NOTE: There are two types of ballasts: electronic and magnetic. Make a close cut and ensure that there are no longer than 2 inches of wires left.Īfter cutting the wires providing input to the ballast, cut the neutral and hot wires that go out on the other side of the socket. In general, the hot wires are black, and the neutral wires are white. Once you remove the tube and expose the ballast, cut the hot and neutral wires that supply input power. Remove the case, lamp, and any cover that prevents you from reaching the ballast. Most T8 tubes will have a hidden ballast, covered with a casing and resting behind the tube light. Now, locate the ballast on the existing fluorescent fixture.

Locate The Ballast On The fluorescent Light Fixture So, locate the circuit breaker switch that provides power to the area where you will carry out the bypass and turn it off. Turning off the Mains Power supply will ensure that you won’t get an electric shock during the process. Once you are confident about working with electrical wiring, sockets, and light fixture, Performing the following steps will allow a successful ballast bypass: 1. Here is a guide that will help you understand the basics of the electrical wiring system. Then, fix the new T8 fluorescent tube light, and that’s all.Īlbeit, not knowing (and following) the basics of electrical connections, wiring, and circuitry may lead you into a ‘shocking situation’ (for real)! On the surface, performing a ballast bypass seems simple: Remove the ballast and wave it goodbye. Nonetheless, if the existing fixture offers a shunted tombstone, you should replace it with a non-shunted variant. (Meaning that the tombstone should not show electrical Continuity.) If the existing fluorescent tube fixture you want to replace has a non-shunted tombstone, you can proceed with the ballast bypass procedure. You must also know that most T8 LED tubes need non-shunted tombstones (sockets). Type A+B: Also known as ‘Hybrid’ T8 LED tubes, Type A+B tubes work with or without a ballast. Installing them means you will have to remove an existing fluorescent tube ballast.

Type B: These tubes are also known as ‘Ballast Bypass’ or ‘Direct wire’ T8 LED tubes. Thus, when buying a Type A T8 LED tube, do not forget to ask for a ballast compatibility sheet. They are compatible with linear fluorescent tube ballasts. Type A: These are also known as ‘Plug and Play’ tube lights. DON'T FORGET ABOUT THESE OTHER GREAT OPTIONS

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