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Dimmable fluorescent bulbs
Posted on 10/17/24 at 12:30 pm
Posted on 10/17/24 at 12:30 pm
Have fluorescent lights in my office and want them to be dimmable. Would I just switch out bulbs and throw a dimmer switch in? switch out the ballast?
5
Posted on 10/17/24 at 12:54 pm to DennisQuaid
Honestly it might be easier to get a remote controlled floor lamp.
Posted on 10/17/24 at 9:01 pm to DennisQuaid
quote:
Have fluorescent lights in my office and want them to be dimmable. Would I just switch out bulbs and throw a dimmer switch in? switch out the ballast?
Might be cheaper to convert them to LED but I could be wrong. This article looks like a good basic starting point:
LINK
Posted on 10/18/24 at 10:34 am to DennisQuaid
I did this in a previous office conference room. They were T8 tube fixtures. Had to change ballast in all fixtures, etc. Lighting tech has come a long way. If I had to do it over again, I would convert to dimmable led tubes or change the entire fixture.
Posted on 10/19/24 at 7:04 am to Fraid Knot
quote:
convert to dimmable led tubes or change the entire fixture.
This is your best path forward.
Posted on 10/20/24 at 10:07 am to Fraid Knot
Converting to LED tubes.. do you need to change the ballast too if you put these tubes in?
Posted on 10/20/24 at 3:34 pm to DennisQuaid
I've done it both ways, and i would reccomend you remove/disconnect the ballasts and use direct-wire LED bulbs.
Posted on 10/22/24 at 6:13 am to DennisQuaid
quote:
Have fluorescent lights in my office and want them to be dimmable. Would I just switch out bulbs and throw a dimmer switch in? switch out the ballast?
Most likely would have to change ballast. It'd be easier and less expensive. most likely, to replace the whole fixture with a dimmable LED. Unless they have really expensive lenses (assuming they are lay in troffers) its usually cheaper and easier to swap the fixture than change a ballast. Inexpensive LED fixtures do not even offer the choice of changing lamps....the fixture and lamp are one and the same. If they are deep parabolic lenses and you want to maintain the look changing the ballast(s) is not difficult, the hardest part is matching the ballasts with the right type of lamp and paying attention to the schematic on the ballast.
Posted on 10/22/24 at 9:19 pm to DennisQuaid
Go LED and make sure the dimmer switch is compatible with the bulbs
Posted on 10/23/24 at 7:06 am to duckblind56
quote:
Go LED and make sure the dimmer switch is compatible with the bulbs
Right, but what do I have to do with regards to the ballast?
Posted on 10/23/24 at 6:17 pm to DennisQuaid
I thought you were replacing the entire light fixture and going from fluorescent to LED?
Posted on 10/24/24 at 11:59 am to DennisQuaid
quote:
Right, but what do I have to do with regards to the ballast?
Depends on the lamp but most likely disconnect it and leave it in place. You can buy LED tubes that will function with existing ballasts. dimmable or not, LED tubes that do not need any ballast, LED lamps which require a specific type of ballast. Most likely the easiest retrofit would be buyng a new fixture altogether unless the existing fixtures are architecturally significant....say a deep highly polished parabolic Lense that cost $400 each. You can get 2X4 lay in dimmable lay in fixtures with line voltage tubes for around $70 each...with an acrylic lens or a center lens. If you need a deep high luster parabolic it would be about $250.
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