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LED v Fluorescent Tubes: Key Differences & Benefits
More and more people are replacing their old fluorescent lighting with LED lighting. LED lighting provides a more eco-friendly and low cost option which has led many customers to make the switch.
In our guide on LED Tube light replacements ,we provided some useful cost examples. Plug and play replacement tubes are a great way to make the switch to an LED tube as they are easy to fit and don’t require an electrician to fit the bulb.
However, beyond cost, there are many other factors that make LED tubes stand out from their fluorescent counterparts.
In this guide, you will learn more about the reasons to ditch the flourescent tube and join the LED tube lighting world. You will learn more about:
A comparison between LED and Fluorescent tubes
Find out more about the specific differences including beam angles, installation and colour rendering
Find out more about our LED Tubes products
LED Tubes vs Fluorescent Tubes: A Comparison
We have compiled the following comparison table to help you get a quick grasp of the differences between fluorescent lighting and LED lighting:
| Purchase Area | LED Tubes | Fluorescent Tubes |
|---|---|---|
Lifespan and Warranty |
Lifespan of 25,000 to 50,000 hours. Warranty of 3-10 years depending on the brand. |
Lifespan of 7,000 to 15,000 hours. Warranty of 2-5 years. |
Installation |
No ballast |
Require a ballast |
Beam Angles |
From 160 to 325 degrees |
360 degrees |
Colour Rendering |
CRI of 80 or higher typically |
CRI of 60-75 typically |
Colour Temperatures |
From 2700k to 6500k |
From 2700k to 6500k |
Lumen Output |
High lumen output per watt of around 90 |
Lower lumen output per watt around 50-70 |
Energy Efficiency |
High efficiency rating |
More energy-efficient than incandescent lights, but less than LEDs |
Froster or Clear |
Both are available |
Both are available |
Material |
Glass or polycarbonate |
Glass |
Shatter Resistance |
Available |
Available |
Dimmable Options |
Dimmable or non-dimmable |
Dimmable or non-dimmable |
Recycling and Disposal |
Recyclable and safe to dispose of |
Harder to recycle and dispose of because they contain mercury |
Heat Resistance |
Resistant |
Resistant |
Heat Dissipation |
Generate less heat |
Generate more heat |
In summary, LED beats fluorescent across the board.
LED vs Flourescent Tubes in more detail
Below, we discuss the key differences between LED and flourescent tubes in more detail:
Lifespan and Warranty
LED Tubes
LEDs have longer lifespans in general, whether in tube or bulb form. An average LED tube can last up to 30,000 hours, while a more premium product can last for up to 50,000 hours.
For example, this T8 LED tube, comes with a lifespan of 30,000 hours and a warranty of three years.
Fluorescent Tubes
As for a fluorescent tube light, you’ll find that they will only last for a maximum of 15,000 hours. Their warranty may also vary according to the brand.
Installation
Fluorescent Tubes
A fluorescent tube needs a ballast to be installed correctly. This ballast for the fluorescent fitting regulates the amount of electricity that reaches the tube so that it matches its wattage.
LED Tubes
Of course, this doesn’t happen with LEDs as they’re easier to install and don’t require a ballast.
Beam Angles
LED Tubes
LED tubes are directional, meaning that they have narrower beam angles. Therefore, the resulting LED lighting can be more focused in the areas you want it which allows you to create diretional lighting.
To make the picture clearer, imagine buying a 16-watt LED tube with an angle of 160-200 degrees. It should give stronger working lighting than a fluorescent tube of the same wattage.
Fluorescent Tubes
Fluorescent tubes have a beam angle of 360 degrees which means the light scatters around the room and loses strength.
Colour rendering
In general, LED tubes have much higher CRI capabilities than fluorescent tubes. This means that their colour rendering is more accurate and closer to natural daylight.
For instance, a warm white LED tube with a 90+ CRI gives you far better results than the same colour temperature of a 75 rated fluorescent tube. A standard LED Tube CRI is around 80 and this again will help put colours in a better than light than typical fluorescent lighting which has typical CRI values in and around 60-70.
Lumen Output and Energy Efficiency
LED tubes tend to emit more lumens per watt in comparison to fluorescent light. Their lumen output can reach up to 150 lumens per watt. While fluorescent tubes can only provide 50-100 lumens per watt.
For instance, this T5 LED tube uses 7.5 watts to give 1100 lumens.
Of course, this makes LED tubes more energy-efficient. As a result, they can save you more money in the long run since they’ll be cutting down on your electricity consumption.
Materials
LED tubes are made of sturdier materials such as polycarbonate which means they can last longer than other types of tube lights which are more prone to breakage. In addition, they don’t contain mercury, which can have a number of negative effects on human health. For this reason, they’re also easier to recycle.
Heat Dissipation
LEDs don’t emit heat as much as fluorescent tubes. This is because LED tubes use most of their energy to produce light, not heat. In other light sources, including fluorescent tubes, heat is required to generate light. Therefore, they can heat up pretty quickly and affect the temperature in the room.
A summary
Beyond cost and environmental issues, LED tubes provide a number of positives over fluorescent counterparts. If you have a specific requirement that isn’t covered on this page, please give us a call and we will be able to assist you more directly.
Useful further reading
We have a number of other useful resources relating to LED Tubes:
LED v Fluorescent LED Tubes
How to replace your fluorescent tubes with LED counterparts (includes cost comparisons)
Our most popular brands Energizer, Osram & Sylvania
Our best picks for warm white, white and cool white Led Tubes
Frosted V Clear Led Tubes – what you need to know
Picking T8 Tubes – Budget, Mid-Range and Premium options
Picking T5 Tubes – Budget, Mid-Range and Premium options
Waterproof Led Tubes – what this really means
Glass v Polycarbonate LED Tubes
Single v Double Edge LED Tubes
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