LED Tube Lights

LED (light-emitting diodes) tube lights are linear LED lamps designed to replace traditional fluorescent tubes in commercial, industrial, and general-purpose light fittings. RS Australia stocks LED tube lights across a range of lengths, wattages, lumen outputs, and colour temperatures, including T5 and T8 formats. Products are available for direct replacement, retrofit, and new installations, subject to fitting and ballast compatibility.

You can read more about this product in our complete guide to LED tube lights.

Types of LED Tube Lights

The most common types of LED tube lights used in commercial and industrial applications include:

• T8 LED Tube Lights: These are the most widely used linear LED lamp format, using a G13 bi-pin base. T8 LED lights in a tube configuration are the standard replacement for conventional 28mm fluorescent tubes and are available across multiple lengths and lumen outputs.
• T5 LED Tubes: This offers a narrower diameter format used in compatible commercial and industrial fittings. T5 tubes are a common choice where slimmer profile lighting is required.
• Other Linear LED Formats: Additional lamp sizes and base types may be available depending on the current range.

RS Australia stocks both T5 and T8 products across several lengths and outputs. You can compare options by metric or imperial length, wattage, lamp size, lamp base, luminosity, and voltage rating to find the right fit for your installation.

How to Choose an LED Tube Light

When selecting LED tube lighting for a replacement or new installation, compare the following:

• Physical Length and Lamp Base: Match the length and base to the existing fitting. T8 LED tube lighting uses a G13 base, while T5 tubes use a G5 base.
• Wattage and Lumen Output: While wattage indicates energy use, lumens indicate brightness. These are not directly linked, so compare both figures. Higher lumens suit warehouses and workshops. Moderate outputs suit offices and classrooms.
• Colour Temperature: Warm white (2700K to 3000K) suits softer environments such as hospitality and retail. Cool white (3500K to 4100K) suits work areas and offices. Daylight tones (5000K to 6500K) suit high-visibility task lighting and industrial spaces.
• Other Specifications: Consider colour rendering index (CRI), expected operating life, voltage rating, and whether dimming is supported. Confirm ballast compatibility before purchasing an LED tube light for a retrofit application.

LED Tube Fitting and Ballast Compatibility

An LED fluorescent light replacement is not automatically compatible with every existing fitting. Fluorescent fixtures use a ballast to regulate current, and the approach required for an LED tube installation depends on the ballast type and the LED product specification.

Some LED tubes are designed to work with a compatible electronic ballast and can be installed with a suitable LED starter without rewiring. Others require the ballast to be bypassed or removed entirely, with the fitting rewired to connect directly to mains voltage.

Compatibility varies by individual tube and fitting, so always check the manufacturer's datasheet and installation guide before purchasing. Any electrical modification or rewiring of a fitting must be completed by an appropriately qualified electrician.

Benefits of LED Tube Lights

Switching to LED tube lights offers several practical advantages over conventional tube lighting:

• Lower Energy Consumption: LED light replacements typically consume less power than equivalent fluorescent lamps, reducing energy costs across commercial and industrial installations.
• Longer Operating Life: LED tubes generally offer a longer operating life than fluorescent alternatives, reducing replacement frequency and associated labour costs. Actual lifespan varies by product and usage conditions, so refer to each product's specification.
• Reduced Maintenance Requirements: Fewer replacements and more consistent performance over time lower ongoing maintenance demands compared to fluorescent tube lighting.
• Instant Illumination: LED tube lights reach full brightness immediately on switching, without the warm-up period associated with some fluorescent lamps.
• Directional Light Output: LED tubes direct light where it is needed rather than emitting in all directions, which can improve efficiency in many fitting types.
• No Mercury: Unlike conventional fluorescent lamps, LED tubes do not contain mercury, removing an end-of-life disposal concern associated with fluorescent tube lighting.

LED Tubes vs Fluorescent Tubes

Fluorescent tubes produce light through gas discharge, passing electrical current through mercury vapour to excite a phosphor coating inside the tube. An LED tube uses semiconductor diodes to convert current directly into light, without gas discharge, UV radiation, or heat as intermediate steps.

Fluorescent lamps can flicker and buzz with age, and require careful end-of-life disposal due to mercury content. Tube LED lights operate silently and produce less heat.

As an LED fluorescent light replacement, an LED tube light also directs light more precisely than the multi-directional output of a fluorescent lamp. Ballast and fitting compatibility must still be verified for each product before installation.

Applications for LED Tube Lighting

LED tube lights suit a broad range of commercial and industrial environments in Australia:

• Warehouses and Industrial Facilities: High-lumen LED light tube configurations suit large-span ceilings, loading areas, and production floors.
• Offices and Commercial Buildings: Cool or neutral white LED tube lights are ideal for offices and shared workspaces.
• Retail and Hospitality Spaces: Warm white tube lighting suits retail displays and hospitality interiors where CRI and ambience matter.
• Car Parks and Transport Facilities: IP-rated LED tube lighting suits covered car parks, bus depots, and transit facilities.
• Schools, Workshops and Laboratories: Daylight or cool white LED tubes provide flicker-free illumination for classrooms, workshops, and labs. They are also common in residential garages and utility rooms.

Buy LED Tube Lights Online from RS Australia

RS Australia supplies LED tube lights to trade, commercial, and industrial buyers across the country. When you buy LED tube light products online, compare T5 or T8 format, lamp base, length, wattage, fluorescent-equivalent wattage, lumen output, voltage, colour temperature, and expected operating life using product filters and downloadable datasheets.

Discover LED tube lights from top brands like Philips Lighting, LEDVANCE, and Radium. Business account holders can access additional ordering and procurement tools online. Consolidate your order by adding LED light bulbs, LED strip lights, and compact fluorescent lamps in a single transaction.

For delivery options and fees, please refer to our Delivery page. Browse the full range of LED tube lights at RS Australia and order online today.