How does it work?

The ME-T5 adaptor conversion allows you to use energy efficient T5 tubes in your existing T12 and T8 light fittings. This energy efficient and cost effective conversion will slash your energy costs, reduce maintenance costs and improve the quality of your lighting.

The ME-T5 adaptor is designed to work as part of the light fitting. There are two main types of installation. The first is in a fitting that has an electro magnetic ballast – usually referred to as switch start fittings.

Switch start fittings normally have a separate starter canister and the fitting normally splutters for a few seconds before the T8 or T12 tube comes to life. With these fittings the installation is straight forward and can be broken down into the following steps:

1. Remove the existing T8 or T12 lamp and starter.
3. Check the fitting for a power factor correction capacitor and if one is present, remove it from the fitting.
5. Install the ME-T5 HF converter inside the fitting. It’s a push wire unit complete with adhesive pads, so its very easy to install
6. Insert replacement starter.
8. Insert the T5 tube complete with the ME-T5 adaptor into the lamp holder.

For HF fittings the conversion is slightly longer, but still only takes a matter of moments to carry out. The only additional step is to remove the current HF ballast from the light fitting. Installation is very easy. However, we do recommend that it is carried out by a competent person and ideally by a qualified electrician.

Please ensure that safe working practices are followed during the installation and make sure that the light fitting is disconnected from the power supply before the fitting is opened and any work is carried out.

If we are carrying out the installation for you, we will make sure that the fitting is in good working order during the installation process. This work may include the replacement of the lamp holders and of any wiring within the fitting that has suffered heat damage. We build the price of this into our installation cost so there are no nasty surprises at the end of the day.

Following the conversion to T5 using the ME-T5 adaptor, you can expect many years of trouble free service from the light fitting. The major cause of damage to light fittings is heat. It degrades the wiring, the lamp holders. Excessive heat will also reduce the life of the tubes themselves.

In a switch start T8 or T12 fitting the ballast gets very hot. After a few hours use the ballast will usually be too hot to handle. This heat output, combined with the heat produced from the tube will damage the lamp holders and degrade the wiring.

The ME-T5 adaptor is designed to work as part of the light fitting, with the electromagnetic ballast. One of the benefits of the adaptor is that it runs very cool and causes the ballast to run cool as well – it will remain cool to the touch even after many hours of use. This extends the life of the components that make up the light fitting and the T5 lamp, resulting in reduced maintenance costs.

We recommend long life GE tubes with a 30,000 hour rating. Used in conjunction with our adaptor conversion, we would expect a tube to an additional 3,000 hours because of the reduction in heat that the tube is subjected to.