T5 LED Retrofit

[ingchr1]

I don't think there are any yet, but was wondering if any of the manufactures are working on T5 LED retrofit bulbs for reefing.

 

[topjimmy]

You mean like reefbrite?

 

[ingchr1]

Reefbrite, ATI, Giesemann

 

[BackToTheReef]

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[BackToTheReef]

I don't think there are any yet, but was wondering if any of the manufactures are working on T5 LED retrofit bulbs for reefing.

Are you talking direct replacement bulbs like the LED tubes that will replace T8 and T5s in regular (non aquarium) fixtures with electronic ballasts? Cree and Philips were the first with bulbs for the residential market, there are a ton now but I think for reefing you are going to see what the folks mentioned above. Reefbrite, etc.

 

[Doctorgori]

yeah similar to the previous replies: you mean Direct wire/remove ballast or direct retrofit/bulb replacement? ...
I haven’t seen either

 

[ingchr1]

Correct, remove the ballast and insert LED bulb. I think it would work really well for wide coverage and potentially be more cost effective then buying a new LED fixture(s).

Now you don't necessarily have to remove the ballast, but you would loose efficiency and would need to verify bulb compatibility with the ballast. I worked at a company that did a huge replacement across several of their facilities (tens of thousands of bulbs) but they failed to budget correctly for installation cost. So they left the ballasts in. But they did need to verify with the LED manufacturer that the bulbs were compatible with the ballasts in use.

 

[BackToTheReef]

Correct, remove the ballast and insert LED bulb. I think it would work really well for wide coverage and potentially be more cost effective then buying a new LED fixture(s).

Now you don't necessarily have to remove the ballast, but you would loose efficiency and would need to verify bulb compatibility with the ballast. I worked at a company that did a huge replacement across several of their facilities (tens of thousands of bulbs) but they failed to budget correctly for installation cost. So they left the ballasts in. But they did need to verify with the LED manufacturer that the bulbs were compatible with the ballasts in use.

Most of the LED tubes out there now will work with the ballast in place as long as it is electronic (or did a few years ago, I shifted from lighting to HVAC/building science) but honestly most folks in C&I applications are just replacing flourescent troffers/high bays with LED fixtures rather than retrofitting the tubes. Much like LED fixtures replacing MHs and now stuff like the reef brites replacing T5s.