by Brianna Crandall — May 29, 2017 — Universal Lighting Technologies, a global provider of commercial lighting and a member of the Panasonic Group, recently introduced AC direct (Ballast Bypass) Type B Direct LED Tubes to the market. The tubes feature a dual-ended power connection that eliminates the need to replace lamp holders during installation.
Traditional Ballast Bypass lamps are powered from one lamp holder, which in most cases requires the lamp holders to be replaced with non-shunted lamp holders. The dual-ended connection configuration simplifies installation by simply connecting all lamp holders on one end of the fixture to the “hot” lead and the lamp holders on the other end of the fixture to the “neutral” lead. This connection allows for the use of either shunted or non-shunted lamp holders, and does not require socket bars to be removed and rewired.
The new standard series of Direct Wire LED tubes are available with 2200 and 1800 lumen outputs with input powers of 17W and 14W. The Premium series reduces these input power levels to 15W and 12W for greater energy savings and efficacies up to 150 lumens per watt.
Greg Bennorth, director of Product Management for Universal, stated,
Today, we are seeing more demand for direct replacement solutions that convert existing fluorescent to LED. Whether the application is simple or sophisticated, the new AC Direct T8 Tubes [make] the switch to LED even easier and faster for installers, who can use existing shunted or non-shunted lampholders while bypassing the ballast.
Universal Lighting Technologies has been a frontrunner in the global movement to convert to LEDs and is invested in LED product development with North American manufacturing.
