We recently changed out about 25 fixtures in our office to LED panels. Work and look great, but in one of our larger rooms they would like for us to simply go with LED bulbs. I'm aware of the pros/cons with the Plug and Play LED Bulbs and plan to by-pass the ballasts. What I'm confused about is why the by-pass bulbs are more expensive than the plug and play? And could the plug and play not be hard wired as well or am I missing something?
LED Plug and Play Bulbs
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I've never heard of "Plug and Play bulbs". Ask the person that sells them why they are charging what they charge. What do you mean, "Not be hard wired"? How is that fixture supposed to get power? You are not allowed to have a removable fixture in a public area. Keeps people in the building from stealing them. You would be further ahead if you use the same fixture in all locations.
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Plug and play means they are compatible with an existing electronic ballast (if it is working) and all you do is swap out the tubes. Some tubes are sold as both plug and play and also direct wire capable. I don't recommend either type and only buy direct wire, dual ended powered tubes. II don't find them more expensive than P&P. They are available on Amazon for well under $7 for a 4' tube.
I think when you say Plug N Play, you mean ballast compatible tubes. Trouble with those is that if the ballast fails, you have no light, which was one of the problems you were likely trying to eliminate in the first place.
Only makes sense to me, to use the ballast bypass type.
As for cost, you can always find a cheaper product if you look hard enough. But at one point you have to ask yourself if you are getting what you paid for.
Only makes sense to me, to use the ballast bypass type.
As for cost, you can always find a cheaper product if you look hard enough. But at one point you have to ask yourself if you are getting what you paid for.
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5,468 Posts
I would imagine that plug and play bulbs ( use with ballast )
would have extra electronics in them,
to protect them from damage from the ballast.
Extra electronics cost extra money !
would have extra electronics in them,
to protect them from damage from the ballast.
Extra electronics cost extra money !
One more question I'm having. The bulbs we decided to go with require non-shunted tombstones (which I bought), but I'm having a hard time determining if all the tombstones have to be non-shunted or if only the one to which the power is being fed.
So, could I change out the line tombstones to non-shunted and leave the shunted tombstones on the other end?
So, could I change out the line tombstones to non-shunted and leave the shunted tombstones on the other end?
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5,468 Posts
If the tomb stones in the other end are NOT connnectted to anything ?
then yes you can leave them in.
then yes you can leave them in.
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