Replace your old fluorescent lights with these 20W T8 (4ft.) LED Tube Bulbs. They offer a longer life span, less maintenance and might be eligible for a power rebate. This 12 pack is enough to retrofit a small office room. Save money on your next electric bill.
20W T8 Tube Product Description
The Viribright 20W T8 (4ft.) Ballast Bypass LED is an ideal choice for installation in retrofit fixtures requiring 4ft. linear fluorescent tubes. These tubes will commonly be found in workshops, offices, grocery stores and convention halls. This tube can be used without a ballast (direct wire) which reduces overall energy consumption of the fixture. The total energy consumption of this tube is 20W while producing in excess of 2000 lumens in 2700K, 4000K, 5000K, and 6000K color temperatures. These tubes are easy to install, but it is recommended to have a certified electrician handle the bypassing of the ballast and installation. This tube is also available in convenient packs of 12.
General Information about T8 LED Tubes
T8 LED tubes are high powered and generally manufactured in three types although the ballast bypass version is the most common type sold in the US. These being the hybrid, the ballast bypass, and the plug-and-play. Unlike the others, the easiest to install is the plug-and-play variant. These can be easily plugged into compatible fixtures. However, it’s best to ensure that the ballast is compatible.
Compatibility details should be found in the Details tab of the products page. Direct wire lamps or the ballast bypass tube requires you to first remove the old ballast. For the most part, this eliminates future ballast maintenance and failure point issues.
However, the fixture may require some rewiring if it is single-ended operation. Single-ended ones revolve around just one side needing power. When it comes to hybrids, these are simply a unique combination of the other two previously mentioned.
The LED tubes on this one begin as plug-and-play where the ballast eventually becomes unusable. When this occurs, the fixture becomes a bypass lamp. Hence, the ballast is removed and the lamp is rewired to suit the new ballast.
Tips For Choosing the Right Tube
When it comes to choosing the ideal tube, it is recommended that you first check the ratings, color temperature, and certifications associated with the tube. If you didn’t already know, the temperature is measured in Kelvins and is a representation of the light’s color. Those located between the 3000 to the 3500 Kelvin range are ideal for creating warm areas.
In essence, they create the perfect waiting or lobby area. Tubes between 4000 and 5000 Kelvins aid with increasing visibility and significantly reducing eye strain. These are suited for warehouses, classrooms, offices, and hospitals.
The certifications and ratings on these will give a better idea of where and how they can be efficiently and safely used. Those rated as dry location tubes should only be used in an indoor setting and should not be in contact with moisture or water. However, caution should still be taken for 20W T8 tubes that can be used in the presence of moisture. As such, they should never make contact with liquids.
Learn more about LED Tube Color Temperatures, Sizing and different types of LED Tubes on our T8 Ultimate Guide page.
Don G –
Yes!!! No more discolored lights. These are perfect!!
JasonT –
I bought these round high bays for my customers warehouse. Loved the lumen output
Norma –
Great lights had my maintainance guy replace old ones in no time.
RochalV –
Didn’t want to mess with the ballas Had these installed right away
SergioR –
Bright clean light. No more flickering
Ramzan A –
Much brighter than the old t8 tubes I had.
SamB –
Pretty good for the price. Much brighter than fluorescent
James –
Bright Lights!!!
MarioM –
I needed DLC listed t8. I found these by viribright… They look better built than cheaper brands. Quality and light output are amazing.
Mike –
Really makes a difference with leds. No wonder why fluorescents are done
AllanW –
Bright LED Tubes… Im gad I changed to these
FernandoG –
purchased these installed them and look awesome. Ordering some more for another client
Heinz D –
Big difference between these and the old tubes
Richard –
straigh forward installation
Jennifer Westbrook –
The difference in light quality from daylight (6500K) fluorescent lights is amazing. While the fluorescents were rated at 6500K, these 5000K LED lights are much brighter.
I converted standard T12 fluorescent light fixtures, with ballast, to these T8 LED bulbs. While the first one took just over 10 minutes to replace (trying to figure out how to remove the ballast and rewire tombstone sockets), the remaining 13 fixtures took about three minutes each. Much of that time was climbing up and down the ladder while removing the old bulbs and ballast.
One thing I definitely recommend is to remove the center wiring cover. After I converted the first fixture, leaving the center cover in place, it had a noticeable spotted shadow in the middle. I removed the wiring cover and zip tied the wires up against the fixture body. The shadow was even all the way across and the light had a better distribution pattern.
I can’t speak for the energy efficiency of these, but the light output is well worth the investment in these bulbs.
James Holmes –
“The lights are very bright and have a good light spread. We used them in a smaller room with lower ceiling and in the high bay fixtures. It spreads a good bright light very similar to daylight.
I bought two 12packs and two of them just blinked for a sec and were dead, I replaced them with a spare and all good now. I will find out how they will handle the return of the two that are dead. It is great that we can use the same bulb throughout the shop without the hassle of a ballast. They work with 110, 208, 220 and 277volt.
I can’t say anything about the lifespan yet as I just installed them this week.”
Lee Aaron –
My project included modifying light fixtures and removing the ballasts. That work was simple and went very well. I also bought some new tombstones and replaced some of the older ones. On some fixtures I installed frosted tubes and in the garage and basement I installed clear tubes-happy with that approach. Instant-on and no flicker are very nice features, even in cold weather. For those who are bothered by the sound a fluorescent fixture can make-very quiet. I would suggest that you put some sort of label on any fixture you convert to let others know which method you used to convert your fixture, since the methods are not compatible and are specific to the type of LED tube that you purchase.
Gregory Rother –
Excellent customer service. I ordered 36 bulbs and the shipping company broke six of them. I e-mailed Viribright for possible replacements option and they immediately sent a package of 12 as replacements. It’s been a long time since I had customer service like they provide.
elisa cortes –
These led bulbs were used for workshop lighting. They are bright and light up the shop twice as good as the fluorescent bulbs. I did have to bypass the ballasts from the fluorescent fixtures to let these bulbs work but that was not a problem. Love that I won’t have to buy new bulbs for many years.
Robin Branch –
“All the bulbs in my shop lights were going out or already burnt out. I decided it was time to go with all LEDs and I’m so glad I did. I have five 4′ shop lights in my shop and it’s so nice to walk in, flip the switch and have a brightly lit shop. It motivated me to clean the shop up! I couldn’t be happier with the lighting. It took me about an hour to remove the ballasts and rewire the fixture to power one side.
I recommend these bulbs if you are going to switch to LEDs. I’ll be buying more.”
David Davis –
These bulbs fit into standard florescent light fixtures but you need to bypass the ballast and hook one end of the light to hot and ground of 120v AC using the wires already attached to the fixture. This is a very easy conversion that can be done in 5 min or less. If you ever have a ballast burn out this don’t replace it just use on of these lights. Great product, very bright and only uses 18 watts. Also lights come on instantly without flickering.
Karen Burgess –
I converted my garage light from fluorescent to LED and installed these. They give off a ton of light and I am very, very happy. Don’t know about longevity yet, but we shall see. Highly recommended, in any case.
Robert Lewis –
“Works great plenty light. You will have to eliminate ballast on your fixture and power one end of non- shunted ( non- jummpered)
bulb holders directley, the other end of bulb holders has no power and just holds bulbs.
(U- tube ballast bypass) its not hard, and you’ll never have to replace a ballast, each bulb has its own ballast.”