The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has released the findings of a new study on handheld flicker meters. Flicker - or, more precisely, temporal light modulation - is a repetitive variation in light output over a large frequency range, often exacerbated by relative eye or object movement. Flicker can have adverse effects on health and visual performance.
BTS256-EF for Flicker Analysis
Handheld meters from several different manufacturers were tested for performance as it relates to Percent Flicker and Flicker Index, as well as the performance at maximum and dimmed light output levels across all light sources tested. See the full report for exact product model numbers and description of laboratory testing, as well as explanations on the limitations of some meters.
The BTS256-EF which was included in the study provides the flicker parameters shown in the table either displayed on the meter itself or through the supplied S-BTS256 Software:
| Ev (t) |
illuminance over time graphic |
|
| Ev,min |
minimal illuminance |
lx |
| Ev,max |
maximal illuminance |
lx |
| |
Flicker Percent |
% |
| |
Flicker Index |
a.u. |
| f_dom |
dominant flicker frequency |
Hz |
| FFT |
FFT flicker frequencies |
Hz - % |
| PST |
Short-term flicker per CIE TN 006:2016 with S-BTS256 |
- |
| SVM |
Stroboscopic Visibility Measure per CIE TN 006:2016 with S-BTS256 |
- |
| Assist Mp |
Flicker perception with S-BTS256 |
- |
The BTS256-EF not only measures flicker. It measures illuminance, color quantities, spectral irradiance and PAR - Over 50 different measurands in all!