Patent Publication Number: US-9841155-B2

Title: LED lamp retrofit system, kit, and method

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims the benefit of U.S. application Ser. No. 14/479,903, filed Sep. 8, 2014, entitled LED Lamp Retrofit System, Kit, and Method, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
     FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     This invention generally relates to light fixtures, and, more particularly, to an LED lamp retrofit system, kit, and method, such as an LED lamp retrofit system for fluorescent light fixtures. 
     BACKGROUND 
     The background information is believed, at the time of the filing of this patent application, to adequately provide background information for this patent application. However, the background information may not be completely applicable to the claims as originally filed in this patent application, as amended during prosecution of this patent application, and as ultimately allowed in any patent issuing from this patent application. Therefore, any statements made relating to the background information are not intended to limit the claims in any manner and should not be interpreted as limiting the claims in any manner. 
     Surface mount and recessed fluorescent light fixtures, such as strip and troffer light fixtures, have typically been installed to provide general lighting of large indoor spaces. For example, surface mount and recessed type fluorescent strip light fixtures may include stem and pendant mounted suspended variations as well as those fixtures mounted directly to a ceiling or in the ceiling. 
     Typically, such strip fixtures include a channel in the form of an inverted trough or troffer, with the channel being attached to or recessed in the ceiling. Lamp holders or sockets are attached to the channel or troffer. A ballast is attached within the channel and wiring attaches the ballast to the lamp holders. Power is supplied to the ballast by wiring brought into the channel through the top or end of the channel. A ballast cover is used to cover the ballast and wiring. Linear fluorescent lamps are then placed in the lamp holders for operation of the fixture. The lamps may be left bare or covered for providing light to the space below. Because of their low cost and utilitarian use, fluorescent strip light fixtures are currently installed in abundance. For example, typical uses include warehouses, retail stores, such as grocery, drug, and department stores, where the fixtures are commonly mounted in continuous rows. 
     Since the introduction of the fluorescent lamp at the 1939 World Fair, fluorescent lighting technology has greatly advanced. For example, over the years, lamp and ballast manufacturers have developed fluorescent lamp-ballast systems with improved efficiencies. More recently, light emitting diode (LED) lamps have been developed. An LED lamp is a solid-state lamp that uses LEDs as the source of light. An LED may comprise a conventional semiconductor light emitting diode or an organic or polymeric light emitting diode. LED lamps may have one or more advantages over fluorescent lamps, for example, LED lamps do not contain mercury, they may turn on more instantaneously, they may have a longer service life, and they may have a greater efficiency. 
     It may be desired to provide advantages of LEDs to existing fluorescent light fixtures. However, for existing installations, implementation of the newer technology may require either replacing the individual fixture components (ballast, lamp holders, wiring, and lamps) or replacing the fixtures all together. Both processes may be time consuming and labor intensive, requiring 30 minutes or so for each fixture retrofit or replacement. Further, current retrofit processes or systems may require closing down sections of a store during installation, increasing the impact of the time and effort required to retrofit or replace the old fixtures. Thus, there is a need for LED retrofit systems, kits, and methods for fluorescent light fixtures that may be installed with a minimum of time and labor. 
     SUMMARY 
     In at least one aspect of the present disclosure, an LED retrofit system is provided. The LED retrofit system comprises at least one longitudinally extending LED lamp having a length substantially greater than a width and open longitudinal ends. A first LED lamp support rail holds and covers a first open longitudinal end of each of the at least one longitudinally extending LED lamps. The first LED lamp support rail is configured to electrically connect each of the at least one longitudinally extending LED lamps to a power source. A second LED lamp support rail holds and covers a second open longitudinal end of each of the at least one longitudinally extending LED lamps held with the first LED lamp support rail. Each of the first and second LED lamp support rails have a system holder configured and disposed to hold the retrofit system to a portion of a lamp fixture being retrofitted. 
     In another aspect of the present disclosure, an LED retrofit kit is provided. The LED retrofit kit comprises a first LED lamp support rail configured to hold and cover a first longitudinal open end of at least one longitudinally extending LED lamp and to electrically connect each of the at least one longitudinally extending LED lamps to a power source. A second LED lamp support rail is configured to hold and cover a second longitudinal open end of each of the at least one longitudinally extending LED lamps held with the first LED lamp support rail. At least one magnet is on the first LED lamp support rail and at least one magnet is on the second LED support rail, wherein the magnets are configured and disposed to hold the retrofit kit to a portion of a lamp fixture being retrofitted. 
