The difference between plug and play, hybrid, direct wire.
It is not breaking the news that business in today’s world has started moving from fluorescent lighting to LED lighting. I’m sure you’ve seen many articles today paring the wires and comparing all the cables. Not saying that’s bad, but we’ve added a little bit to that. in this article, we will be sharing with you the difference between plug and play, hybrid and direct wire. One thing they all have in common is the fact that all of them are linear LED Solutions.
The difference.
So, it is safe to say that if you want to move away from linear fluorescent to linear LED, these are some of the options you need to take a second look at.
- Plug and play.
For those who don’t know, plug and play are an example of LED Solutions. How are they different from the rest? Well, simply put, it is a one-for-one swap out of the real linear fluorescent lamp. The lamp in question tends to work directly with the present existing fluorescent ballast. That is why it is a known fact that there isn’t any need for rewiring or change in ballast.
Pros
- Plug and play Linear LED is easy to install, thanks to the lamp which snaps into the existing fixture without the need for wiring modifications and any other installation related drama.
- Safety-wise, it reduces the number the installer will spend on the ladder while fixing or installing.
Cons.
- The issue of upfront cost.
- The ballast compatibility is worth taking a look at.
- Hybrid wire.
Also known as dual technology linear LED or UL type A and B. The Hybrid linear LED lamps are known for their versatility. They work both as a plug and play, and that is with the existing ballast. The Hybrid wire can also work off of line voltage once the ballast peters out, removing it won’t be a problem.
Pros.
- Talk about real flexibility – the hybrid wire are designed to work for both the existing fluorescent ballast and by bypassing it.
- The installation is quite easy – similar to the plug and play, the hybrid snaps into an already existing fixture without the need of wiring modifications.
Cons
- Meanwhile, one of the cons of Hybrid is the fact that the safety risk is something you may need to consider. The sockets will be carrying line voltage, for that one has to consider electrocution.
- The DLC listing issues.
- Direct wire.
The Direct wire linear is also known as Ballast-Bypass or line voltage. Unlike the rest works directly off the line voltage (I guess that rings a bell: The Name) flowing to the sockets. It usually requires you removing the real fluorescent ballast.
Pros
- One major benefit of using the Direct wire linear is that it doesn’t require ballast maintenance.
- The lamp wattage is same as the fixture wattage.
Cons.
- The fixture needs to be rewired.
- The risk of been electrocuted.
- The uncertainty in the perfect wiring.