Last Updated on November 8, 2022 by
The efficiency of lighting has evolved from many years ago into an everyday commodity we use every day. Over the years, incandescent bulbs have been replaced with halogen light bulbs, compact fluorescent lights, and now the so convenient LED lights. This guide is all about LED light strobing.
LEDs can function thanks to advanced technology, which makes them so energy-efficient. Compared to their predecessors, these LEDs consume less power, are brighter, and have a longer lifespan. There is, however, a common issue associated with lighting, and that is flickering.
Light flickering is the quick and replicated change in the brilliance of light over time. Flickers can be noticed when they produce more than 50 flashes per second. This guide is all about led light strobing with details.
Types of LED Light Strobing
The term flickering can be used to describe many types of LED light strobing;
- The visible flicker is evident to our eyes. This is caused by the light output of the lighting source changing rapidly. The short-term frequencies of light range from 3Hz to 70Hz, so different light frequencies are perceived. This is detrimental since rapid changes have been associated with photosensitive epilepsy seizures. It can range from an annoyance in your bathroom when the lights dim to a complete public safety problem.
- An LED light bulb or light fixture may malfunction in this variation. There is a visible flicker, but the device is defective and needs to be repaired or replaced. (We will concentrate on 1 and 1b because we want to fix them).
- Invisible flickering is the second type. As the name suggests, it is a present flicker but cannot be seen directly. This is still dangerous because the associated consequences of working under an invisible flicker include dizziness, headaches, migraines, and general ill-feeling. The health effects of flicker are the subject of a lot of research. We will skip this one for now but may come back to it in the future. It is essential, and we can prevent this with better-LED lights.
Causes of LED Light strobing.
The LED driver is a device that receives power from the battery and then delivers it to one or more LEDs. It is a system for managing electrical current, but it also serves as a protective cushion. Drivers come in two types, constant voltage LED drivers, and variable voltage LED drivers.
The constant voltage LED drivers are used by commodities that require a constant and steady DC voltage for high efficiency. This is primarily used when LEDs are connected to the driver parallelly and are straight in their configuration. The driver provides a constant voltage load in every LED, preventing the LEDs from overheating.
Second is the constant LED driver, which handles the original current entering the LED’s diode to make things happen in the p-n junction.
Faulty drivers may cause LED light strobing since they are more susceptible to being affected by heat over time.
Loose connections and circuits often cause LED light strobing in LED lights. Poor artistry occurred during the placement of fixtures to the connection point could result in LED light strobing.
If several LED light strobing simultaneously, there could be a problem with the panel or junction point that needs to be tightened.
Incompatibility of dimmer switches – One major cause of LED light strobing is placing them in circuits with incompatible switches. The power to the bulb is switched on and off several times every second when using a dimming switch. LED lights are not compatible with this mechanism, so when combined with LED lights, the lights flicker.
Fixtures or bulbs of low quality. As the old saying goes, cheap can be pricey. Although LEDs are pretty reliable, buying cheap bulbs can also cause problems. High-quality LEDs have high-quality drivers that prevent flickering issues; low-quality LEDs have low-quality drivers which cause LED light strobing.
While high-quality bulbs are generally more expensive, they save you money by reducing the need for frequent repairs and replacements.
Power surges- The power wattage will influence how your LED lights perform, incredibly cheap drivers. Let’s say that an appliance that uses a high power load is connected within the same circuit as your LED lamp. Other drivers don’t perform as well in normalizing the output to the LEDs.
Surges can wear down drivers and cause a delay in failure.
Solution of LED lights strobing.
- As a result of LED light strobing, we have identified them as hazardous to our work. Commercial settings would be incredibly unpleasant to experience strobing, as it would reduce the performance of your workforce, not to mention that it would create a homely environment for your clients as well. As a result, we need to focus on solving these issues, and the following guidelines can help:
- Consider using better drivers that eliminate the climax points of the sine wave. Power current peaks can be eliminated by constant drivers, thus eliminating flickering. Go for a lamp with the proper driver components, such as full-sized drivers that isolate noise and regulate power.
- If there are voltage changes, this can be achieved during the wiring process. As voltage shifts can occur due to the use of many appliances at the same time, and sharing the current between your appliances and your LED light can cause it to flicker, you should check the current running to your home or office is sufficient enough to power all your electronic appliances and lights.
- The malfunctioning component should be checked. You have checked the voltage issue and the drivers, but your lights still flicker. What should you do? One of those components may be malfunctioning in your lights. You should check your manufacturer’s warranty and if it’s still valid, have them replace your light. Otherwise, they can assist you in finding a replacement. Since safety is paramount, you should have an electrician test out the switches.
- Upgrade LED light bulbs or LED lights with better products. You may not be able to use any of the solutions above. T8 LED tubes are not available in large quantities anymore. Therefore, if you use these lights and still experience flickering, you can consider replacing them with OTAT fixtures, which last for over 50,000 hours and are pretty energy-efficient compared to T8 tubes. A detail-oriented kind of lighting is also ideal for mechanic shops, artist studios, and other places that require this kind of lighting. Using EPTA tubes as a substitute for T8 tubes is another good idea. This linear fixture is rated for 200,000 hours.
- Last but not least, seek the assistance of specialists in light fixtures and choose a company that offers high-quality fixtures since they can assist you in choosing the correct fixture for your commercial setting.
Apart from this, if you are interested to know how to fix a short circuit then visit our Tech category.
Conclusion
As you’ve seen, there are a variety of causes and circumstances for LED flickering. Most of the time, electrical wiring, transformers, or dimmer problems are to blame. A defective LED light could only occasionally be to blame for the flicker problem. This guide should help you identify the precise cause and resolve your flashing lights.