     In a further aspect of the present disclosure, a method of retrofitting a fluorescent lamp fixture with at least one LED lamp is provided. The method comprising the steps of: turning off the power to the fluorescent lamp fixture being retrofitted; accessing the fluorescent lamps in fluorescent lamp fixture; removing the fluorescent lamps from the fluorescent lamp fixture; removing a ballast cover from the fluorescent lamp fixture; cutting wires leading to and from a ballast in the fluorescent lamp fixture; removing the ballast from the fluorescent lamp fixture; attaching an electrical connector to the cut wires leading to the removed ballast; assembling a retrofit system by performing the steps of: placing a first LED lamp support rail on a substantially flat surface; placing a second LED lamp support rail on the substantially flat surface and in a substantially parallel orientation with the first LED lamp support rail; electrically connecting and holding a first end of at least one longitudinally extending LED lamp, with the first LED lamp support rail; and connecting and holding a second end of at least one longitudinally extending LED lamp, with the second LED lamp support rail; magnetically attaching the assembled retrofit system to a central portion of a troffer box cavity of the fluorescent lamp fixture being retrofitted; making an electrical junction between the first end of each of the at least one longitudinally extending LED lamps and the cut wires extending into the troffer box; and turning on the power to the LED lamp retrofitted fluorescent lamp fixture. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTIONS OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The following figures, which are idealized, are not to scale and are intended to be merely illustrative of aspects of the present disclosure and non-limiting. In the drawings, like elements may be depicted by like reference numerals. The drawings are briefly described as follows. 
         FIG. 1  is an upper perspective view of an LED retrofit system of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 2  is a lower perspective view of the LED retrofit system shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is an upper perspective view of an LED lamp support rail of the LED retrofit system shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 4  is a lower perspective view of an LED lamp support rail of the LED retrofit system shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view of a wiring cover of the LED retrofit system shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective view of an open end portion of a longitudinally extending LED lamp of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 7  is a lower perspective view of an electrical junction box of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 8  is an upper perspective view of the electrical junction box shown in  FIG. 7 ; 
         FIG. 9  is an upper perspective view of an emergency lamp module; 
         FIG. 10  is a top view of the emergency lamp module of  FIG. 9 ; 
         FIG. 11  is a front view of the emergency lamp module of  FIG. 9 ; 
         FIG. 12  is a side view of the emergency lamp module of  FIG. 9 ; 
         FIG. 13  is a lower perspective view of the emergency lamp module of  FIG. 9 ; and 
         FIG. 14  is an upper perspective view of the emergency lamp module of  FIG. 9  having a bottom wall removed. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Reference will now be made in detail to the present exemplary embodiments and aspects of the present invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying figures. The same reference numbers may be used in the figures to refer to the same or like parts. The presently disclosed embodiments, aspects, and features of the present invention are not to limit the presently claimed invention as other and different embodiments, aspects, and features will become apparent to one skilled in the art upon reading the present disclosure. 
       FIGS. 1 and 2  show upper and lower perspective views of LED retrofit system  100  of the present disclosure. LED retrofit system  100  comprises three longitudinally extending LED lamps  130 , each having a length substantially greater than a width. Each LED lamp  130  has each of its longitudinal ends,  137  shown in  FIG. 4 , open or void of any covering. A first LED lamp support rail  120  is shown holding and covering a first open longitudinal end of each of the three longitudinally extending LED lamps  130 . First LED lamp support rail  120  is configured to electrically connect each longitudinally extending LED lamp  130  to a power source with electrical wire and connector  140 . Electric wire cover  150  may be provided with first support rail  120  to cover wires and any electronics for electrically connecting each longitudinally extending LED lamp  130  with electrical wire and connector  140 . Second LED lamp support rail  125  is holding and covering a second open longitudinal end of each longitudinally extending LED lamp  130 , held with first LED lamp support rail  120 . Each longitudinal extending LED lamp  130  may have each of its open longitudinal ends connected with LED lamp support rails  120  and  125  with fasteners  132 . 
