LED and Flicker

Flickering lighting can cause various problems, from health effects to safety concerns and technical issues. Flicker is not a new phenomenon that has emerged with LED technology. Traditional light sources also generate flicker.

How Flicker Affects Us

Human Impact:

Safety Aspects:

Other Electrical Equipment:

What is TLA?

Flicker falls under the collective term Temporal Light Artefacts, TLA, which means a recurring change in the light output over time and is an undesired disturbance in these cases
TLA includes:

What Causes Lighting to Flicker and How to Address It?

Flicker and lighting are not solely related to LED technology, but several factors can cause LED light sources to flicker. One factor is that LEDs respond immediately to any changes in power supply. The diode emits more or less light depending on the amount of current it receives. Since current modulates, LED drivers and light sources are equipped with capacitors to smooth out the fluctuations that occur with modulation. If the capacitor cannot store enough energy to maintain a steady light output, flicker occurs, often in connection with the use of subpar products and incorrect installations. It’s important to note that there can be variations in the technical specifications provided by manufacturers.

Impact of Drivers on Flicker

Many factors influence whether a light source flickers. How drivers are manufactured has a significant impact on whether the lighting will flicker. The dimming technology used is also significant. Tridonic’s LED drivers have been tested for several years to see how they perform in relation to the average limit set to detect flicker at different frequencies. Regarding drivers, it’s more about ripple, as they don’t emit light. Tridonic’s limits are very strict when it comes to how drivers handle ripple. In environments where people spend a lot of time, the ripple level should not exceed 5 percent. Tridonic’s products excel in maintaining a high-quality level in terms of flicker. Several industry organizations, such as Belysningsbranschen, Lighting Europe, and ZVEI, are working on defining national recommendations.

Can Flicker Be Measured?

Currently, there are no definitive standards for measuring flicker, and there are no reliable tools to test flicker levels in a lighting installation. The idea that it can be checked using a mobile camera is a myth. It depends on the camera’s frequency. If it doesn’t match the lighting, even a high-quality lighting system can appear to flicker excessively, while a poor one may appear perfectly fine.

Use serious Manufacturers

The key is to use serious manufacturers who test their products and provide accurate and easily accessible information.
Luminaire manufacturers should specify flicker levels, and driver manufacturers should specify ripple levels.