120cm LED Tubes

120 cm LED tubes: the market standard

120 cm LED tubes are the default reference in linear lighting. They work at 20W and replace the 36W fluorescent, the one fitted in practically every office, workshop, garage, shop, warehouse and classroom in Spain. They take a G13 base, a bi-pin with 13 mm between pins, just like the T8 fluorescent they are there to replace. If you do not know what size your fitting is, the odds are it is this one: the 120 cm LED tube is the best selling length.

Size and power of the 120 cm T8

T8 designates a tubular tube 26 mm in diameter. In the 120 cm length, the FactorLED power is 20W against the 36W of the equivalent fluorescent, and that relationship is what explains why the swap has become standard practice in refurbishments: the light point stays where it is, the fitting is left alone and the consumption per tube drops clearly. Being the standard format, it also has the widest catalogue of colour temperatures and finishes: 3000K warm, 4000K neutral and 6000K cool, with more or less opal diffusers depending on how direct you want the light.

Where it is installed

• Offices and private rooms, in recessed fittings in suspended ceilings.
• Mechanical workshops and workbench areas.
• Communal garages and building storerooms.
• Shops, local retail and checkout areas.
• Medium height warehouses and picking racks.
• Classrooms, training centres and meeting rooms.
• Kitchens, laundry rooms and utility cupboards at home.

It is the size you will see in surface mounted twin tube battens, in weatherproof garage fittings and in suspended ceiling panels alike.

Large scale fluorescent replacement in refurbishments

In an office or industrial unit refurbishment, swapping tube for tube is the fastest route: no ceilings to break into, no light points to reposition, no rewiring of the room. The G13 base on the LED matches the one on the fluorescent, so the tube goes in and twists the same way. The real work is inside the fitting: conventional gear carries a starter and a ballast or choke, and when moving to LED these have to be removed or bypassed depending on the tube model. With dozens of fittings, the efficient approach is to agree the method once with the electrician and apply it across the whole building.

The advantages over fluorescent are the same as in every other size, but here they are multiplied by the number of light points: instant start with no flicker, no mercury, good tolerance of frequent switching, presence detectors included, and a service life of 15,000 to 25,000 hours against the 8,000-10,000 hours of a fluorescent.

How to choose it

With the 120 cm standard the question is not the length, it is the light. For offices and workshops the working range is 4000K-6000K: 4000K if you want a neutral light that does not tire you over long days, 6000K if you are after maximum sharpness in technical or inspection areas. Keep 3000K for retail with a warm feel or residential areas, and always use the same temperature throughout a single room.

At FactorLED you have the full range of 120 cm LED tubes with a G13 base and 20W, in different colour temperatures, to replace your 36W fluorescents one by one. If you are changing an entire installation, write to us and we will help you settle on the right reference.

Frequently asked questions about 120 cm LED tubes

Which fluorescent does a 120 cm LED tube replace?

A 36W T8 fluorescent. The LED in this size works at 20W.

Is it the most common size?

Yes. The 120 cm T8 is the market standard and the length found in most offices, garages, workshops and shops.

Which colour temperature is used in an office?

Normally 4000K, being a neutral light that stays comfortable over long days; 6000K is kept for technical areas.

Can I reuse the fitting I already have?

Yes, the G13 base is the same. You only have to remove or bypass the starter and ballast depending on the tube model.