     First and second LED lamp support rails  120  and  125  are configured and disposed to hold retrofit system  100  to a portion of a lamp fixture being retrofitted. For example, first and second LED lamp support rails  120  and  125  may each have a system holder. The system holder may comprise at least one mechanical holding device and/or at least one magnetic holding device configured and disposed to hold retrofit system  100  to a portion of a lamp fixture being retrofitted, for example a central portion of a troffer. In at least one aspect of the present disclosure, LED retrofit system  100  comprises at least one magnet  110  on first LED lamp support rail  120  and at least one magnet  110  on second LED lamp support rail  125 . Magnets  110  are configured and disposed to hold retrofit system  100  to a portion of a lamp fixture being retrofitted. In at least one other aspect of the present disclosure, LED retrofit system  100  has mechanical holding devices  160 . Mechanical holding device  160  may have an aperture  161  in a portion of each first and second support rail,  120  and  125 . The portion of the first and second support rails  120  and  125  having aperture  161  may be disposed in a plane parallel to a plane of each longitudinally extending lamp  130 . In at least one aspect of retrofit system  100 , both mechanical and magnetic system holders may be provided. 
       FIGS. 3 and 4  show upper and lower perspective views of at least aspect of an LED lamp support rail  120 ,  125 , or both, of LED retrofit system  100 . Upon attaching LED retrofit system  100  to a portion of a fluorescent light fixture being retrofitted, LED lamp holder and end cover  112  extends downward. Fasteners  132 , shown in  FIG. 2 , may be extended through fastener apertures  133  and fasten open longitudinal ends of LED lamps  130 , holding longitudinal extending LED lamps to the LED support rails. Wires leading to each of the longitudinal extending LED lamp  130  may extend through wiring apertures  134 . 
     LED lamp support rail fastening leg  114  may extend substantially perpendicular from lamp holder and end cover  112 . Supports  168  may extend between LED lamp support rail fastening leg  114  and lamp holder and end cover  112  to provide support in maintaining a substantially perpendicular extension of LED lamp support rail fastening leg  114  from lamp holder and end cover  112 . Magnets  110  may be disposed with or fastened to LED lamp support rail fastening leg  114 . Alternatively, LED lamp support rail fastening leg  114  may have apertures disposed to provide mechanical fastening to a troffer of a fluorescent lamp fixture being retrofitted. 
     LED lamp support rail extension  116  may extend from LED lamp support rail fastening leg  114  and may be configured to dispose a mechanical holding device. For example, a mechanical holding device  160  may have a tab extending in a plane substantially parallel with an outer surface of magnets  110  and may have a mechanical holding aperture  161  configured to receive a fastener, such as a screw, for mechanically holding LED retrofit system  100  to a fluorescent light fixture being retrofitted. 
       FIG. 5  shows a perspective view of a wiring cover  150  of LED retrofit system  100 . Wiring cover  150  is configured to cover wires extending to each longitudinally extending LED lamp  130  from a power source, electrical wire and connector  140 , or the existing electrical wiring in a lamp fixture being retrofitted. Wiring cover  150  has sidewalls  152  depending from top wall  156 . End walls  154  extend between sidewalls  152  and top wall  156 . Electrical wire cover holders  158  may extend outwardly from end walls  154  and may have an aperture  159  therein. A fastener, not shown, may be extended through apertures  159  and fastened with first LED support rail  120 , fastening wiring cover  150  to lamp holder and end cover  112 , of first LED support rail  120 , as shown in  FIG. 1 . 
       FIG. 6  shows an open longitudinal end  137  portion of longitudinally extending LED lamp  130 . LED lamp  130  has female helical threads  135  configured and disposed for fastening with LED support rails  120  and  125 . LED lamp  130  comprises a heat sink  136  and an LED lamp energy transmissible cover  138  joined together at longitudinally extending edges to form a tubular housing for LEDs  144 . LED substrate  142  longitudinally extends LED lamp  130  and is disposed between heat sink  136  and LED lamp energy transmissible cover  138 . An array of LEDs  144  are held on the side of LED substrate  142  facing LED lamp energy transmissible cover  138 . For example, a string of LEDs may be disposed on LED substrate  142 . In at least one aspect of the present disclosure, longitudinally extending LED lamp  130  has an optical and visual outlook substantially similar to a fluorescent lamp. LED power wires  146  extend from substrate  142  and are configured to extend through wiring aperture  134  in first LED lamp support rail  120 . 
