Flicker Visibility with Different Spectra of White Light

The standard flickermeter algorithm commonly used for the evaluation of flicker severity in current electromagnetic compatibility standards originates from the 1980s. It was developed with an incandescent lamp as a reference light source and optimized to voltage fluctuations caused by arc furnaces. However, the algorithm is questionable as the situation in the grid changed since the 1980s; many modern devices are being connected to the grid, creating voltage distortion patterns which are not properly recognized by the flickermeter. Moreover, incandescent lamps have been largely replaced by LEDs and discharge lamps. Transitioning the algorithm from incandescent lamp light to LED light requires detailed revision of every part of the algorithm, This paper is concerned with verifying the frequency weighting function which is a basis of Block 3 of voltage flickermeter and Block B of light flickermeter. Flicker sensitivity of over 30 human observers is measured with two different light sources (warm and neutral white) and compared with the frequency weighting function used in the current standards.