a friend of mine suggested this
"Well technically all lights flicker of they're connected to AC power. It's less noticeable on incandescent because the coil glows. Hook your led up to a DC current (which is done by most pros) and no flickering. Even if it's hooked up to AC, it's at 60 Hz so it is not perceivable by humans (our eyes can perceive around 24-30Hz). Have you found any reported cases of epilepsy due to strobing lights at this speed?"
Does anyone know anything about this?
Yeah the reason we don't notice bulbs flicker is the low difference in amplitudes and to a less extent because it's a smooth transition. If it were "On/Off" with nothing in between (happens with LEDs) the flicker would be very visible.
I noticed that I get symptoms within seconds when looking at tiny LEDs on power adapters, or in general flicker at 50/60 Hz. Feels like the facial muscles around the eyes are slightly numbing. The effect can last for hours. I would believe this has to be a form of epilepsy, but the doctors didn't find any unusual brain activity while I was looking at strobing lights. So this is my personal "epilepsy" report.
By the way, incandescents flicker at 120 Hz because they also glow when the current is flowing back.
I would also like to add that DC powered LED lights can flicker as well. To avoid this the current must be extremely "clean." I am noticing this as I power on LEDS and adjust the potentiometer of my power supply. Brand new LEDs flicker, hooked in series, flicker at all setting of the potentiometer. Even at the highest setting there is a flicker but it is at the least of all the settings.
It seems that by adding an inductor(supposedly smooths current) or a capacitor (supposedly smooths voltage), that this can help. But this was supposed done by the manufactures of the power supply. But the more inductors one has the smoother the current can be from what I am reading
What give me hope for right now is electronic ballast and fluorescent tubes. I realize that industry is getting away from this but so far, this seems to be the lighting in an office that can provide the least flicker. I read that with new ballast, approx. 10 dollars, and the proper t8 led tubes. the flicker index rating can be at .01. That type of light is amazing.
