These days it is easy and economic to replace a normal light bulb to a LED. This is not yet possible with fluorescent lamp sockets.If there would be a rod with LEDs that replaces fluorescent lamp, it would save energy.
-- Thrust, Apr 25 2015

You have to replace the ballast with a constant current transformer, so it's not going to be a simple drop in replacement.
-- MechE, Apr 25 2015


It's highly likely that if this were easily posible, it would already exist.

The ballast is for power factor correction. So a large capacitor would be required. That could be implemented quite cheaply with, for example, a long, tnin, gas discharge tube filled with mercury vapour ...
-- 8th of 7, Apr 25 2015


I'm pretty sure this can be done. Whatever the starter and ballast do to the supply, some advanced but cheap gubbins can turn into a smooth low-voltage DC to power a line of LEDs.

The problem, though, is that fluorescent tubes are fairly efficient already, so replacing them with LEDs is less of an advantage than replacing incandescent bulbs.
-- MaxwellBuchanan, Apr 25 2015


Hah!

You know, I should really be working for someone.
-- MaxwellBuchanan, Apr 25 2015


Rip out the old fixture and donate to Goodwill. Install new LED fixture. Sweep up plaster dust. Done.
-- popbottle, Apr 25 2015


[bigs], my condolences. Best advice I can offer is don't get mad, get even madder.

Or start a company. What exactly do you do anyway, when given the means, opportunity and motive?

I did explore the heavy drinking option for a while, but sadly all it did was flush all the cholesterol out of my arteries, which means there's probably an extra 10-20 years I'll have to support myself.
-- MaxwellBuchanan, Apr 25 2015


" It's highly likely that if this were easily posible, it would already exist "

(marked-for-tagline)
-- normzone, Apr 25 2015


// I did explore the heavy drinking option for a while, but sadly all it did was flush all the cholesterol out of my arteries, //

Don't quit so easily ... after all, "Many who give up never know how very, very close they came to success"...
-- 8th of 7, Apr 26 2015


//But if you want something vaguely funky, let me know.//

Sadly, my software needs are extensive but my budget is zero.

But seriously, hang in there. Things change. Unpredictable things happen unpredictably, and are approximately as likely to be good things as bad things.
-- MaxwellBuchanan, Apr 27 2015



random, halfbakery