Tube Worklight LED Conversion

This is an old faulty fluorescent tube worklight which I converted to use LED technology.

The old tube light had blown capacitors and inductors and had been repaired before finally giving up the ghost. The light output was poor and also flickery.

I was going to buy a new led worklight, but then I thought to upcycle the old one to LED at a fraction of the cost.

Step 1: Parts List

Parts (available from banggood):
* old fluorescent worklight (for case)
* 5watt 50cm LED light strip with aluminium heatsink backing and lens cover. I prefer cool white rather than warm white for working.
* 10watt 12v led power supply (mini board to fit within tube handle.
* 4 terminal block connector

Tools & Skills:
* soldering iron
* hacksaw

Step 2: Upcycle It

unplug worklight

This tube light was held together by plastic studs. 1 above, 1 below the clear tube. Remove studs using narrow jewellers screwdriver.

Pull top and bottom away from clear tube.
Slide out fluorescent lamp, wiring and circuit board.
Disconnect mains supply cable to board.

Connect mains supply wire to new 12v board using 2 terminal blocks.
similatly run 2 short pairs of wires from 12v output via terminal blick to led strips.

My tube light could comfortably take 2 led strips of 25cm each. So I cut the 50cm led light strip in 2 halves. Solder the 12v wires to the strips noting correct polarity.

I managed to wedge two strips of heatsink & lens with two led strips into the clear tube (rattle free and acts as a heatsink to keep leds cool)

reassemble light and pop back in the plastic studs.

Step 3: Test It!

Simple, plug it in and check the light output.

I was so impressed I did a 2nd tube light in warm white.

Congratulations, you now have an LED workight which is:
✔much brighter than a tube
✔more reliable than an electronic ballast
✔instant full brightness on power up
✔ half the power consumption
✔ a fraction of the price of a new one
✔ cheap and simple to maintain
✔ done your bit for the environment.

Now go treat yourself to a beer ☺

Step 4: