Replacing westy fluorescent tube with LED tube

[danmetallic]

Any ideas how I can break into this westy light and rewire so I can use a LED tube?

[danmetallic]

Ok scrub that I have it removed. Struggling getting my head wrapped around how to copy this rewiring plan now.

[danmetallic]

Ok have now wired up. Will test tomorrow.


The wires along the middle are now redundant.

New led tube.

[simoncummins]

I am liking this idea a lot, where did you get the tube. And not quite sure what you did with the wireing can you give a bit more of a description. Thanks.

[California Dreamin]

Looks neat but isn't that single row of LEDS very direction? I've had the same issue with one of my Westy lamps (same as yours)
My experience was ^^^^^^^^ the light doesn't spread even with the westy lens in place and secondly, the white light is very harsh.
My findings were to use 'warm white' LEDS, the type with built in wide angle lenses, for better spread. I've seen these so called tubes but they appear to be a row of standard LEDS ...no wide angle lenses?
I'm happy to be proven wrong as it certainly is a neat solution.

Martin

[danmetallic]

Simon, I got this tube from this seller on eBay http://bit.ly/1lh8L2d" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
With the wiring there's just a live running through the switch then to the right end of the lamp. And an earth to the left end.

Although I fear Martin might be right regarding it being too directional. Will try it out shortly and report back. Might have to track down a frosted version. We'll see.

[danmetallic]

Looks neat but isn't that single row of LEDS very direction? I've had the same issue with one of my Westy lamps (same as yours)
My experience was ^^^^^^^^ the light doesn't spread even with the westy lens in place and secondly, the white light is very harsh.
My findings were to use 'warm white' LEDS, the type with built in wide angle lenses, for better spread. I've seen these so called tubes but they appear to be a row of standard LEDS ...no wide angle lenses?
I'm happy to be proven wrong as it certainly is a neat solution.

Martin

Meant to ask if you had actually found a suitable tube as I think you might be right.

[trucker]

I'm really interested in this as one of my lamps doesn't work anyway (think it has something to do with the ballast)
It looks a really neat solution but I'm a little concerned about the light being to harsh, I suppose we'll have to wait until the evening to see what you think

Just seen the price of them

[simoncummins]

Could we take the tubes out of this.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/321241046397? ... 1423.l2649" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[California Dreamin]

I've got a strip of 50:50 LEDS and they are very bright...much more so than standard LEDS but the problem with 'spread' still remains..
I'm afraid mine is a compromise..definitely bright enough but a bit harsh so I'm not going to say that I've sussed it.
These are standard white which are too harsh.


Martin

[danmetallic]

Could we take the tubes out of this.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/321241046397? ... 1423.l2649" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Looks good although it has half the number of LEDs.

Have just bought some tracing paper to see how that acts as a diffuser. Will upload some pix later.

[danmetallic]

I've got a strip of 50:50 LEDS and they are very bright...much more so than standard LEDS but the problem with 'spread' still remains..
I'm afraid mine is a compromise..definitely bright enough but a bit harsh so I'm not going to say that I've sussed it.
These are standard white which are too harsh.


Martin

Looks good! Although the being able to see the actual LEDs is going to bug me.

I can now start to see why people have long hidden LED runs the length of their work area.

[danmetallic]

OK! So I couldn't be happier with this. The picture below shows led one on the left and old fluro tube on the right. Colour is almost exact match and light is certainly brighter.



I think the reason this particular config works over others is this tube has twice as many LEDs as most of the ones I have seen, giving a more uniform light.

Now to order tubes for the other three.

[danmetallic]

Another with camera light balance to show LEDs. Although it doesn't look like this in use due to brightness.

[trucker]

Very nice