You can get LED tubes that are a direct replacement for fluorescent tubes.

In reply to a post by kasg:

You can get LED tubes that are a direct replacement for fluorescent tubes.

Oh, the last time I checked it required new fittings and transformer.

Just be careful with your LEDs - some of the cheap ones can cause other interference. I had some that seriously effected my FM reception.

You may be able to use some other form of light temporarily, so that the Fluorescent Tube doesn't have to be used, until it is properly replaced.

Also take a good look at your kitchen, you may find that you want lights in different places.

In reply to a post by billford:

When you turn a fluorescent light on, the starter and choke combine to generate a high voltage (several kV) spike to "strike" the tube. This is what will be causing the errors and, along with a high current initially supplied to the cathode heaters, is what causes eventual failure of the tube and/or starter.

Sadly, good linear fluorescents are still one of the most efficient way of generating light - more efficient than "energy saving" CFLs, and on a par with LEDs. On the other hand, the old wire-wound ballast and starter should have been sent to the scrap heap years ago. Electronic control units are (in my opinon) much better, more efficient, produce less RF hash and extend the life of the tube by preventing cathode sputtering.

None of this helps with the original problem though!

Morning Kasg

What surprised me with CFLs and their green credentials, is that if you open up the (bulky) base, you'll find about two dozen components, eg coils, capacitors, resistors, semin-conductors etc, so the manufacturing costs must be relatively high, also including the oil-to-plastic bulky base; thus I guestimate that even with a deliberate effort, at most about 25% would be recyclable, where-as for the "traditional" incandescent lamp, it is probably around 75% - acknowledging in both cases that collection in to the bulk quantities needed for recycling would also be expensive.

In reply to a post by PaulKirby:

In reply to a post by kasg:

You can get LED tubes that are a direct replacement for fluorescent tubes.

Oh, the last time I checked it required new fittings and transformer.

Not any more...
http://www.ledbulbs.co.uk/LED+Tubes+%26+Striplights

WoW, it will cost me £100 for one tube LOL.
I may stay with what I have now, have 12 new spare tubes.

In reply to a post by PaulKirby:

WoW, it will cost me £100 for one tube LOL.
I may stay with what I have now, have 12 new spare tubes.

I'm sure some people would happily pay that to keep the dreaded DLM away on their FTTC line Each to their own...

Edited by deleted (Fri 10-Oct-14 12:32:20)

In reply to a post by baby_frogmella:

In reply to a post by PaulKirby:

In reply to a post by kasg:

You can get LED tubes that are a direct replacement for fluorescent tubes.

Oh, the last time I checked it required new fittings and transformer.

Not any more...
http://www.ledbulbs.co.uk/LED+Tubes+%26+Striplights

Oh yes they do.

The Aurora LED tubes with a G5 base require a 24v constant voltage driver and are NOT suitable for connection to a conventional ballast.


and T8s require the fitting to be completely modified.

Edited by MHC (Fri 10-Oct-14 12:34:56)