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Fluorescent Tube Question.

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Q.1. With an old conventional 5ft. fluorescent tube that is controlled by a fluorescent starter unit and choke, what happens if I reverse the tube in the fitting and switch on?

Q.2. What happens if I convert the old fluorescent fitting to accept a new HiSpec Thames 25 W 110-240 Volt L.E.D. single ended tube and I reverse it in the fitting and switch on?

Z.

  • 0

    the idea is to put L to one end, neutral to the other and short the starter

    That sounds dodgy too (if I've pictured the suggestion right) - push one end of the tube into the fitting first and the exposed pins on the other end could then be live (even if the current would be limited by the innards of the tube). Probably less of a issue with the newer 90-degree turn holders, but the older spring ones it would be very easy to do.

       - Andy..

  • 0 in reply to AJJewsbury

    no in the LED "tube" one end has a short and the other end an LED driver. they are not connected. 

    Only in the fitting is L one end, N the other and linked.

    Its not a great system either way. But probably no worse than a real tube ever was.

    mike

  • 0 in reply to AJJewsbury

    There is little or no chance of touching live pins in this instance, even if the end pins were connected in parallel. The tube will be inserted into both lamp cap slots, then rotated by 90 degrees. This action will then liven them up. So there are no exposed live parts. Even with the old spring tensioned lamp caps I have rarely found the need to touch the tube pins when inserting a new tube.

    Z.

  • 0 in reply to mapj1

    The new Hispec L.E.D. tube came with NO instructions or warning label. I will not be paying  just under £20.00 for a pack of warning labels that I rarely use. When I buy most new consumer units they come will many sticky labels included. The same should apply to the Hispec L.E.D. tubes.


    Z.

  • 0 in reply to mapj1

    I prefer the new L.E.D. tubes that require us to do no internal alterations of the fluorescent fitting. You just change the old F.S.U. with an L.E.D. fused unit,  and replace the old tube with the new L.E.D. tube. Quick, safe and easy.

    Z.

  • 0

    no in the LED "tube" one end has a short and the other end an LED driver. they are not connected.

    Ah with you! Sounds like the new tube was intended for a different type of conversion - leave the interval wiring as was, by some means short out the stater (solid, or fused) and then you can put the new tube in either way around reasonably safely. Sounds like the root of the problem was the "The old internals are totally disconnected in the old fitting. So just one end cap supplies L and N. " rather than the tube.

       - Andy.

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