Anyone used an LED tube to swap out a fluoro?

There are different types like John2654 mentioned above, just becareful as most replacement type or called retrofit using a ballast will not work with starters they are designed for rapid start ballast if you pop one in using a starter it will blow the bulb out
 
 
Thanks! Yeah I saw a YT video on the same. I'm going to scout out a direct fit bulb.
 
The backlight of my EDOT wasn't lighting consistently with a fluro tube. It's one of those that need to flash on in an instant, so it keeps a warming voltage to the tube then switches quickly to 120VAC to power it on. I switched it out for an LED tube. The tube ignores the warming voltage, and turns on instantly naturally when the 120VAC is applied. Works tons better in that case
 
Be careful with LED replacement bulbs in the Marquee. If you don't play your games and just look at them then fine. The brighter light makes the colors pop better on the Marquee. But the brighter light will give you headaches while playing games as the light is right in your face while playing for any length of time. I just go original and be done with it. In a home environment the original bulbs will not fade the Marquees.
 
I've never noticed the LEDs being brighter, and consulting amazon on both led and fluorescent, the fluorescent is 940 lumens, and the LED is 910. This was based on F15T8s pulled at random.
 
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I got 2 of those great value bulbs today (they were right on the shelf at WaMa) , going to try one tonight!
 
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20250723_201016.jpg20250723_201000.jpg20250723_200612.jpgSo I installed the LED tube bulb in my Arena. First and foremost, IT WORKED!! It had a bunch of warnings on the box re: ballast compatibility and related, so I did as much prep as I could, and then finally said F IT and put it in and threw the switch...

Keep in mind that I have no idea what age the bulb is that was in it, but the improvement is OFF THE CHART!! I installed it while it is set to its default setting of cool white (the middle range setting) and has really brought the translite back! I have a new one coming and may just hold onto it for a bit now!

Attached are pics of the tiny dip switch on the bulb, and, the old bulb:20250723_201531.jpg
 
Be carefull with the walmart LEDs, They say "plug and play" They worked good in a couple of my games to replace the marquee bulb, but there were a few games that didnt like them and they started to burn and smoke after a few minutes.
 
When my ballast died, I found "2FT T8 LED Tube Light", e.g. on amazon; they are cheap and so easy to wire with no ballast. There are even some Color Tunable ones (3000K/3500K/4000K/5000K/6500K). I've used them with pinball backglasses, and I love the results.
 
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