Non-Flickering LED Tubes Onto the Market from Valtavalo

Flickering makes it more difficult to focus on work and causes discomfort. It also affects eye movements; reading in a flickering light doubles the number of eye movements and slows down the reading speed [1, 3].

Flickering is more common than can be noticed by human eyes:

Most of us are subjected to flickering on a daily basis because we spend most of our waking hours at work or school where artificial light is used to a great extent.

Flickering may be visibly disturbing, but may not always be discernible with human eyes. However, it must be taken into account that even though people do not consciously identify flickering, the retina and brain notice it [1, 3].

The flickering of lights is caused by a rapid variation in the voltage of the power grid. Many traditional sources of light, such as fluorescent tubes with a magnetic inductor, are particularly sensitive to this variation, but many LEDs also suffer from harmful flickering [2].

Addressing flickering with control technology:

“In the Valtavalo G4 LED tube, the issue has been resolved by investing in control technology. Wellbeing and stress-free lighting also involve a long product life and a light spectrum that affects the energy level of people and their melatonin production. Our LED tubes are particularly designed for workplaces and facilities where people remain for long periods and where they must be able to see well”, says Markku Laatikainen, managing director of Valtavalo.

“The flicker percentage of fluorescent tubes and typical competing LED tubes is about 30%, whereas the percentage for the Valtavalo G4 LED tube is fairly under 5%, which in practice means that it is fully non-flickering”, says Laatikainen.

G4 LED tubes are manufactured at Valtavalo’s production unit in Kajaani, Finland. At the end of 2015, Valtavalo announced that it will multiply its LED tube production volume by acquiring a second fully automatic production line.

“Based on our best knowledge G4 is the first flicker-free LED tube that is manufactured according to LED tube standard EN 62776, i.e. tube is retrofitted and there is an internal driver. Previously there have been flicker-free LED tubes on the market with an external driver, “ says Laatikainen.

For additional information, please visit the Valtavalo Website

References:
1) Hur påverkas vi av flimmer och osynliga ljusmodulationer?, Ljuskultur 5/2013
2) Proper driver design eliminates LED light strobe flicker, LED’s Magazine 04/2014
3) Understand the lighting flicker frustration, LED’s Magazine 11-12/2015

Other background material:
1) Poplawski, M.E. & Miller N.M. Flicker in Solid-State Lighting: Measurement Techniques, and Proposed Reporting and Application Criteria, 2013
2) 1789-2015 – IEEE Recommended Practices for Modulating Current in High-Brightness LEDs for Mitigating Health Risks to Viewers
3) Chart the course of energy-efficient SSL through lighting regulations, LED’s Magazine 10/2015