LED tube lights: Everything you need
to know
Here is all you need to know about LED tube lights, to
help you make the right choice for your home
Tube lights are common at homes and can be
found in bedrooms, drawing rooms, kitchens, and work spaces, as well as in
commercial installations. Tube lights are available in various sizes and
brightness levels, making their purchase choice confusing. Tube lights are
available as LED tube light and fluorescent tube light. Both have varieties, in
terms of brightness, length, utility, etc.
Type of tube light bulbs
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There
are several types of LED and fluorescent tube lights. The most common are
T5, T8, and T12. T means tubular, while the number represents the diameter
in eighths of an inches. For example, T8 represents 8/8th of an inch.
Thus, T8 means it has a diameter of 1 inch. The other diameters are
measured accordingly.
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Another
factor for tube lights is the power in wattage. Different tube lights have
different wattage.
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The
amount of light given out by a tube light is measured in lumen output.
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The
CRI or color rendering index represents the quality of light output with
100 CRI being equivalent to natural sunlight.
Fluorescent vs LED tube lights
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Fluorescent
tube lights are low-pressure mercury vapor gas discharge lamps that use
the principle of fluorescence to produce visible light. The flow of
electricity or electrons through these fluorescent lamps is regulated by
an electric ballast.
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LED
tube lights operate on the principle of light emitting diodes to provide
illumination. Owing to their low power usage, it is increasingly being
used to replace fluorescent tube lights to provide illumination.
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LED
tubes last longer, are highly energy-efficient, and use no mercury.
However, they would need an electronic component in the form of an LED
driver to regulate the electrical flow within the tube to eliminate the
use of a ballast.
