In the world of commercial and industrial lighting, efficiency and ease of installation often dictate the choice of lighting solutions. For those still utilizing fluorescent U-bend lamps, the latest innovation offers a versatile, hassle-free upgrade: a Type AB LED Ubend with both plug & play and ballast bypass options, including being designed for single or double-end wiring when bypassing the ballast. This eliminates the need to replace costly Ubend sockets, saving on labor time and money while enhancing energy efficiency.
A Dual-Mode Revolution
The introduction of a dual-mode U-bend lamp changes the game for facility managers, electricians, and anyone managing large-scale lighting systems. Traditionally, retrofitting lighting fixtures required a choice between keeping the existing ballast (plug & play) or bypassing it entirely to connect the lamp directly to the power supply (ballast bypass). Each approach had it’s tradeoffs:
- Plug & Play: Easy to install but dependent on a functioning ballast, which can fail over time
- Ballast Bypass: Offers long-term reliability by eliminating the ballast but often requires additional labor and materials, such as new sockets.
Keystone’s new LED U-bend lamps offer the best of both worlds, allowing users to either plug directly into the fixture’s existing ballast or bypass it entirely, without replacing the sockets (assuming the sockets are in good shape). Keystone also makes it in the standard 6″ leg spacing as well as the skinny 1-5/8″ leg spacing. Check out both options here – Keystone KT-LED15PST8-U6G-8CSJ-X3 for the 6″ spacing and Keystone KT-LED15PST8-U1G-8CSJ-X3 for the 1 + 5/8″ leg spacing version.
Single or Double-Ended Wiring: Flexibility At It’s Best
Another standout feature is the bulb’s compatibility with both single-ended and double-ended wiring when it bypass mode. This versatility eliminates the need to match the bulb to the specific wiring configuration of the fixture, knowing it will work in either setup. This makes retrofitting easier and reduces the risk of installation errors.
- Single-Ended Wiring: Power is supplied to one end of the lamp, common in early-era LED T8 retrofits
- Double-Ended Wiring: Power is supplied to both ends which is typical of fluorescent setups.
With this innovation, installers can seamlessly adapt the bulb to the existing fixture setup, saving time and ensuring a perfect fit without extra modifications.
As if you needed another reason to check out these Keystone LED Ubends, they also come with color and power select functionality. So you can choose between 3000K, 3500K, 4000K, 5000K and 6500K on the lamp itself in addition to choosing the light levels between 11.5W, 13W and 15W! Between these features and the install options, Keystone has you covered with LED Ubend lamps to make converting easier than ever.