Comments on: Sick of Fluorescents? New Technology Provides Flicker-Free Light http://blogs.smithsonianmag.com/science/2012/12/sick-of-fluorescents-new-technology-provides-flicker-free-light/ Ideas, innovations and discoveries from the world of science Tue, 18 Jun 2013 18:06:30 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4 By: Clieve http://blogs.smithsonianmag.com/science/2012/12/sick-of-fluorescents-new-technology-provides-flicker-free-light/comment-page-1/#comment-9746 Clieve Wed, 06 Mar 2013 09:46:03 +0000 http://blogs.smithsonianmag.com/science/?p=13168#comment-9746 Scientists continuously researchers on a new technology that provides flicker-free, durable lighting which is easy on the eyes and also replace the buzzing overhead fluorescent light bulbs in homes and office. The lighting is based on field-induced polymer electroluminescent (FIPEL) technology that gives soft, white light or bluish tinge from LED's. This new lighting solution is at least twice as efficient as (CFL) bulbs and LEDs. Scientists continuously researchers on a new technology that provides flicker-free, durable lighting which is easy on the eyes and also replace the buzzing overhead fluorescent light bulbs in homes and office. The lighting is based on field-induced polymer electroluminescent (FIPEL) technology that gives soft, white light or bluish tinge from LED’s. This new lighting solution is at least twice as efficient as (CFL) bulbs and LEDs.

]]> By: John Galt http://blogs.smithsonianmag.com/science/2012/12/sick-of-fluorescents-new-technology-provides-flicker-free-light/comment-page-1/#comment-8066 John Galt Tue, 11 Dec 2012 04:08:10 +0000 http://blogs.smithsonianmag.com/science/?p=13168#comment-8066 Break a traditional filament bulb, you sweep up the shards and throw them away. Break a CFL and your house is a superfund site. This is progress? Break a traditional filament bulb, you sweep up the shards and throw them away. Break a CFL and your house is a superfund site. This is progress?

]]> By: Stan Protigal http://blogs.smithsonianmag.com/science/2012/12/sick-of-fluorescents-new-technology-provides-flicker-free-light/comment-page-1/#comment-8046 Stan Protigal Fri, 07 Dec 2012 13:04:27 +0000 http://blogs.smithsonianmag.com/science/?p=13168#comment-8046 It's not the flicker -- consider that Compact Fluorescent Lights (CFLs) cycle at 20kHz to 65kHz, which is far beyond the human capacity to perceive or react to flicker, and still cause problems for many people. The problems with fluorescents is the very spikey light output, in combination with their high color temperature light output. The results are red/blue pupillary flicker and blue-UV sensitivity. The red/blue pupillary flicker can be aggravated by line current flicker (the old tubes, if they ballast has not been converted to electronic), but cannot be eliminated, even with triphosphor fluorescent bulbs. The blue-UV sensitivity issue can be addressed by low color temperature bulbs and higher quality bulbs. Unfortunately, people equate higher color temperature with "better" light, and so there is a tendency to look for color temperatures of 4100 K and higher. It’s not the flicker — consider that Compact Fluorescent Lights (CFLs) cycle at 20kHz to 65kHz, which is far beyond the human capacity to perceive or react to flicker, and still cause problems for many people. The problems with fluorescents is the very spikey light output, in combination with their high color temperature light output.

The results are red/blue pupillary flicker and blue-UV sensitivity. The red/blue pupillary flicker can be aggravated by line current flicker (the old tubes, if they ballast has not been converted to electronic), but cannot be eliminated, even with triphosphor fluorescent bulbs.

The blue-UV sensitivity issue can be addressed by low color temperature bulbs and higher quality bulbs. Unfortunately, people equate higher color temperature with “better” light, and so there is a tendency to look for color temperatures of 4100 K and higher.

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