How to remove ballast from LED tube fitting

[mameha]

I have changed a fluoro T8 tube bulb to LED.
As first it did not work (flickering), but I removed the starter and it is now stable.

I wonder if I should also remove the magnetic ballast?
I guess this will use less power and increase longevity?

If so, to bypass the ballast am I right in thinking that I simply unscrew the two brown wires from the terminal block, then connect them together using a new terminal block? (see photo)

 

[danechip]

As far as I am aware, you remove the ballast completely for LED as it may damage your new lamp. I have been and had a look to confirm. Dan.

http://www.homepower.com/articles/home-efficiency/electricity/changing-fluorescent-tubes-leds

 

[mameha]

Thanks, can anyone advise if the rewiring I suggested is correct or will cause a problem?

 

[mikeyd]

Yes, remove the ballast and connect the wires together. Also remove the wiring to the socket for the starter, to stop anyone putting a starter back in.

 

[mameha]

OK... so its not going to blow the bulb or fitting if I put those two brown wires (in the photo) together, right?
The diagram on the ballast (see photo) suggests the top wire is live and the bottom one is neutral, so by connecting these wires I will be connecting L to N, not L to L, is this OK?

 

[EFLImpudence]

Look at it another way -

Connect the new tube to the supply correctly.

 

[mameha]

I wish I could but there's plenty of wires and it is a bit beyond me.

I've added two more photos.

I can see the incoming wires (white sleeve) coming in from the power supply.
These go into terminal block and then onto the starter/ballast.
I guess I have to rewire that bit so it goes to the two ends of the fitting somehow.
I'm getting lost thinking about doing it that way.

I was hoping I could just bypass the ballast by connecting the two brown wires that go in/out of it, I reckon either this will work it or will blow it up.

 

[Taylortwocities]

How hard can this be.

You have two wires coming in (live and neutral) and you have only two wires to connect to the LED lamp- also live and neutral.
Everything else can be removed.

 

[mameha]

OK having looked again at the photos, I think the blue wires are all already wired up correctly.
I just need to put the two brown wires together, this bypasses the ballast.

I just wanted to get a 'yep sounds right' before I go ahead.

 

[danechip]

LED Tube Wiring Diagram for LED Retrofit To Fixture With Magnetic Ballast
Installing an LED tube light in an existing fluorescent fixture is relatively simple. If the fixture has an electronic ballast, you need to remove that and then wire the power directly to the end sockets. This is fairly simple, and typically you can use the existing wire in the fixture and then just add some wire nuts. If you have an older fixture with a magnetic ballast and starter, you will have to remove or open the starter and remove or short the magnetic ballast. Remember, of course, that when servicing a fluorescent fixture or lamp for any reason, electrical power to the entire fixture should be disconnected. This is not always practical in situations where a large number of fixtures are controlled from the same power control (such as in open office areas). In these cases, insulating gloves and a nonmetallic ladder should be used if the fixtures must be serviced when power is present.

Below, are some diagrams and then some pictures I took of an actual installation in a fixture.
Wiring Diagram for Retrofit of Fixture with Electronic Ballast

Electronic Ballast with Wires Clipped

Here is a picture of the actual electronic ballast that I removed from the fixture in this example.

Depending on how much wire you have to work with, it is a good idea to leave long enough wires leading out of the ballast to be able to reconnect the ballast with wire nuts, if you should ever want to convert the fixture back to use for fluorescent bulbs or want to use the ballast somewhere else. In this example, I have clipped the wires a little too close to the ballast, but then, I am not planning on ever using this ballast again.

Now, here is a picture of the wires connected with wire nuts.
Wires Connected with Wire Nuts

In the picture above, I have placed the electronic ballast with the clipped wires in the fixture so that you can see how it was wired previously, but you would, of course, remove the ballast from the fixture.

Wiring Diagram for LED Retrofit

I don't have any pictures right now of a retrofit to a fixture with a magnetic ballast and starter, but here is a simple wiring diagram.

LED Tubes - Wiring Diagram for LED Retrofit to Fixture with Magnetic Ballast

So, that's all there is to it.

 

[DetlefSchmitz]

I don't think you are doing anyone any favours by pasting copied stuff from american websites. It could confuse UK DIYers, apart from the copyright issues. Wire nuts are the creation of the devil.

 

[danechip]

Understood, but the circuit diagrams still remain the same. Line to one side and Neutral to the other as long as both ends have the pins facing one side of the tube it would work either way around.

 

[mameha]

Will hopefully get time to do this tonight and will report back if still alive.

 

[danechip]

Try this then.....

 

[oceansoul]

Not all tubes are like that though. Some have L & N at one end and disconnected pins at the other. So you may need to check if there is a diagram on the tube itself.