TECHNICAL CORNER

MASTER ELECTRICIANS

A STEPHEN KING THRILLER , OR MAXIMUM DEMAND REDUCTION POLICY ? THE POSSIBLY EVEN MORE FRIGHTENING ( AND COSTLY ) REASONS LED LIGHTS FLICKER … BY MATTHEW DUNCAN , MASTER ELECTRICIANS AUSTRALIA

Nothing could be scarier than sitting in a room when the lights start flickering . I mean , why else would every horror movie use this technique to drive fear into the hearts of men , women and children the world over ?

Outside the world of fantasy , though , it ’ s mostly just an annoyance , and sometimes a costly one . Why do LED lights , the greatest revolution in energy-saving illuminances since the fluorescent lamp , and current product of choice for the majority of domestic installations , seem to have such a fundamental issue ?

Let ’ s analyse some causes and possible solutions for this issue .

INCOMPATIBLE DIMMERS When buying light dimmers , LED compatibility is a crucial factor for consideration . Traditional light dimmers can cause intermittent lamp operation and decreased lamp life . For those that do light up , it will not be long before you see your dimmable lamp flicker . Some manufacturers specify a specific matched dimmer to use to ensure compatibility , so it is key to check for this .

INSTALLING NON- DIMMABLE LED LAMPS IN LED DIMMERS Non-dimmable LED lamps on dimmers are likely to flicker , and even hum . They may still dim like the actual dimmable lamps , but usually have an uneven effect – if they work at all . Moreover , the use of nondimmable LED lights in dimmers can affect their service life . The more often they flicker , the shorter their lifespan will become .

INRUSH CURRENT FROM OTHER APPLIANCES Do your LED lamps flicker whenever you turn on high consumption appliances , such as electric stoves , ovens , air conditioners , heaters , or washers ? In such cases , these ‘ ghostly ’ experiences with your

LED lights have to do with inrush current . This is the initial energy drawn by appliances when you first switch them on . Because they suck a lot of power , they can cause a voltage reduction . Keep in mind that LED lights are already up to 75 per cent more energy-efficient than old halogen lights . Since they use much less energy , further reducing the voltage or current flow to lamps can make them turn off and on , presenting as a flicker . Fan ( and other ) speed controllers can be a source of this as well when changing speeds .

OFF-PEAK RIPPLE CONTROL SIGNAL – A MAJOR SOURCE OF ISSUES What is the signal and why is it used ? Electricity suppliers in certain areas of Australia are injecting

40 GEMCELL . COM . AU JUN – JUL 2022