Led strips replacing fluorescent fixtures

2020/03/25  LED lights to replace T5

Over last 5 years we replaced with LED 4 foot lights both clear and white lens style. The white lens style is our preference . 

Posted originally June 2007

New T5 lighting choices are now available in southern Mexico.

T8 units with electronic ballast were available but with the Cool White lights 4100k, daylight bulbs did not appear to be available.
A supplier has available T5 lights (16 mm or 5/8″ diameter) x 869 mm long, these were 6400K daylight and 21 watts per light, 2 lights per unit. A shoplight configuration with exposed bulbs was 250 peso’s or about $25.00 . One limitation is they are only advertised as 8000 hour lights. The electrical supply house says all fluorescent lights in Mexico are rated 8000 hours. In the U.S. and Canada I see ratings of 20 and 30,000 hours - are they better lights or simply rated longer due to cooler temperatures?
On the negative side we were warned the electricity at the beach may fluctuate a lot and could knock out electronic ballasts, we are going to hide the fluorescent lights behind valances as shown, especially important as T5 lights are brighter than T8. The valances will be over 4 feet long so they can hide a regular t12 light and ballast if these new lights do burn out too frequently. The Valance at $35.00 or 350 peso’s is less expensive than buying a fancy light and should provide a subdued lighting effect. The Cedar valances were made from tree's knocked down by Tropical storm Stan. As all bedrooms are equipped with ceiling fans this directs light to ceiling above fan blades and to floor below without creating a moving shadow effect caused when one has light directed though the blades of a spinning fan.
Addendum October 2009

To date we've not had any of these lights burn out - what has burned out has been the screw in type energy efficient lights we've had elsewhere - I can not say what the hour rating was on those.

This in spite of the fact we have a Square D surge breaker in our electrical panel. Does the surge breaker work, we don't know but we do know the electrical transformer supplying power to us was knocked out by lightning and nothing happened to our appliances.