       FIGS. 7 and 8  show lower and upper perspective views of an electrical junction box  200  of the present disclosure. Electrical junction box  200  is configured to cover the junction between an electrical connector, or electrical wire and connector  140 , and existing power supply wiring in a lamp fixture being retrofitted. Electrical junction box  200  has sidewalls  212  depending from top wall  216 . End walls  214  extend between sidewalls  212  and depend from top wall  216  to form a five walled junction box  200 . One end wall  214  has junction box cavity  218  configured and disposed for extending electrical wires from the lamp fixture being retrofitted, power source, and to LED retrofit system  100  of the present disclosure. Electrical junction box  200  comprises at least one magnet  210  configured and disposed to hold electrical junction box  200  to the lamp fixture being retrofitted. For example, magnets  210  may be disposed in opposite corners of electrical junction box  200 , along sidewalls  212  and/or end walls  214 . Each magnet  210  has a surface in a plane with the edges of sidewalls  212  and the edges of end walls  214 . Electrical junction box mechanical holders  260  may extend outwardly from side walls  212  and have an aperture  261  therein. Electrical junction box holders  260  are optional and may provide for additional and/or alternative holding of electrical junction box  200  to a surface of a light fixture being retrofitted. 
     In at least one embodiment of the LED retrofit system of the present disclosure, the system comprises at least one longitudinally extending LED lamp  130  having a length substantially greater than a width and open longitudinal ends  137 . It is to be understood that the LED retrofit system of the present disclosure may comprise one, two, three, or more longitudinally extending LED lamps  130 . For example, aspects of the LED retrofit system of the present disclosure may comprise four, five, six, eight, twelve, or more LED lamps  130 . In at least one aspect, LED retrofit system  100  comprises an equivalent number of LED lamps  130  as the fluorescent lamps in a lamp fixture being retrofitted. 
     First and second LED lamp support rails,  120  and  125 , are configured to hold and cover open longitudinal ends of each longitudinally extending LED lamp. First LED lamp support rail  120  is configured for the electrical connection of each longitudinally extending LED lamp with a power source or with electrical wire and connector  140 . LED retrofit system  100  comprises a system holder on each LED lamp support rail configured and disposed to hold the retrofit system to a portion of a lamp fixture being retrofitted. The system holder may comprise apertures in each LED lamp support rail for receiving fasteners. Alternatively or additionally, the system holder may comprise magnets disposed with each LED support rail. The LED lamp retrofit system of the present disclosure may comprise other and/or additional holders or fasteners as are known by persons having ordinary skill in the art. 
     In at least one aspect of the LED retrofit system of the present disclosure, each system holder comprises at least one magnet  110  on first LED lamp support rail  120  and at least one magnet  110  on the second LED lamp support rail  125 , wherein the magnets  110  are configured and disposed to hold the retrofit system to a portion of a lamp fixture being retrofitted. Alternatively, or additionally, each of the first and second support rails  120  and  125  may comprise apertures in a portion thereof to be placed adjacent a troffer of the fluorescent lamp fixture being retrofitted. Each of the apertures may be configured and disposed to receive a fastener, such as a screw, for fastening LED retrofit system  100  to the fluorescent lamp fixture being retrofitted. 
     LED lamps  130  may have an optical and visual outlook substantially similar to that of one or more fluorescent lamps to be removed from the lamp fixture to be retrofitted. LED retrofit system  100  may comprise one or more longitudinally extending LED lamps  130  having a longitudinally extending array of LEDs with power inputs extending out of the first open longitudinal end configured and disposed to electrically connect to a power source. First and second open longitudinal ends of each LED lamp  130  may comprise female helical threads configured and disposed to threadingly engage with fasteners for holding and covering the open ends with the first and second lamp support rails,  120  and  125 . 
     LED retrofit system  100  may comprise an electrical junction box  200  configured to cover an electrical junction between LED retrofit system  100  and existing electrical wiring in the lamp fixture being retrofitted. In at least one embodiment, electrical junction box  200  may be a cover  200 . Cover  200  may be configured to cover an electrical junction or component parts of an electrical system and may comprise at least one magnet configured and disposed to hold the cover in place. For example, cover  200  may be an electrical junction box configured to magnetically attach to a portion of an electrical system and cover an electrical junction between the electrical system and a power source. Cover  200  may be configured to cover an electrical junction in a lighting system or component parts of the lighting system and may comprise at least one magnet configured and disposed to hold cover to a portion of the lighting system. Electrical junction box  200  may comprise at least one magnet  210  configured and disposed to hold electrical junction box  200  to a lighting system being retrofitted. 
