Need Help w/ Diamond Table Light

DJSTEVEZ

Professor of Human Moves
Silver Member
I have a Diamond table with the matching light.,

It seems that the Light, or more accurately the florescent tubes, are not as bright as they used to be. Given they're the same ones since the light when in 10 years ago, I've deducted that it's time to replace them.

So here's the question....what are people using to replace the fluorescent tubes? Do they make LED tubes that'll fit the Diamond Lights? The reason I ask is because my Diamond light only takes those extremely hard-to-find,1 prong/nipple end tubes. They're not available in Home Depot or Lowes. I had to go to a specialty lighting shop to get them.

THANX! -Z-
 
I believe from your post you have t12 60 watt 8' bulbs. You could try putting a new ballast in. I think it would possible to change the bulb sockets. I'm not sure what's available for conversion to t8 or better yet led. I'm sure others will chime in.
 
Try this

I have the same bulbs in my self built light. I plan on writing the number down and going to Home Depot or some place and finding an LED replacement, even if it means changing the ballast.

I am replacing all of my over head shop lights, house lights and 36' Toy Hauler trailer lights with LED bulbs. We just replaced the pairs on each side of the 2 bath room mirrors in the big bath room next to our bed room. What a difference between the LED and the old lighting, no comparison really.
 
Flourescent to LED

I went yesterday and picked up some 8 foot LED tubes that are a direct replacement for the flourescent tubes. I just got the light down and plan to rewire it. Seems pretty simple as you just disconnect the ballasts and wire these directly. I got them for $35 a piece from a local electrical supply store. I will post a few pictures later this week with my thoughts and observations.
 
THANX GANG!

OK, they do make what it is we need. The official term for the single nipple thing is "single pin" and the standard reference code is Fa8.

So for Diamond Light owners, we're looking for 4 ft Fa8 LED Tubes.

The bad news is the ballasts will absolutely have to be changed and finding the right light in 4ft size seems to be a challenge and very expensive :mad:

Amazon has them but so far only in high volume packs.

I'm going to call Diamond on Monday and see what they have to say.

I'll share any new info here. -Z-
 
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I just got a Diamond light last summer. I went to my local ACE Hardware and purchased the 8ft long light without any trouble.
 
Confused

Are the 4' FA8 bulbs for a smaller bar box light?

The ones referenced on the Diamond web site are 8' long and available at a local electrical & lighting store.
 
Be sure to check the "Color Temp" of any lamp you replace. 2700k or at least "Cool White".
Daylight is Too Blue. Warm White is a nice warm tone like a standard light bulb.
Also spend the few extra dollars for a Higher "CRI" Color Rendering Index for better color.

https://www.stevejenkins.com/blog/2014/03/choosing-the-right-led-bulbs/

Choose the Right Color Temperature
Probably the most important, yet most overlooked, factor in choosing an LED bulb is the color… or more precisely, the color temperature.

Let’s geek out for a bit. Light that is visible to the human eye ranges from red on the “low” end of the visible spectrum to purple (or violet) on the “high” end. Our eyes can’t see light that’s “below” red (called infra-red) or light that’s “above” violet (or ultra-violet). We can see everything in between, but how we perceive and interpret light differs based on where it falls within the visible light spectrum. Visible light that’s closer to red is interpreted by our brains as “warm,” while visible light that’s bluish or closer to violet is perceived as “cool.” So keep that in mind when choosing a color temperature for your LED bulbs, based on the “feel” you’re trying to achieve in the space you’re lighting.

Most LED bulbs and fixtures will have labels that say “soft white” or “bright white” or even “daylight.” My advice is to completely ignore those labels. Instead, flip the packaging over and look for a section on the packaging that shows the color temperature in degrees Kelvin. That’s the only true indicator of how “warm” or “cool” the light output will be.

Notice that the lower the number, the “warmer” the light. The higher the number, the “cooler” the light. Standard incandescent light bulbs output light that’s around 2500K in color, which is soft and just slightly yellow. The warmest LED lights I’ve been able to find are 2700K, and that’s a perfect color temp for nearly all interior spaces in a residence (bedrooms, kitchens, bathrooms, living areas, etc.). Even if the package says “soft white,” don’t be fooled. I’ve seen plenty of 3000K bulbs that are labelled as “soft white,” and there’s nothing soft about them.

For garages, utility rooms, and maybe even pantries, 3000K is fine. You can still get away with 2700K, but I personally prefer something a bit more “industrial” and cooler for those types of spaces. Again, ignore the words on the package and look for the number.

You can find 3500K LED bulbs for residential use, but I’d stay away from them. That color is so cool that it has a blue tinge to it, kind of like modern Xenon headlights. It’s not at all pleasant to look at, or live with. And please… for the sake of your neighbors, don’t use them on the outside lights of your house or around your driveway. They’re way too harsh and visually abrasive. You don’t want your house looking like a gas station. 3500K lights are what you'll usually see at gas stations
 
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