What is Flicker in LED Lights?

LED lighting has become increasingly popular in recent years, thanks to its energy-efficient and long-lasting properties. However, one common drawback of LED lights is flicker – the rapid fluctuations in brightness that occur many times per second. Although these flickers may not be visible to the naked eye, they can have serious physiological and neurological effects on our bodies. For example, repeated exposure can lead to eye strain, fatigue, headaches, and difficulty in concentration. That’s why flicker free LED lighting is becoming more and more popular in both residential and commercial settings nowadays.

Despite the common misconception that flicker is always visible to the naked eye, “flicker-free” LED lighting can sometimes still be visible in certain situations. For example, when taking pictures, moving objects may appear to have a distinct “trail” or vertical streaking lines, which is a sure sign of a flicker. Flicker-free lighting has also been known to cause stroboscopic effects, in which vertical or horizontal light patterns are mapped out on moving objects.

Flicker is a serious issue in many applications, resulting in headaches, dizziness, and other health consequences. In tasks that require high levels of visual acuity and precision, such as manufacturing or operating heavy machinery, flicker can be particularly dangerous. However, there are also more subtle effects of flicker that can occur at higher frequencies, including stroboscopic effects. These occur when objects or light sources are moving quickly, such as in sports or while driving. Overall, flicker-free lighting is an important consideration for any application where visibility and safety are top priorities.To achieve this goal, it is vital to understand the causes of flicker, as well as how to accurately measure flicker and implement mitigation strategies. This requires significant research and knowledge on the part of lighting professionals who seek to provide flicker-free solutions for all types of environments and applications. Through careful design and implementation of new technologies like flicker-free LED lighting systems, we can effectively minimize flicker and its negative impacts on human health and safety.

Measuring and Quantifying Flicker: Percent Flicker

A flickering light source exhibits rapid fluctuations in brightness, which can be characterized using a measure called percent flicker.

The difference in brightness between the maximum and minimum light sources during a flicker cycle is called percent flickering. A light source with 0% flicker means that its brightness does not flicker at all, while a 100% flicker value would indicate that it fluctuates between on and completely off.

Incandescent bulbs exhibit approximately 15% flicker, while some LED bulbs will exhibit more than 75% flicker. Virtually all LEDs that are color-changing or PWM dimmable exhibit 100% flicker. All else equal, a light source with < 5% flicker is preferable to mitigate the negative effects of flicker.

Effect of Flicker Frequency

Flickering light bulbs are not only an eyesore, but they can also cause undesired health effects. When exposed to flickering lights your eyes have to rapidly adjust which causes strain and may lead you into a painful condition. Prolonged exposure can lead to:

Eye strain

Headaches

Blurred vision

Mental Fatigue

Reduced visual task performance

Neurological problems

Optical effects

If you’re concerned that your lights have flickered, here’s a simple test using your smartphone camera to determine if your LEDs are at fault.

Turn on the camera and aim it at the light in question. Look at the screen and if you see a series of dark and light bands traveling across the screen, then you have a flickering light.

Flicker-Free LED Products

Despite this issue, there are now flicker-free LED lighting solutions available that effectively minimize flicker and prevent the negative side effects of this phenomenon. Using advanced technology and innovative design, these high-quality lights eliminate flicker for a more pleasant lighting experience overall. So if you’re looking for brighter, safer, easier-to-use LEDs, be sure to look for flicker-free led lighting options that will ensure your home or workplace stays bright and healthy!

At Logos Lighting, we are dedicated to providing the best flicker-free LED lighting solutions that are ideal for both residential and commercial use. Our lights are carefully crafted to provide optimal color and brightness, so you can feel confident knowing your home or workspace will be well-lit. What’s more, our LED flicker-free design ensures that you never have to worry about eye strain, fatigue, or headaches caused by flickering lights. Whether you need bright task lights for your home office or a sophisticated fixture for your business lobby, Logos Lighting has the perfect flicker-free LED lighting solution for you. So why wait? Contact us today to learn more about our wide range of quality LED lights!