EnVision LED T5/T8 Tube

T8 LED tubes replace fluorescent light bulbs for a more energy efficient alternative. They vary in lengths from 2-8 feet and commonly see use in office lighting, retail spaces, and hospitality locations. Tube bulbs come in different installation types as well, including Type A, Type B, Type A/B, and Type C.

Type A, also known as ballast compatible, plug-and-play, or direct fit lamps, these light bulbs rely on the existing ballast on the fixture. They offer a quick and easy way to retrofit fluorescent fixtures to LED. However, not every bulb can work with every ballast. Check their ballast compatibility to ensure the bulb can work with your ballast type.

Type B, ballast-bypass or direct wire, lamps cannot work with a ballast. Direct wire LED lamps require you remove, or bypass, the ballast prior to installation. They wire directly to the line voltage which eliminates maintenance costs associated with a ballast.

Type A/B, or hybrid, lamps can work as a plug-and-play light bulb and, once the ballast expires, it can bypass the ballast. However, they may not work with all ballasts.

Type C, or LED driver compatible tubes use an external LED driver instead of the existing ballast. Type C bulbs require a fixture mounted driver and install similarly to traditional fluorescent lamps and ballasts.

The ‘T’ stands for ‘tubular’ and indicates the shape of the lamp. The ‘8’ indicates the diameter of the bulb in 1/8 of an inch. For T8 lamps, it measures 8/8 or 1 inch in diameter.

Fluorescent ballasts control the flow of electrical current to a fluorescent fixture as these bulbs cannot regulate their own current. Many LED tubes, like ballast bypass or hybrid tubes, do not require a ballast to properly function. However, plug-and-play bulbs rely on an existing ballast much like traditional fluorescent bulbs.

LEDs use a driver to regulate power. They also protect the LED from fluctuations in the current or voltage which could damage it. They often use an internal driver but some, often commercial, LED lighting may use an external driver. That way, if the driver dies, you can save money by swapping out only the driver instead of the entire fixture.

Though LED bulbs require higher initial costs, they last longer than fluorescent bulbs and use less energy. LEDs can offer around 50,000 rated life hours while T8 fluorescent tube lights can last up to around 30,000 rated life hours.

LEDs also come in low wattages. EnVision LED Lighting offers some T8 tubes with as low as 8-watts.

EnVision LED Lighting offers a variety of LED tube bulbs, including T5 and T8 tubes. They offer 4-ft T8 tubes that include a built-in emergency backup, like this 15W LED T8 emergency tube. When the power goes out, these bulbs power up automatically using a lithium battery. They can provide emergency light for up to 90 minutes. It also includes a self-test function and can test itself monthly or yearly.

They also offer 2-, 3-, and 4-ft LED tubes, like this 15W LED T8, that work well as fluorescent retrofits, new construction, warehouse lighting, and commercial lighting. They come in a dual fit system which you can choose to rewire or use the existing ballast.

Additionally, they offer U-bend tube lights, like this 15W LED option, which can work with an existing ballast or double ended ballast bypass installation. U-bend lights feature a U-shaped design. EnVision LED Lighting’s U-bend tubes work with specific electronic ballasts or direct 120V-277V input, with single- or double-sided power inputs.