LED vs Fluorescent vs Halogen
Replacing Old T8 Tubes and Fittings (2026)

Why people are switching

Fluorescent tubes were the efficient choice for decades, and many Malaysian homes, shoplots and offices still have the long T8 fittings in kitchens, corridors, stores and car porches. They work by passing current through mercury vapour, which produces ultraviolet light that a phosphor coating turns into visible light. The Wikipedia summary of the technology puts their efficacy at around 50 to 100 lumens per watt, several times better than an incandescent bulb, but it also notes they are less efficient than most LED lamps.

LED has overtaken them on almost every count. Energy Star says LED lighting produces light up to 90% more efficiently than incandescent bulbs, and LEDs do not usually burn out; they dim slowly over their life. They also contain no mercury, turn on instantly and do not flicker as a fluorescent tube does when its starter or ballast is failing.

LED, fluorescent and halogen compared

Halogen spotlights and floodlights are the other common candidate for replacement. They are simply incandescent lamps with a tougher filament, so they run hot and waste most of their energy as heat. An LED spot or flood uses a fraction of the power for the same light.

Three ways to convert a fluorescent fitting

This is where most confusion comes from. LED tubes look the same, but they are wired in different ways. The Wikipedia article on LED tubes describes the main approaches:

Retrofit tubes built for an electronic (high-frequency) ballast need a working ballast, and if that ballast fails it has to be replaced as well. That is why, on bigger projects, many owners prefer to remove the ballast once and for all. The same article points to IEC 62776 as the international standard for LED tubes that retrofit fluorescent fittings, and warns that non-compliant tubes with an installation shock risk are still sold.

Tube sizes: what T8 means

The “T” number is the tube diameter in eighths of an inch. T8 is the common size in Malaysian homes and offices; the Wikipedia LED lamp article gives it as 26 mm across. LED tubes are sold in the same standard lengths as the fluorescent tubes they replace, including 590 mm and 1,200 mm, the familiar two-foot and four-foot fittings. Measure the old tube and check the end caps before you buy.

Thinner T5 fittings use a different lamp holder and usually an electronic ballast; T5 LED options exist but are less common, and a fitting swap is often simpler.

Tube or whole fitting: how to decide

• Fitting in good condition, few lights: a retrofit tube matched to the ballast is the quickest change.
• Many fittings, or ballasts already failing: ballast-bypass tubes, or new battens, remove the weak part.
• Rusty, yellowed or cracked diffusers: replace the fitting; a new tube will not fix the look.
• Kitchens and bathrooms: choose a batten or panel with a closed diffuser that is easy to wipe.
• Ceiling being redone anyway: plan recessed panels or downlights with the new ceiling instead.

The electrical and safety side

Swapping a retrofit tube is like changing a lamp. Anything that changes the wiring inside the fitting is different: the LED tube article is explicit that conversion installations should be done by a qualified electrical contractor. A bypassed fitting should carry a clear label, because a fluorescent tube put back into it later will not work and may be damaged.

While the fittings are open, it is worth checking the condition of the old wiring, lamp holders and earth connection. Brittle, heat-darkened holders and loose terminals are common in old fittings. Our electrical safety inspection guide covers what an inspection looks for.

Flicker, dimmers and colour

A new LED that flickers is usually a compatibility problem: an old dimmer designed for filament lamps, or a retrofit tube on a ballast it was not made for. Our flickering lights guide explains the causes. Colour matters too. Old tubes are often cool daylight white; for homes, a warmer colour temperature usually feels better, as our lighting design guide explains.

What the change costs

The tube or fitting price depends on the brand and type you choose. The labour to replace a light fitting is published in the ClickBina electrician services guide (indicative 2026, Klang Valley):

For a whole house or office, the count of fittings, ceiling height and whether each fitting is converted or replaced decide the total, so it is best priced from a list of the fittings.

Disposing of old fluorescent tubes

Fluorescent tubes contain mercury, and the Wikipedia summary notes they have to be disposed of as hazardous waste. Do not break them or throw them in the general bin. Keep old tubes whole, wrap them, and ask the contractor how they will be disposed of, or take them to a collection point for lamps and electronic waste.

How ClickBina can help

Lighting changes are often done during a kitchen, ceiling or whole-house refurbishment, when the fittings are already coming down. ClickBina is an experienced KL & Selangor contractor that handles whole-house refurbishment and coordinates the trades on one job. WhatsApp us your job details for a quote: how many fittings, which rooms, and whether you want tubes swapped or fittings replaced. We reply within the hour, the price we agree is a flat price with no hidden charges, and a site visit is RM150, waived if you go ahead.

Sources & methodology

• Energy Star, Learn about LED lighting — LED efficiency versus incandescent, lumen depreciation, directional light.
• Wikipedia, LED tube — retrofit versus conversion installations, ballast compatibility, IEC 62776, mercury-free tubes.
• Wikipedia, LED lamp — T8 diameter and standard tube lengths; ballast-bypass versus drop-in tubes.
• Wikipedia, Fluorescent lamp — how fluorescent tubes work and their typical efficacy.
• ClickBina electrician services guide — labour to replace a light fitting.

How we estimated prices: the RM figure is quoted unchanged from the ClickBina guide named above; it is a typical Klang Valley range for 2026, not a fixed rate.