's just going to pop into Wickes and buy a florry. He does not intend to reinvent anything.

 

[dishman]

Don't worry I find it interesting. I enjoy looking into the details far too much however.

Is tlc-direct a reputable retailer as they have tubes at pretty good prices.

I don't think I am going to jump on the led tube train quite yet. Stick to the cheap and cheerful tubes. The HF variety sound like a better option though. Did not know about that difference so thanks for the information!

 

[securespark]

Wickes one looks OK, but is a bit dear.

B & Q one is cheap but looks a bit gash.

B&Q say their 58W flu's can be used under cupboards to provide more light....

TLC's HF is decent:

https://www.tlc-direct.co.uk/Products/HF158.html

But you will pay extra on top for VAT, delivery and tube.

 

[stillp]

TLC have very good prices on Thorn pop packs. Pity they don't have branches in the midlands.

 

[Taylortwocities]

If ordering florries from TLC, they won't deliver the tube unless its within thier local delivery area from one of their stores.

See TLC's Fragile Goods guide
https://www.tlc-direct.co.uk/Information/delivery/DeliveryRestrictions.htm#FragileGoods

 

[ericmark]

I went to all local whole sale and retail outlets about 5 years ago to get a new tube, only Wicks stocked them wanted a 65W fat tube so can't really fault Wicks. However 6 months ago needed another one and no one had them. There was a pile of wives craft supplies under the lamp so could not easy take it down to swap whole fitting so got a 24W LED tube from Electrofix and yes it works well, not as bright as a new fluorescent but still ample.

I am sure I could have got it cheaper but I consider petrol also costs money, so simply not worth hunting for one, just use local store who ever it is. Local B&Q to me has closed down twice, first it became a Charlie's second time it became The Range so don't even consider B&Q now.

 

[securespark]

If ordering florries from TLC, they won't deliver the tube unless its within thier local delivery area from one of their stores.

See TLC's Fragile Goods guide
https://www.tlc-direct.co.uk/Information/delivery/DeliveryRestrictions.htm#FragileGoods

Used to order many when I was S/E. Obviously they don't do it any more.

 

[DaveHerns]

Can you still get fat tubes ? I want 4 new ones for my double garage. The old ones are about 20 years old and I'm sure they're not as bright as they were

 

[Taylortwocities]

Didn't the EEC ban them?

 

[winston1]

Can you still get fat tubes ? I want 4 new ones for my double garage. The old ones are about 20 years old and I'm sure they're not as bright as they were

If they are have inductive ballasts with a starter you can replace them with T8 tubes of the same length.

 

[DaveHerns]

So the fat tubes were outlawed? I know I could fit T8s and I suppose it's that or leave the old ones till they fail