Reply #28: LED Vs. Fluorescent [View All]

[BestBrightLED]

LED TUBES VS FLUORESCENT TUBES
"LED fluorescent tube" is a misnomer. LED lights and fluorescent lights are completely different technologies. LEDs are very small bulbs illuminated by movement of electrons in a diode. Fluorescent bulbs use electrodes and a gas combination of argon and mercury to produce light. So the name "LED fluorescent tube" really refers to an LED tube that reminds us of traditional fluorescent tubes (likely above your head as you read this).

LED lights should also not be confused with compact fluorescent light (CFL) bulbs. CFLs use the same technology as fluorescent tubes to produce light, but on a smaller scale. They are a replacement for the incandescent bulbs commonly found in most home light fixtures. CFLs have garnered a lot of press because of their energy efficiency and environmental benefits (i.e. they use less power).

An LED tube is made up of hundreds of individual LEDs. They come in a variety of sizes (2, 4, 6, and 8ft), different temperatures (i.e. different colors of light) and varying arrays of LEDs. They can be purchased with new fixtures, or used for retrofitting existing fixtures. Replacement LED tubes do not require the use of ballast, thus allowing you to save even more energy, and if you’re used to hearing the ‘buzz’ or hum of your fluorescent lights, that will be eliminated when the ballast is no longer used.


To give recognition where it’s due, fluorescent tubes are a great invention. They have been lighting most of America ever since GE brought them to market back in 1938. They are four times more energy efficient than incandescent bulbs and are said to last 10 times longer. Of course there are disadvantages too.
Fluorescent tubes contain mercury and phosphor which present health and environmental risks. Lights require ballasts which adds to the cost of the lamp and can cause a buzzing noise. Finally, they flicker and the light is often drab.

When comparing LEDs to fluorescent tubes, here are four key specifications you should review:

**Lumens – This is the unit of measurement for strength of light. Look for tubes with 1500 lumens or more.

**Watts – This is a unit of measurement for power consumption. Four foot LED tubes typically use 15 to 25 watts, while fluorescent tubes use more than 30 watts.

**Lifespan – This is how long the bulb will last. It’s measured in hours. 50,000 hours is common for LED tubes.

**Color temperature – The temperature of the light is the color of the light. It is measured in units of absolute temperature, or Kelvin (K). 3000K is considered warm (yellowish), 4100K is considered neutral, and 5800 K is cool (bluish).
Replacement Benefits:

**Long Life: 50,000 + hour lifespan exceeds even the highest quality fluorescents tubes
**Extreme Efficiency: Over 80% more efficient than traditional fluorescents tubes
**Flicker-Free Lighting: Eliminate eye strain and headaches associated with fluorescents lighting
**No buzzing/hum: the ballasts on some fluorescent lights cause an irritating hum, but since the ballast is not needed with LED bulbs, you’ll never hear that again.
**More Energy Savings: Tubes require no ballast saving even more energy
**Shatter-Proof Design: Will not break even if dropped.
**No ballast required: saving you even more money on new installs.
**No Mercury Inside: Allows the use of tube lighting when mercury contamination is not an option
**Flexible Voltage: Use tube lighting in AC 110~277V
**No Interference: Perfect for settings where precise instruments can be disturbed by fluorescent tubes
**Instant Starting: Starts right away no matter the temperature or conditions


One - 100 Watt Incandescent bulb costs approximately $42 dollars to run per year at 12 hours per day. But don't forget that since an incandescent bulb only lasts 1000 hours, chances are you would have bought at least 4 replacement bulbs over the course of the year, bringing your total cost for just one light fixture to $50.

Compare this to…

One - 10 Watt Replacement LED Bulb costs approximately $4.05 to run per year at 12 hours per day. Since it was on for approximately 4000 hours it still has nearly 10 years of life! Even throughout its entire 11 year life a Replacement LED Bulb will cost approximately $120 while a traditional fixture using an incandescent bulb will cost nearly $550!

I have a LED company have been doing this for years.. if your guys have any questions shoot me an email..
Dan