Howard Winter wrote:
> Are straight fluorescent tubes the most efficient only when powered
> directly?

Of course not.  Think about it.  The tube only sees a certain voltage and
current.  Different power supplies can have different efficiencies of their
own, but that doesn't effect the tube at the same voltage and current.  How
is it supposed to tell the difference?

> I have recently bought a converted ambulance for use as a
> mobile radio shack, and three of the four fluorescent lights in the
> back (powered by inverters from 12VDC) have failed.  Rather than try
> to debug the inverters, or buy new ones, I was going to get strips of
> LEDs instead, thinking they would use less power.
>
> Without knowing the inverter efficiency, are the odds in favour of
> the LEDs using less power than inverter-fed fluorescent tubes, do you
> think?

Knowing nothing more than what you described above, I'm guessing that you
will get somewhat better overall energy efficiency with well chosen LEDs.
Economic efficiency is probably hugely in favor of the flourescent lights.


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