Norman Lamps, Inc.

The future of lighting is LED, and it is here now. LED T8 retrofit tubes are available at affordable prices in large volumes, ready to change the industry. Near 50% energy savings compared to fluorescent tubes and double the rated life hours. With a complete return on your investment in months instead of years, now is the time to switch all of your fluorescent tubes to LED. NLI is proud to offer an extensive selection of LED T8 tubes engineered for reliability, performance, and value in commercial, industrial, and institutional applications. These direct retrofit tubes replace the ubiquitous T8 fluorescent tubes found in millions of fixtures worldwide—offices, schools, warehouses, retail stores, healthcare facilities, and virtually every commercial building relies heavily on T8 linear fluorescent lighting. Converting these fixtures to LED delivers immediate and substantial energy and maintenance cost reductions while improving light quality and eliminating the mercury and disposal concerns associated with fluorescent technology.

T8 fluorescent tubes—1 inch in diameter with medium bi-pin G13 bases—represent the most common linear fluorescent size in commercial use. A typical 4-foot T8 fluorescent tube consumes 32 watts (though older magnetic ballast systems can push total system power to 38-42 watts including ballast losses). LED T8 tubes providing equivalent light output typically consume just 15-18 watts, delivering 40-50% direct energy savings. When replacing older T12 fluorescent systems or magnetic ballast T8 systems, the savings approach 60-70%. The difference multiplies rapidly across buildings—a small office with 100 T8 fixtures operating 12 hours daily saves approximately 17 watts per tube × 2 tubes per fixture × 100 fixtures × 12 hours × 365 days = 14,900 kWh annually, worth $1,500-2,200 at typical commercial electricity rates. For large facilities with thousands of fixtures, LED T8 conversions often represent six-figure annual savings.

The installation method for LED T8 tubes significantly affects long-term reliability and performance. The three main options are: (1) Ballast bypass (direct wire/line voltage) where the fluorescent ballast is removed or bypassed and tubes connect directly to line voltage—this is the most reliable approach, eliminates ballast failure as an issue, and provides maximum energy efficiency; (2) Ballast-compatible (plug-and-play) tubes that work with existing electronic ballasts without rewiring—convenient for installation but dependent on ballast condition and subject to ballast failures; (3) Universal/hybrid tubes that can operate either ballast-compatible or with ballast bypass—offering flexibility but often at premium prices. For maximum long-term reliability and lowest total cost of ownership, ballast bypass is generally recommended despite requiring more extensive installation.

The ballast bypass installation process is straightforward for anyone comfortable with basic electrical work: turn off power at the breaker, remove fluorescent tubes and fixture cover, identify and disconnect ballast wiring, connect sockets directly to line voltage (either single-end or double-end wiring depending on tube type), secure connections with wire nuts, label the fixture indicating LED tubes required, replace cover, and install LED T8 tubes. Many organizations hire electrical contractors to perform mass conversions, with experienced crews completing 50-100+ fixtures per day. The one-time wiring investment eliminates all future ballast-related issues and ensures decades of reliable LED operation. Leaving the disconnected ballast in place (secured safely) or removing it entirely are both acceptable approaches.

The lifespan improvement over fluorescent technology is one of the most compelling advantages. T8 fluorescent tubes typically last 20,000-24,000 hours rated (often less in real-world conditions with frequent switching), requiring replacement every 2-3 years in commercial settings with 10-12 hour daily operation. LED T8 tubes offer 50,000-60,000 hour lifespans—meaning 10-15+ years of typical commercial use with no maintenance. For facility managers and building operators, this dramatically reduces the ongoing labor and material costs of replacing failed fluorescent tubes. A building with 500 fixtures (1,000 tubes) would require replacing 400-500 fluorescent tubes annually; switching to LED T8 tubes eliminates this maintenance burden for a decade or more. The labor savings alone often justify the LED investment, even before considering energy savings.

Light quality from modern LED T8 tubes equals or exceeds fluorescent performance across key metrics. High CRI (Color Rendering Index) ratings of 80-85 as standard and 90+ available as premium options ensure colors appear natural and accurate—critical for retail environments, offices, healthcare facilities, and anywhere color perception matters. Unlike fluorescent tubes that flicker at 120Hz (with electronic ballasts) or 60Hz (with magnetic ballasts), quality LED T8 tubes operate with high-frequency drivers producing flicker-free illumination. This eliminates the subtle flickering and strobing effects that can cause eyestrain, headaches, and reduced productivity with fluorescent lighting. The instant-on capability of LED technology provides full brightness immediately when switched on, versus the multi-second delay of fluorescent tubes—particularly noticeable in cold environments where fluorescents are notoriously slow to start.

Color temperature options for LED T8 tubes allow matching or upgrading your lighting environment. The 3000K-3500K warm white range provides comfortable lighting appropriate for offices, healthcare, and hospitality applications where warm, inviting illumination is desired. The 4000K neutral white is extremely popular in commercial and office settings, delivering crisp, productive lighting without being overly blue. The 5000K daylight option produces very white, vibrant light preferred in industrial, manufacturing, and retail applications where maximum brightness perception and color accuracy are priorities. Some LED T8 tubes offer color-tunable capability, allowing adjustment between warm, neutral, and cool white to match tasks or preferences without changing tubes.

Common LED T8 tube lengths match standard fluorescent sizes: 2-foot, 3-foot, 4-foot, and 8-foot, with 4-foot being by far the most common. Verify your fixture's tube length before ordering—tubes are not interchangeable between lengths. The medium bi-pin (G13) base spacing matches fluorescent T8 tubes, ensuring mechanical compatibility with existing sockets. Some LED T8 tubes are designed for single-ended power (both pins on one end are live, the other end is unpowered), while others use double-ended power (one pin on each end is live). This wiring difference is important during installation—verify the LED tube's wiring requirements and wire sockets accordingly.

Lumen output selection should match your application needs—standard LED T8 tubes typically deliver 1,500-2,200 lumens per 4-foot tube, equivalent to standard fluorescent T8 output. High-output options at 2,400-3,000+ lumens replace fluorescent high-output tubes or provide increased illumination for high-ceiling applications, warehouses, or spaces requiring maximum brightness. For applications where current light levels are excessive (over-lit), using lower-lumen LED tubes provides additional energy savings beyond the LED efficiency gains while maintaining adequate illumination. Light level optimization often yields 60-70% total energy reduction compared to fluorescent baseline.

Common Applications: Offices and commercial buildings, schools and universities, hospitals and healthcare facilities, retail stores, warehouses and industrial facilities, parking garages, anywhere T8 fluorescent tubes are currently in use

Key Advantages: 40-50% energy savings (up to 60-70% replacing older systems), 50,000-60,000 hour lifespan eliminates frequent maintenance, instant-on operation, flicker-free for reduced eyestrain, high CRI options, works in cold temperatures, mercury-free, ballast bypass eliminates ballast failures

Common Lengths: 2-foot, 3-foot, 4-foot (most common), 8-foot. G13 medium bi-pin base. Available in standard (1,500-2,200 lumens) and high-output (2,400-3,000+ lumens) versions.