# Recommend LED fixture to replace 48" fluorescent tube
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-led-fixture-to-replace-48-fluorescent-tube/986825
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion
**Created:** [July 9, 2023, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-led-fixture-to-replace-48-fluorescent-tube/986825 "2023-07-09T17:13:49Z")
**Posts on this page:** 12
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@CookingWithGas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CookingWithGas)
#### Post date: [July 9, 2023, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-led-fixture-to-replace-48-fluorescent-tube/986825/1 "2023-07-09T17:13:49Z")
In my bathroom I have two fixtures that each have one 48" fluorescent tube. I am tired of replacing them and properly disposing of the burned-out ones. What kind of LED fixtures would work here? I replaced a couple of closet fixtures, but those had two tubes, not one, so I need two fixtures with half the lumens.
They are behind a panel and aimed upwards at the ceiling for indirect lighting. There are recessed cans over the vanity for direct lighting.
---
### Author:  [@FinsToTheLeft](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FinsToTheLeft)
#### Post date: [July 9, 2023, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-led-fixture-to-replace-48-fluorescent-tube/986825/2 "2023-07-09T18:10:15Z")
There are LED tubes you can get where you just bypass the ballast and wire line voltage directly to the tombstones or direct replacements where you do not need to change the wiring, but are less energy efficient.
---
### Author:  [@Tride](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tride)
#### Post date: [July 9, 2023, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-led-fixture-to-replace-48-fluorescent-tube/986825/3 "2023-07-09T20:10:50Z")
Casual search: [4000k 4’](https://www.homedepot.com/p/EnviroLite-4-ft-T8-LED-White-Strip-Light-Fixture-4000K-ST702T1840/300380322). Dead cheap.
---
### Author:  [@mixdenny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mixdenny)
#### Post date: [July 9, 2023, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-led-fixture-to-replace-48-fluorescent-tube/986825/4 "2023-07-09T20:22:23Z")
FinsToTheLeft is correct. Just replace the lamps. Any Home depot, Walmart, etc will have them. I got ones with adjustable color temperature for less then ten dollars.
---
### Author:  [@CookingWithGas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CookingWithGas)
#### Post date: [July 10, 2023, 12:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-led-fixture-to-replace-48-fluorescent-tube/986825/5 "2023-07-10T00:06:05Z")
My main concern is getting something _too_ bright. Current fixtures just use one tube each.
---
### Author:  [@minor7flat5](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/minor7flat5)
#### Post date: [July 10, 2023, 12:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-led-fixture-to-replace-48-fluorescent-tube/986825/6 "2023-07-10T00:23:06Z")
You can try them and then return them if you don’t like the look, just like I did.
There is a whole industry out there making 48" tube replacements.
You will find ones that are drop-in, with your existing ballast, and ones that require you to bypass the ballast (like Fins mentioned). I recommend going with the bypass ones. The electrical work is very easy.
I originally did my replacement using the drop-in ones because there was zero work needed to install, and after a few years the superfluous ballast went bad. I tossed the whole lot and removed the ballast from both light fixtures and used the ballast-free kind and I have never looked back.
They should come with a set of warning stickers you can put on the fixture to let future homeowners know not to use standard bulbs.
---
### Author:  [@Dr.Strangelove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Strangelove)
#### Post date: [July 10, 2023, 12:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-led-fixture-to-replace-48-fluorescent-tube/986825/7 "2023-07-10T00:37:47Z")
> [@minor7flat5](#):
>
> You will find ones that are drop-in, with your existing ballast, and ones that require you to bypass the ballast (like Fins mentioned).
Also, ones that work both ways. I agree that bypassing the ballast is best, and reasonably easy. But one could argue that it’s more convenient to have something that works now, and to save the ballast bypass for a more convenient time.
---
### Author:  [@filmore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/filmore)
#### Post date: [July 10, 2023, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-led-fixture-to-replace-48-fluorescent-tube/986825/8 "2023-07-10T16:43:36Z")
> [@CookingWithGas](#):
>
> My main concern is getting something _too_ bright. Current fixtures just use one tube each.
Rather than trying to get a bulb that has the optimal brightness, consider putting in a dimmer switch. I put one in our bathroom and it’s great. I can have the light nice and dim in the early morning and night, and then make it full bright when I’m awake and need to see well. If your fixture doesn’t lend itself to a dimmable solution, consider changing out the light fixture.
---
### Author:  [@mixdenny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mixdenny)
#### Post date: [July 10, 2023, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-led-fixture-to-replace-48-fluorescent-tube/986825/9 "2023-07-10T20:21:47Z")
> [@minor7flat5](#):
>
> They should come with a set of warning stickers you can put on the fixture to let future homeowners know not to use standard bulbs.
They do.
---
### Author:  [@minor7flat5](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/minor7flat5)
#### Post date: [July 10, 2023, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-led-fixture-to-replace-48-fluorescent-tube/986825/10 "2023-07-10T20:34:46Z")
Re-reading my quoted words it really is ambiguous if I was making a statement or stating a gap. Indeed, they do provide the stickers, and I put them on my fixtures.
---
### Author:  [@CookingWithGas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CookingWithGas)
#### Post date: [July 11, 2023, 2:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-led-fixture-to-replace-48-fluorescent-tube/986825/11 "2023-07-11T02:07:16Z")
I’m not too big on a retrofit solution. It would be just as easy to replace the whole fixture as rewire to jump the ballast. After reading these comments and doing some more searching, I am considering something like this, which has selectable brightness and selectable color temp, and is dimmable.
> **[Lithonia Lighting MNSS 96in. 128-Watt Equivalent Adjustable Lumen and...](https://www.homedepot.com/p/Lithonia-Lighting-MNSS-96in-128-Watt-Equivalent-Adjustable-Lumen-and-Switchable-CCT-Integrated-LED-White-Strip-Light-Fixture-MNSS-L96-ALO4-MVOLT-SWW3/326384995#overlay)**
>
> The Lithonia Lighting MNSS strip light combines the energy efficiency of LED with Adjustable Light Output (6000/8000/10000LM) and Switchable White Technology (3500K/4000K/5000K). The LED strip light features
---
### Author:  [@FinsToTheLeft](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FinsToTheLeft)
#### Post date: [July 11, 2023, 10:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-led-fixture-to-replace-48-fluorescent-tube/986825/12 "2023-07-11T10:46:30Z")
The other thing to consider is that many LED fixtures no longer have replaceable parts. If the driver or bulbs die, you’re replacing the whole thing.