Although you know it's best, switching to LED tubes may not be a one-stop decision. There are some factors to consider such as whether you need single or double-ended tubes or whether you want Type A, Type B, or Type A-B tubes.  Read in for more information to help determine which type of LED Powertube lighting is right for you.

Single or Double-Ended?

In a single-ended power tube, power is supplied to the light through the same end that the live and neutral pins are located. These tubes require a non-shunted socket and the existing ballast should be removed to increase efficiency. For the double-ended tubes, the neutral pin and live Lin are located on opposite ends, essentially making one end dead and one end live. A non-shunted or shunted socket can be used.

Type A LED Tubes

Type A tubes are the easiest LED tube lights to switch to as they receive power from an internal drive. They are compatible with fluorescent ballasts and no rewiring is needed. These can also be called Plug and Play LED lighting. However, they are more expensive.

Type B LED Lighting

Type B LED lighting is directly wired into the ballast. Therefore, it is not compatible with preexisting ballasts and ballasts must be replaced. However, new ballasts mean decreased risk that ballasts will go hard anytime soon and also increase energy efficiency. These tubes do require non-shunted sockets and installation is more time-consuming than Type A tubes, but they offer the highest efficiency options for LED tube lighting.

Type A-B

Type A-B, or universal lighting, is a hybrid of the two types and offers the most flexibility. The ballast can be kept and used or bypassed altogether. They can utilize the ballast or be installed with a direct line. If you use the ballast, note it will more likely fail at some point, but you can easily switch to a direct line if it does. For help determining what opens are best for your commercial or industrial setting, US LED is a top LED supplier and we are here to help.  Call us today for information about LED Powertube lighting options.