www.ultimatehandyman.co.uk

Our church hall is lit by eight five foot fluorescent lights each with F58W/860 tubes. They have been up a long time and need replacing as the diffusers are yellowed and brittle. I think it’s time for led battens but have no idea which to pick. I am asking for advice on led battens that will produce a bit more light than the old lights which I believe to be around 5000 lumens each. The chains holding the old lights are in good condition so will be used for the new ones.

I suggest you look at various lighting websites to decide. Unlike old tubes LEDs come in various colour temperatures, some are even switchable, so It's not as simple as "get this one"

On top of SE's post there are also batons where
a) The led tube is integrated, if it fails the entire unit needs replacing
b) the led tube is replaceable but only with one of the same manufacturer
c.1) the led tube is a T8 fitting (more readily available and you will not be limited to tubes built specifically for that batten manufacturer)
c.2) batton takes a single tube or 2 tubes
c.3) batton has a diffuser which is often sold seperatly
c.4) batton does not have a diffuser


I personally recently replaced a 5ft flourecent batten for a batten that takes a T8 led tube. But does not have a diffuser
mainly because
1) I only needed a single tube
2) The tubes are plastic and mounted to high for me to worry about any form of contact with
3) Sourcing a T8 led tube should I need to looked to be easier than options a/b)

This is what I went for.
https://www.toolstation.com/v-tac-led-b ... p20/p43924

(the description, video and comments were conflicting but it was definitely a 5ft batten with the t58 led tube included)

Above was for domestic property but maybe something like this would be suitable for a commercial setting, suspension mounting and T8 tubes, if anything it may be a place to start?
https://ledhut.co.uk/products/powermast ... be-fitting

I would say RS PRO 50W LED at 1.52mtr, but expensive unless you can get less VAT.
Much cheaper BLT Direct V-Tac 50W p/n 20354.
Not sure your chains will fit without some modification to attach and get hanging level; they weigh much less!

Thank you for the replies.

aeromech3 wrote: ↑Thu Mar 21, 2024 6:28 am Not sure your chains will fit without some modification to attach and get hanging level; they weigh much less!

Didn't think of that. I've had a look online and found these at Toolstation, steel bodied so should hang ok.https://www.toolstation.com/integral-le ... ten/p57915

Your link to the Toolstation lights is going to be very bright. They are 7200Lm and equivalent to a double 5ft fitting.

You mentioned in your first post that 5ft fluorescents are around 5000Lm, whilst that is correct that is based on a 360 light output from a circular lamp and some of this light is wasted by going in the wrong direction and getting reflected back into the light fitting. A typical 5ft LED baton has around 3500Lm and is comparable with a 5ft fluorescent as it only aims the light where it need to be aimed.

Furthermore fluorescent tubes lose efficiency over time so a 6 year old fluorescent with a discoloured and dusty diffuser may only be giving off 60% of the light of a new fluorescent with a new diffuser.

However your link to the Toolstation lights shows a light fitting that is very similar to the JCC Skypacks and Luxana LED Batons that I would fit at work but I would usually just fit the single not twin equivalents unless it was specified.

A LED replacement tube sends out light in one direction, normally down, where the fluorescent send light 360° so they are not direct replacements, so 5000 lumen may need 3000 or 7000 in LED as not in the same direction.

Very likely a 2400 lumen will do, but would replace one at a time, the integral units tend to send light in a better direction to tube type, but in church hall it is the colour of the ceiling and walls which will decide what is required, it is a complex subject and on a forum we can only guess.

I have bought and fitted two of the Integral battens. They produce 7800 lumens not 7200 as stated by toolstation. They are indeed a lot brighter than the fluorescent lights they replaced but it is a biggish hall with a ceiling height of 7 metres and even when new, the existing lights didn't really do a very good job. I am happy with the amount of light from the two led's so will replace the other 6 with the same. They are switched by three switches for 2, 4 and 2 lights so the amount of light can be varied according to the activity. Thanks again for the responses to my question.

That's some height to be swapping lights at even if they are on 2m chains. I admire you.

OnlyMe wrote: ↑Fri Mar 29, 2024 7:29 am That's some height to be swapping lights at even if they are on 2m chains. I admire you.

When I did it used a cherry picker, not a job for ladders, normally use quick form scaffold but not got a ticket for that, but do have a licence for a cherry picker.

8 x 6 Boss tower on wheels. With stabilizer legs it was easy enough and a steady platform.