Single-Ended vs. Dual-Ended Connection LED Tubes: What’s the Difference?

When buying T8 Tubes, it’s important to know exactly what you’re buying and why. When it comes to choosing between purchasing a T8 Tube with either Single-Ended or a Dual-Ended Connection, it comes down to your fixture and installation needs.

Single-Ended Connection

When installing a single-end powered LED tube, only one side of the tube’s pins will be energized or “live”. The other pin on the opposite end, even though not energized, is useful to firmly secure the other end of the tube into the fixture. In this way, both sides of the tube’s pins will fit firmly into their sockets, securing it in its place. It’s important to remember that the connection type of your tube will determine the way the power runs through the light. Single-end installation simply means that the live wires and the neutral wires will both need to be connected to the energized end of the tube.

Dual-Ended Connection

Unlike a single-end installation tube, a double-end installation tube has pins that are energized on both ends. With power running through both sets of pins, you will connect the live wires to one end of the tube, and then connect the neutral wires to opposite side. Both sets of pins will fit firmly in their sockets ensuring a secure install.

How Do I Know Which Connection Type to Install?

Determining which type of connection you need to install your tubes is a crucial step to your project. You will need to determine whether your fixture has sockets (tombstones) that are Shunted or Non-Shunted. Luckily, Parmida LED T8 Tubes are designed so that you can use either single- or dual-end installation with both shunted and non-shunted models. Single or double-ended connection will work whether you plan to use or bypass the ballast in your fixture. Whatever your requirements, Parmida LED has a T8 tube that will fit your needs and your fixture.