Reducing flicker and acoustic noise

Flicker reduction

This area has had little attention prior to mandates imposed by the state of California. The basic 120Hz flicker is quite large in single stage converters and there are few solution options that don’t add size, weight, and cost. Dimmer asymmetry and resultant flicker is an area that can be addressed electronically. Dimmer asymmetry is the result of difference in conduction angle in the positive and negative half cycles of the ac line.

Acoustic noise reduction

Acoustic noise comes from the magnetics and the ceramic capacitors. Encapsulating magnetic devices and avoiding ceramic capacitors mitigates most of the noise issues associated with TRIAC dimming.