     Cover  200  may comprise a sole rounded or semi-spherical wall or may be rectangular in shape. For example, cover  200  may comprise a top wall  216 , a first sidewall  212  extending from the top wall, a second sidewall  214  extending from the top wall and the first sidewall, a third sidewall  212  extending from the top wall and the second sidewall, and a fourth sidewall  214  extending from the top wall, the first sidewall and the third sidewall. Cover  200  may comprise at least one magnet  210  held with the first sidewall, second sidewall, third sidewall, fourth sidewall, or top wall and may be configured to hold the cover to a ferromagnetic surface. For example, the at least one magnet may be configured and disposed to hold cover  200  to a lighting system troffer. 
     Cover  200  may have a surface of the at least one magnet  210  substantially in a plane with an outer edge of one of the sidewalls. Cover  200  may further comprise at least one mechanical holding device  260 . For example, a mechanical holding device  260  may comprise at least one flange extending from a sidewall in a substantially common plane with an outer surface of the at least one magnet  210 , wherein each flange may have an aperture  261  configured to receive a fastener. 
     In at least one embodiment, cover  200  is an electrical junction box configured to cover an electrical junction between a lighting system and a power source and the at least one magnet  210  may be configured and disposed to hold the electrical junction box to the lighting system. In at least one other embodiment, cover  200  may comprise at least two of the magnets  210 , wherein each of the magnets is held proximate a different sidewall. Each of the at least one magnet  210  may be held with an inner surface of cover  200 . One of the sidewalls,  212  or  214 , may have at least one cavity  218 . Cavity  218  may be configured to receive power lines. 
     It is to be understood that even though cover  200  is herein described as having four sidewalls and a top wall, cover  200  may comprise a sole wall. For example, cover  200  may comprise a sole rounded or spherical wall. Cover  200  may be configured to cover component parts of an emergency lamp module of a lighting system. For example, cover  200  may be configured to cover and/or hold component parts of an emergency lamp module. An emergency lamp module may comprise an emergency module and a battery, which may be configured to supply power to a lighting system in the event of a disruption in supplied power from a power source. 
       FIGS. 9-14  show emergency lamp module  300 . Emergency lamp module  300  comprises an emergency module  350  and a battery  340  held within a housing. The housing may comprise a top wall  311 , a first sidewall  313  extending from top wall  311 , a second sidewall  314  extending from top wall  311  and first sidewall  313 , a third sidewall  315  extending from top wall  311  and second sidewall  314 , and a fourth sidewall  317  extending from top wall  311 , first sidewall  313  and third sidewall  315 . 
     Emergency lamp module  300  may further comprise bottom wall  316  which may be removably held to the sidewalls. For example, bottom wall  316  may comprise portions of a fastener  322  proximate its corners. Other fastener portions  323  may be disposed proximate corners of the sidewalls. Fastener portions  322  and  323  may be configured to removably fasten with each other to provide a removable bottom wall  316 . Bottom wall  311  may comprise one or more apertures  309 . 
     Emergency lamp module  300  comprises at least one magnet  310  and configured to be magnetically held to a portion of a lighting system and to supply power to the lighting system in the event of a disruption in supplied power from a power source. The at least one magnet  310  may have a surface substantially in a plane with an outer edge of emergency lamp module  300 . Each magnet  310  may be held within the sidewalls with a magnet holder  312 . 
     Emergency lamp module  300  may further comprise at least one mechanical holding device  360 . Mechanical holding device  360  may comprise a flange extending outwardly from emergency lamp module  300  and in a substantially common plane with the outer surface of the at least one magnet  310 , wherein each flange has an aperture  361  configured to receive a fastener. Each magnet  310  may be held with the first  313 , second  314 , third  315 , fourth  317  sidewall, or top wall  311  and magnets  310  may be configured to hold emergency lamp module  300  to a troffer. 
     One of the sidewalls,  313 ,  314 ,  315 , or  317  may have at least one cavity  318 . Cavity  318  may be configured to receive power lines. One of the sidewalls,  313 ,  314 ,  315 , or  317  may comprise apertures or electrical connectors  320 , configured to electrically connect battery  340  and/or emergency module  350  with an external power source. 
     In at least one other aspect of the present disclosure, an LED retrofit kit is provided. The LED retrofit kit may comprise a first LED lamp support rail  120  configured to hold and cover a first longitudinal open end  137  of at least one longitudinally extending LED lamp  130  and to electrically connect each of the at least one longitudinally extending LED lamps  130  to a power source. A second LED lamp support rail  125  may also be provided and may be configured to hold and cover a second longitudinal open end  137  of each of the at least one longitudinally extending LED lamps  130  held with the first LED lamp support rail  120 . First and second LED lamp support rails  120  and  125  may have similar configurations. At least one magnet  110  may be on the first LED lamp support rail  120  and at least one magnet  110  may be on the second LED support rail  125 , wherein magnets  110  may be configured and disposed to hold the retrofit kit to a portion of a lamp fixture being retrofitted. 
