Measurement, Simulation, and Quantification of Lighting-Space Flicker Risk Levels Using Low-Cost TCS34725 Colour Sensor and IEEE 1789-2015 Standard

Abstract

Building owners are transitioning towards a smart lighting solution for illumination purposes. LED (Light Emitting Diode) lighting application has become a norm given its high efficacy and energy efficiencies. This paper presents an approach to monitor the percent flicker conformance of interior building lighting to international standards. The focus is on flickers induced by LED lightings. This experiment utilises a TCS34725 RGB (red, green, blue) colour sensor to measure the flicker parameters of interior lighting spaces. Light-sensitive photodiodes in the sensor detect changes in lighting intensity, and output digitised values. A Raspberry Pi4 minicomputer processes the data measured for comparison to several standards. Non-conformance is reported to building owners to take corrective actions and minimise flicker discomfort exposure to building occupants. A flicker risk level factor is determined to gauge the severity when flickers are present. This method may be used to replace luminaires or fix flickering lighting issues in buildings. The results show that the monitoring system is functional. The proposed measurement and data processing method can be incorporated into any smart building hub for automation and building performance analysis. The method may also be used to measure non-LED lighting flickers.

Keywords

• flicker
• percent flicker
• flicker index
• ieee 1978-2015