Voltage Fluctuations in Lamps and Ballasts

This article shows that lamp aging has a significant correlation with flicker generation. In this research work, a test system and a methodology able to measure optical fluctuation produced by different types of lamps and ballast are presented. This experimental platform provides a correlation between voltage flicker levels and optical flicker perception. This platform can be considered as a first step in the definition of new lamp models. The limits of the severity of flicker caused by voltage fluctuations are defined in Europe by the standard CENELEC EN 50160.