     The LED retrofit kit may also comprise one, two, three, or more longitudinally extending LED lamps  130  having a length substantially greater than a width and open longitudinal ends. Longitudinally extending LED lamp  130  may have an optical and visual outlook substantially similar to that of one or more fluorescent lamps to be removed from a lamp fixture to be retrofitted. LED lamp  130  may comprise a longitudinally extending array of LEDs with power inputs extending out of one of the open longitudinal ends configured and disposed to electrically connect to a power source. Both open longitudinal ends of longitudinally extending LED lamp  130  may comprise female helical threads configured and disposed to cooperate with fasteners for holding and covering the open ends with the first and second lamp support rails. 
     First and second LED lamp support rails,  120  and  125 , may also comprise at least one mechanical holding device configured and disposed to mechanically hold the retrofit kit to a portion of a lamp fixture being retrofitted. For example, in at least one aspect of the LED retrofit kit of the present disclosure, each mechanical holding device comprises an aperture  161  in a flange  160  extending from each LED lamp support rail,  120  and  125 , in a substantially common plane with an outer surface of magnets  110 . 
     The LED retrofit kit may further comprise an electrical junction box  200  configured to cover a junction between the retrofit kit and existing electrical wiring in the lamp fixture being retrofitted. The electrical junction box may comprise at least one magnet  210  configured and disposed to hold the electrical junction box to the lamp fixture being retrofitted. 
     In at least one additional aspect of the present disclosure, a method of retrofitting a fluorescent lamp fixture with at least one LED lamp is provided. The method comprises the steps of turning off the power to the fluorescent lamp fixture being retrofitted and accessing the fluorescent lamps in fluorescent lamp fixture. Removal of a cover or light reflector or refractor may need be performed to access the fluorescent lamps. Upon accessing the fluorescent lamps, the fluorescent lamps are removed from the fluorescent lamp fixture. Then a ballast cover is removed from the fluorescent lamp fixture and wires leading to and from a ballast, in the fluorescent lamp fixture, are cut. The ballast may then be removed from the fluorescent lamp fixture. An electrical connector may then be attached to the cut wire leading to a power source. 
     The method further comprises assembling a retrofit system. The retrofit system may be assembled by placing a first LED lamp support rail on a substantially flat surface. A second LED lamp support rail may be placed on the substantially flat surface and in a substantially parallel orientation with the first LED lamp support rail. A first end of at least one longitudinally extending LED lamp may be connected and held with the first LED lamp support rail and a second end of each longitudinally extending LED lamp may be connected and held with the second LED lamp support rail. Each connected and held longitudinally extending LED lamp may be electrically connected with a power lead wire. The assembled retrofit system may then be magnetically attached to a central portion of a troffer box cavity of the fluorescent lamp fixture being retrofitted. An electrical junction may then be made between the first end of each of the at least one longitudinally extending LED lamps and the cut wires extending into the troffer box. The power to the LED lamp retrofitted fluorescent lamp fixture may then be turned on. 
     The method of retrofitting a fluorescent lamp fixture with at least one LED lamp may further comprise a step of covering the electrical junction between the retrofit system and power source with an electrical junction box by magnetically attaching an electrical junction box to the troffer box cavity of the fluorescent lamp fixture being retrofitted. The method may further comprise fastening the assembled retrofit system to the central portion of the troffer box cavity of the fluorescent lamp fixture being retrofitted with fasteners extending through apertures in the first and second LED lamp support rails. 
     Aspects of the LED retrofit system, kit, and/or method of the present disclosure may have additional features or capabilities. For example, the LED retrofit system may be configured to operate using AC or DC power. The presently disclosed system may provide for dimming of one or more of the LED lamps. The system may be a multi-channel which may allow one or more LED lamps to be powered independent of other LED lamps in the LED retrofit system. One or more of the LED lamps may have its energy transmissible cover positioned upward and one or more of the LED lamps may have its energy transmissible cover positioned downward, allowing for up light and down light from a single LED retrofit system, which may be desired in some applications, such as high bay or sign applications for example. Aspects of the LED retrofit system may have multicolored LED lamps which may provide for color changing applications. In as least one aspect of the present disclosure, battery backup units may be provided for emergency operation such as in the event of a power failure. 
     Nomenclature 
     
