LED tube lights are advanced, energy-efficient light sources designed as direct replacements for traditional fluorescent tube lamps. By consuming significantly less power and boasting an impressive lifespan, they deliver substantial savings on energy bills and virtually eliminate maintenance costs. Unlike their fluorescent predecessors, these tubes provide instant-on, flicker-free illumination with superior color rendering, all without the hazardous mercury. Bees Lighting's curated collection features a wide variety of LED tubes—including T8, T5, ballast-bypass, and plug-and-play options—to suit any commercial or residential application. Upgrade your space today for lighting that's better for your budget and the environment.
Why Choose LEDs Over Fluorescent Tubes?
Upgrading to LED tube lights is a smart decision for both your wallet and the environment. They outperform outdated fluorescent lamps in every key area:
- Massive Energy Savings: LED tubes consume up to 75% less energy, leading to a direct and significant reduction in your electricity bills.
- Exceptional Lifespan: Lasting up to 10 times longer than fluorescent tubes, LEDs virtually eliminate the cost and hassle of frequent replacements.
- Superior Light Quality: Enjoy instant, flicker-free illumination with better color accuracy. LEDs provide clean, consistent light without the annoying hum or warm-up delay of fluorescents.
- Safer & More Durable: Unlike fragile glass fluorescent tubes that contain toxic mercury, LEDs are mercury-free and often made from shatter-resistant materials, making them a much safer and more durable lighting solution.
A Guide to LED Tube Shapes and Sizes
Choosing the right LED tube starts with identifying the shape and size you need. The "T" in a tube's name stands for "Tubular," and the number that follows indicates the diameter of the tube in eighths of an inch. Understanding this simple system makes finding the perfect fit for your fixture easy.
T8 LED Tubes (1-Inch Diameter)
The T8 (diameter of 8/8 or 1 inch) is the most common and versatile LED tube light on the market. It's the industry standard for general lighting in offices, warehouses, retail stores, and garages. If you have a standard 4-foot rectangular light fixture, it most likely uses a T8 tube. They are the go-to, energy-efficient replacement for legacy F32T8 fluorescent lamps.
- Best for: General-purpose lighting in commercial and residential spaces.
- Fixtures: Standard 2-foot, 4-foot, or 8-foot ceiling fixtures and troffers.
T5 LED Tubes (5/8-Inch Diameter)
T5 tubes (diameter of 5/8 inch) are noticeably thinner than T8s and use a different pin connector (a mini bi-pin). Due to their slim profile, they are ideal for applications requiring high light output in a compact space. T5 High Output (HO) LEDs are particularly popular for modern high bay fixtures, under cabinet lighting, and sleek architectural designs.
- Best for: High bay lighting, display cases, and low-profile fixtures.
- Fixtures: Under cabinet lights, strip lights, and newer high bay fixtures.
T8 U-Bend LED Tubes
A T8 U-Bend tube is simply a T8 lamp that has been bent into a compact "U" shape. This design allows it to deliver the light output of a longer tube within a smaller, square fixture. They are the perfect solution for retrofitting 2x2 foot ceiling troffers commonly found in offices, hallways, and retail stores.
- Best for: Compact and square light fixtures.
- Fixtures: 2x2 foot ceiling troffers and other square-format light panels.
T9 Circline LED Tubes
T9 lamps are circular tubes (the tube itself has a diameter of 9/8 or 1.125 inches) designed to provide 360-degree illumination. They are ideal for round or square fixtures where a standard linear tube won't fit. You'll often find them in kitchens, closets, workshops, and decorative wall or ceiling fixtures that require broad, even light distribution.
- Best for: Round ceiling fixtures, floor lamps, and decorative sconces.
- Fixtures: Circular or shallow square surface-mounted fixtures.
A Simple Guide to LED Tube Wiring
Choosing the right wiring type is crucial for a successful and safe installation. LED tubes are designed to either work with, or completely bypass, the original fluorescent ballast inside your fixture. Here's a breakdown of the main types you'll encounter.
Type A: Plug-and-Play
Type A tubes are the easiest to install. They are "plug-and-play," meaning they are designed to work directly with the fixture's existing fluorescent ballast. You simply remove the old fluorescent tube and pop in the new LED tube.
- How it works: Uses the existing fluorescent ballast as a power driver.
-
Installation: Easiest. No rewiring is needed.
Type B: Ballast-Bypass (Direct Wire)
Type B tubes offer the most efficient and long-term solution. They are wired to bypass the ballast and connect directly to the building's line voltage. This requires cutting the wires to the ballast and rewiring the sockets.
- How it works: The ballast is completely removed from the circuit.
- Installation: Requires rewiring. This should be done by someone comfortable with basic electrical work.
Within Type B tubes, power can be delivered in two ways:
- Single-End Power (SEP): Power is delivered to only one side of the tube. The live and neutral wires connect to the pins on one end, while the other end is simply a dead-end for support. This is the most common and safest method for Type B tubes.
- Dual-End Power (DEP): Power is delivered to both sides of the tube. The live wire connects to the pins on one end, and the neutral wire connects to the pins on the opposite end.
Type A+B: Hybrid
Type A+B Hybrid tubes offer the ultimate flexibility. As the name suggests, they can function as a Type A (with a compatible ballast) or as a Type B (bypassing the ballast).
- How it works: Can be installed as a plug-and-play tube initially. When the ballast eventually fails, instead of replacing it, you can simply rewire the fixture to bypass it and the same tube will work.
- Installation: Can be easy (plug-and-play) or require rewiring (ballast-bypass).
Upgrade Your Space with Bees Lighting
Making the switch to LED tube lights is one of the smartest upgrades for any space, delivering immediate savings and years of reliable, high-quality performance. At Bees Lighting, we make it simple to find the perfect lighting solution for any project. From our energy-saving T8 and T5 LED light bulbs to versatile ballast-bypass and plug-and-play options, our entire collection is curated for performance and dependability. Browse our extensive collection of LED tube lights to find the ideal product for your needs. If you have any questions or need help choosing the right tube, our team of lighting specialists is here to assist you.
