Fluorescent linear lamps are widely used in office, retail and manufacturing, repair shop environments, and other settings, and typically fit into lighting fixtures with rectangular sheet metal boxes that have socket lamp holders at opposite ends thereof to retain and energize the fluorescent linear lamps. Fluorescent linear lamps have numerous shortcomings including generally poor light color quality, sometimes noisy operation, relatively high energy consumption, inclusion of toxic mercury (which makes disposal of fluorescent linear lamps problematic), and relatively short lifespans. In contrast, LED linear lamps can be designed to have any desired light color (measured in Kelvins), are quiet, are more energy efficient, do not include toxic mercury, and last a long time with operations of up to 50,000 hours (versus 10,000 for conventional fluorescent linear lamps.)
When they were first introduced, LED linear lamps were much more costly than fluorescent linear lamps. With prices down significantly, it now makes sense to install LED linear lamps for new construction instead of fluorescent linear lamps. However, in cases of retrofit applications where fluorescent linear lamp light fixtures are already installed, updating fluorescent linear lamp fixtures to accommodate LED linear lamps is not always easy, convenient, or cost effective when considering union electrician labor rates. For example, in some situations the fluorescent linear lamp light fixture may have a light box that is slightly larger or smaller than is typical, the light fixture may be outfitted with old ballasts, or the fluorescent linear lamp light fixture may be designed to hold 2 or 4 parallel fluorescent linear lamps whereas the user wishes to use a different number of LED linear lamps therein. Also, many of the existing fixtures have old or damaged lamp sockets which need replacing when using traditional lamps with bi-pin ends to reduce risk of arcing or intermittent problems in the future. So, when converting to LED lamps changing the lamp sockets is costly in time and materials. As will be described further below, the invention allows installation of the LED lamp into the existing light fixture without the use of traditional lamp sockets. The existing sockets can be removed and the LED lamp installed easily and quickly.
There are currently available kits for converting fluorescent linear lamp light fixtures to work with LED linear lamp. For example, with the Everline Dimmable 21.6 W 4000K 2′×2′ LED Retrofit Kit, each LED linear bulb is incorporated into its own LED lensed modules/light bar. The LED lensed modules/light bars need to be screwed (with self-tapping screws) to the back wall of the light fixture and then wires therefrom will be connected to a light control module that will replace the fluorescent light ballast.
In the Litetronics® LED troffer retrofit kit, three LED linear lamps come preinstalled and spaced apart on a rack. The rack will be screwed to the back wall of the light fixture. However, this design is bulky to ship and can be relatively costly. Moreover, it does not allow customization by the user to change the number of the LED linear lamps.
There accordingly remains a need for adapters to allow custom or standard LED linear lamps to standard LED linear lamps in lighting fixtures originally outfitted with fluorescent linear lamps.