Will LED Tubes Work with My T12 Fixtures?
The Right Tubes for Your Fixture
One question we get a lot from customers looking to convert their fluorescent fixtures to LED is, “Which tubes will work with my T12 fixtures?” We have both a quick answer and a long one. Quick answer first: All 8ft T8 LED bulbs we offer will also fit a T12 fluorescent fixture!
Shop Now for 8ft T12 High Output LED TubesT12 vs T8 Fluorescent Tubes
The main difference between 8ft T8 bulbs and 8ft T12 bulbs is the tube's diameter. T12 tubes are 1.5" in diameter while T8 tubes are just one inch. All other things—socket sizes, lengths, distance between pins—are the same. 8ft T8 LED tubes won't fall out if you try to install them in a T12 fixture—they'll fit just fine. And here's some even better news: If you have a T12 fixture, conversion to LED is going to be even easier than with a T8 fixture. This is because T12 fixtures have non-shunted tombstones, exactly what you need for LED tubes. T8 fixtures have shunted tombstones, and those tombstones need to be replaced as part of the conversion to LED. It's not a lot of extra work by any means, but isn't it nice to skip some work?
Shop for 4ft LED Tubes for T12 FixturesInstalling LED Tubes
Preparing your fixture for LED tubes is a fast, simple process—after the first one (where you're getting the hang of it), most people are able to convert a fixture in minutes.
Watch one of our team members walk you through the process below. Please note, however, that this video involves the installation of one of our tubes into a T8 fixture, so our team member needs to replace the existing tombstones. While you’ll still need to complete the wiring steps in the video to make sure your tombstones work with your new LED tubes, <strong>you won't need to replace the tombstones if you're using a T12 fixture</strong>.
The Ideal Upgrade for T12 and T8 Fixtures: LED Tube Lights
Switching over your existing fixtures to 4ft or 8ft LED tube lights can cut your lighting bills in half and increase the lifespan of your lights by nearly 70%. Also, the operational life of your tubes is improved by the use of occupancy sensors or other control systems, making them the perfect choice for offices looking to save on their energy bills. Shop our LED tubes (all of which fit T12 fixtures!) and start seeing savings on your lighting costs today.
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