       
         
           
               
               
               
             
               
                   
                   
               
             
            
               
                   
                 Retrofit system 
                 100 
               
               
                   
                 Magnet 
                 110 
               
               
                   
                 LED lamp holder and end cover 
                 112 
               
               
                   
                 LED lamp support rail fastening leg 
                 114 
               
               
                   
                 LED lamp support rail extension 
                 116 
               
               
                   
                 First LED lamp support rail 
                 120 
               
               
                   
                 Second LED lamp support rail 
                 125 
               
               
                   
                 LED lamp 
                 130 
               
               
                   
                 Fastener 
                 132 
               
               
                   
                 Fastener aperture 
                 133 
               
               
                   
                 Wiring aperture 
                 134 
               
               
                   
                 Female helical threads 
                 135 
               
               
                   
                 Heat sink 
                 136 
               
               
                   
                 Open longitudinal end of LED lamp 
                 137 
               
               
                   
                 LED lamp energy transmissible cover 
                 138 
               
               
                   
                 Electrical wire and connector 
                 140 
               
               
                   
                 LED substrate 
                 142 
               
               
                   
                 LED 
                 144 
               
               
                   
                 LED power wires 
                 146 
               
               
                   
                 Electrical wire cover 
                 150 
               
               
                   
                 Electrical wire cover sidewall 
                 152 
               
               
                   
                 Electrical wire cover end wall 
                 154 
               
               
                   
                 Electrical wire cover top wall 
                 156 
               
               
                   
                 Electrical wire cover mechanical holder 
                 158 
               
               
                   
                 Electrical wire cover holder aperture 
                 159 
               
               
                   
                 Mechanical holding device 
                 160 
               
               
                   
                 Mechanical holding aperture 
                 161 
               
               
                   
                 Supports 
                 168 
               
               
                   
                 Electrical junction box 
                 200 
               
               
                   
                 Magnet 
                 210 
               
               
                   
                 Electrical junction box sidewall 
                 212 
               
               
                   
                 Electrical junction box end wall 
                 214 
               
               
                   
                 Electrical junction box top wall 
                 216 
               
               
                   
                 Electrical junction box end wall cavity 
                 218 
               
               
                   
                 Electrical junction box mechanical holder 
                 260 
               
               
                   
                 Electrical junction box holder aperture 
                 261