The document discusses criticisms of retrofit T8 LED tubes, including safety and liability issues due to modifying fixtures, unrefined technology like high heat and poor lifetime of LED drivers, and uncompetitive pricing compared to fluorescent tubes. Specifically, removing or bypassing ballasts in fixtures invalidates UL safety ratings and maintenance workers could unknowingly receive electric shocks. Technology issues include high heat reducing component performance, small drivers having inferior lifetimes, and inadequate dimming support. Pricing for LED tubes at $25-70 is also much higher than fluorescent tubes at $3, without sufficient utility rebates.

1. June 2013 – v2
Retrofit T8 linear tubes:
Ready or not?

2. WORD IN THE INDUSTRY?

3. The overwhelming consensus from the LED lighting industry is that retrofit
linear T8 tubes—specifically T8s—are not market ready.
LED T8 tube retrofit installation
(source: Adventure Lighting)
www.LeapfrogLighting.comJune 2013 – v2

4. WHAT’S THE PROBLEM?

5. Critics often site the following 3 reasons the retrofit T8 LED isn’t quite ready
for widespead adoption:
www.LeapfrogLighting.com
Safety and liability issues
Unrefined technology
Uncompetitive pricing
June 2013 – v2

6. SAFETY AND LIABILITY

7. The European Commission Low Voltage Directive Administrative Co-operation
Working Group (LVD ADCO) expressed their concerns over retrofit LED tube
safety in a 2011 Recommendation report, especially in terms of electric shock.
This mainly applies to the linear LED tubes with integrated drivers.
This type of LED tube is most widely used, as it is considered easier to retrofit
than those with external drivers. However, this is also where safety (and
compliance) issues arise.
www.LeapfrogLighting.comJune 2013 – v2

8. Why are LED T8 tubes susceptible to electric shock more than non-linear LED
bulb?
The installer must modify the fixture by bypassing or removing the existing
ballast so that the LED can run directly off the line voltage (a fluorescent tube
uses the ballast).
•If the fixture includes a starter and magnetic ballast, the installer must
modify the existing control gear by removing/opening the starter and
removing/shorting the magnetic ballasts.
•If the fixture includes an electronic ballast, the installer must bypass the
electronic ballast completely and wire the power directly to the end
socket of the tube.
www.LeapfrogLighting.comJune 2013 – v2

9. Concerns:
•UL safety rating becomes invalid when the ballast is removed or
bypassed
•Documentation may not be read and safety issues may ensue
•Maintenance worker unknowingly replaces a previously retrofitted LED
tube with a T8 fluorescent when the socket is running directly off the
line voltage
•A retrofitting company upgrades a facility to T8 LED and are liable if a
maintenance worker performs an unknowingly unsafe operation
www.LeapfrogLighting.comJune 2013 – v2

10. UNREFINED TECHNOLOGY

11. •High heat: In an integrated LED tube, all electronics are housed within. As a
result of the restrictive space inside the tube, excess heat is generated with
nowhere to go. The high temperatures reduce the performance of the
components.
•Poor lifetime of LED driver: For all electronic components to fit inside the
confines of the LED tube, smaller (and therefore inferior) components are
used. In addition, the high temperatures reduce the lifespan.
•Inadequate controlled dimming support/inferior dimming: Many retrofit
LED tubes are non-dimmable or require phase-cut dimming. It is also difficult
to find adequate controlled dimming support.
www.LeapfrogLighting.comJune 2013 – v2

12. •Inferior lumen output: Do not provide a similar level of lumen output when
compared to their fluorescent counterparts. Lumen depreciation is also a
problem. (Department of Energy CALiPER testing)
•Inferior CRI: The CRI for LED tubes is rarely over 80.
•Poor CCT retention: Color shift problems at 9000 hours. Measured CCT is not
the same as specified by the manufacturer and there are irregularities in the
nanometer range of 400-700 nm (Dennis McCarthy, SSL Product Specialist).
www.LeapfrogLighting.comJune 2013 – v2

13. UNCOMPETITIVE PRICING

14. •More expensive than fluorescent tubes (~$25-$70 for LEDs vs. ~$3 for
fluorescent).
•Payback period cannot be justified.
•Unlike non-linear LED bulbs, many utility companies do not offer rebates for
LED T8 replacements, even those with Design Lights Consortium (DLC) listing.
www.LeapfrogLighting.comJune 2013 – v2

15. WHO IS LEAPFROG
LIGHTING?

16. www.LeapfrogLighting.com
Leapfrog Lighting provides specification-grade LED products for
industrial, retail, and commercial applications. We’ve created an innovative
LED lighting solution that uses Intelligent Optics to provide architectural
quality illumination unrivalled in the industry. Additionally, all our lamps are
top performers in virtually all major efficiency-performance categories.
June 2013 – v2

17. “Our clients
remark on how
beautiful the
gallery is now…”
www.LeapfrogLighting.comJune 2013 – v2
Mr. John Newman, Associate Director
at Kinsman Robinson Galleries in Toronto, ON

18. WHERE TO BUY?

19. www.LeapfrogLighting.com
Leapfrog Lighting Web Store
The Leapfrog Lighting Web Store, shop.leapfroglighting.com, provides all
product specifications required to select the right product for your
application. Ordering is easy! And if you have any questions, one of our live
customer service agents is available to chat live.
June 2013 – v2

20. Leapfrog Lighting
400 March Road
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada K2K 3H4
T: 1-800-396-9109
www.leapfroglighting.com
info@leapfroglighting.com
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subscribe to our
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ANY QUESTIONS?
June 2013 – v2

21. Sarah Bailey
Sarah Bailey is the Manager of Marketing at
Leapfrog Lighting. She has an interest in all things
solid state lighting (SSL), the environment, and
being a Canadian, hockey. She is an active
participant in several LED lighting groups on
LinkedIn, where many of Leapfrog’s blogs are
discussed.
Stephen Naor
Stephen Naor is the President of Leapfrog Lighting.
In 2003, Stephen set out to improve the
affordability of energy-efficient lighting and his
innovations earned him two patents and an award
from the Institute of Electrical and Electronics
Engineers. Stephen is married, has two kids and a
dog, and is an avid nature photographer.
June 2013 – v2