Why do some LED lights flicker on camera?

LED lights, I was told, would stop the ''flicker'' sometimes seen in the videos. So I went out & purchased a few only to find out there was still some flickering even on these new lights!! Why?? Well let's find out....
If you are planning to record any videos & planning to install LED lights then you need to watch this video. We use the PicoScope to capture waveforms from two types of LED Driver - one that has aweful flickering on the LEDs & the other that does not...what's the difference??
Enjoy
Andy
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Thanks for all your support, until next time...
Andy

[@connork5339]

Thanks to those who explained the 340 peak voltage in the comments. I am pretty decent when it comes to A/C electrical, but not that decent as to why the sine wave would have that much variation. Cheers.

[@jondwyer3037]

I like ripple but only on an ice cream. Nice one Andy.

[@AndyMechanic]

Lol....me too!

[@vijayantgovender2045]

Thank you Andy I always love watching your wonderful videos I am from South Africa

[@johnbonham7515]

Hi. The oscilloscope is measuring a 340 volts peak, the mains voltage (240 volts ac for NZ) is the effective voltage (the equivalent of the energy, the potential I should say, under the sinusoidal signal, you can do the calculation mathematically integrating the signal), but long story short, the relation is: volt (peak) = sqrt(2) x volt (effective) The LED lights "flicker" not so much because of the ripple current (the LED diodes are current driven devices), but due to the fact that the harmonics produced by the driver output are out of phase to the camera refresh rate, in fact, when you pointed the fluorescent tubes, they flickered, because the dominant harmonic of the tube is a multiple of 50 (the 50Hz of the mains in NZ) and your camera is probably recording at 60 or 120 fps (frames per second), they are not submultipliers of the 50Hz harmonic, and progressively get out of sync. The flicker free drivers are probably good for filming, but many times, they have a very poor power factor (and thats a no no, especially for the power company...). Unlike that, the "offending" driver had a much better pf, at the expense of more flicker.

[@AndyMechanic]

Very interesting & informative John, Thank you for that.....I'll have to read it a few times to get my head around it! Cheers for your input. Andy

[@offroad-fan1805]

Hi Andy, your scope measurement of your mains voltage is correct. In electrical engineering there are several different voltage „types“ used for AC voltages (sine wave voltages). You just measured 330 Volts „positive“ (= Peak voltage, Vpk) and 330 volts „negative“ with your scope. If you add the positive and the negative peak voltage you‘ll get 660 Vpp (= peak-to-peak voltage, Vpp). Your mains power supply voltage (240V) is defined as Vrms (root-mean-square voltage). The Vrms is more or less the DC equivalent (from the power point of view), so 1 Amp at 240 Vrms equals 240 Watts (same power as 240 VDC at 1 Amp.). That‘s the reason, why the Vrms is used as description. A scope can just show the Vpp (if it provides no further mathematical functions/tools), but you can calculate one voltage from the other: Vrms = Vpp : (2 * √2) = 660 Vpp : (2 * 1.414) = 660 Vpp : 2.828 = 233,38 Vrms This knowledge is very important when you use a scope at a AC voltage. The limits of a scope are usually defined as Vpp. Most scope inputs (I don’t know your automotive Pico Scope) are limited to 400 Vpp. Unfortunately, this 400 Vpp equals only 141.44 Vrms. Many people think „Oh my scope can handle 400V, let‘s check the sine of my 240V main power socket…“ and are then wondering why their scope is fried. So, good you‘ve used the 1:10 attenuator. ;-) Cheers, Thomas

[@AndyMechanic]

Phew!! Maths then! Yes, pleased I used the attenuator. Thanks for the info, see.....this is why Mechanics aren't electricians. Lol

[@simonrawle7885]

quite interesting subject led lights . check out the dubai lamp andy

[@DwadeIsHere2010]

Is their any brands specifically that are flicker free? Specifically A19 just curious. Thank you for the video. This explains why some flicker on camera or not.

[@allt-under-solen]

When rectifie frequency 2) If an alternator leaves 14.4VDC it is leaving 10VAC

[@pollycat1294]

checkout bigclive

[@AndyMechanic]

Yes, he's excellent & I have watched a few videos he's done on LED lights & drivers...very helpful. I just wanted to produce a short video highlighting the fluctuation in output DC voltage between the cheap & the flicker free LED drivers. I'm hoping it's helpful to a few people & covers the basics of why it's important to source the flicker free drivers if filming. Thanks for the feedback. Cheers Andy

[@bushmaster2936]

Sorry Andy, but this could have been a 5 minute video if you edited out everything that you repeated numerous times over. Just get on with it. It's a video and we can pause it or rewind it as needed. Thank you and have a great day. : )

[@AndyMechanic]

Yes, I'm sure you are correct. Though videos on KZbin have to be over 10 minutes to be able to be monetized. For some viewers they prefer the more detail & I do have to repeat my self as many skip sections then ask questions when the info is in the video! Thanks for the feedback though...it is much easier for me to make shorter videos! Cheers Andy

[@bushmaster2936]

@@AndyMechanic We still love you, Andy !! Have a wonderful day !

[@AndyMechanic]

Thanks Matey, I'll try keep future videos a bit shorter. Have a great day. Andy