What is a Ballast?

A ballast is a device that sits between your power source and your fluorescent light fixture. Its job is to protect the fluorescent bulbs by controlling the flow of electrical current into the fixture. Since fluorescent bulbs cannot regulate electric current on their own, without a ballast, the bulbs can describe too much power and burn out. In addition to significantly shortening the lifespan of the bulb, this tin create a prophylactic adventure.

  • Do LED Lights Demand Ballasts? An LED light does not crave a ballast because information technology uses a component called a "driver" to regulate the power going into the bulb.
  • Do I Accept to Remove Ballasts to Use LED Bulbs? This depends on the bulbs. Some LED bulbs may require yous to remove the ballasts. However, a high-quality plug and play LED tube - like Warehouse Lighting'south Triple-Fit 4' T8 LED – tin be used in straight wire fixtures as well every bit traditional fluorescent fixtures with ballasts. In other words, thanks to its flexibility, you lot use a plug and play led without ballasts or with.

What are Plug and Play LED Tubes?

Plug and play LED tubes are shaped merely like fluorescent bulbs and connect to the fixture the same way. Since plug and play LEDs are uniform with ballasts, you can simply remove a fluorescent bulb and replace it with an LED. Since no additional modification or wiring is required, it's as easy as replacing incandescent bulbs with LED bulbs in your habitation.

  • What is a Ballast Bypass? A anchor bypass is when yous remove a ballast from the electrical circuit that goes to your light fixture. Since the anchor sits between your power source and the lite fixture, this means either removing the anchor completely or just disconnecting the anchor and wiring the light fixture straight into the power source. Y'all can learn how to bypass a ballast hither.
  • Exercise I Have to Remove Ballasts to Employ LED Bulbs? This depends on the bulbs. Some LED bulbs may require you lot to remove the ballasts. However, a high-quality plug and play LED tube - similar Warehouse Lighting's Triple-Fit 4' T8 LED – can be used in direct wire fixtures also equally traditional fluorescent fixtures with ballasts. In other words, thanks to its flexibility, you use a plug and play led without ballasts or with.

Pros and Cons of Keeping the Ballasts (Plug and Play)

PROS

  • It's the easiest solution (no wiring or modification is required).
  • Yous withal have the choice to use fluorescent bulbs.
  • The ballasts, while not technically necessary, may provide an boosted level of protection to the light fixtures.

CONS

  • The ballasts will eventually clothing out and demand removal or replacement.
  • Some lighting experts believe LEDs provide better low-cal and are more than efficient when the ballasts are removed.

Pros and Cons of Removing the Ballasts (Ballast Bypass)

PROS

  • There are fewer components to wear out and require replacement.
  • Some lighting experts believe LEDs provide improve calorie-free and are more efficient when the ballasts are removed.

CONS

  • Rewiring of the fixtures is required.
  • You can no longer apply fluorescent bulbs in the fixtures.
  • You have to be careful fluorescent bulbs are not used, as this tin pose a safety issue.
  • The ballasts, while not technically necessary, may provide an additional level of protection to the low-cal fixtures.

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