Home LED lights being affected by Ripple Control

Forums › Gadgets, robotics, home automation, electronics (including wearables) › Home LED lights being affected by Ripple Control

1 | 2 | 3

89 posts

Master Geek
+1 received by user: 10

#2248410 30-May-2019 12:27

Thanks for the replies

gbwelly - Not an option as I have the lights all through out the house can't just not sit in any room haha

nzjscott - thank you thats very helpful indeed and should help others googling around for this issue

Aredwood - it seems like the most cost effective fix is to actually put in the ripple control filters rather than replace every single light

Aredwood

3885 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 1749

#2248418 30-May-2019 12:41

Have you actually verified that it is definitely the ripple control? And not something completely different, that happens to simply occur at set times.

nzjscott

4 posts

Wannabe Geek
+1 received by user: 1

#2248423 30-May-2019 12:41

Oh I should mention - like Aredwood said - I tracked the times of the flickering issues and sent an email to Wellington Electricity who confirmed that my log coincided with ripple signals being sent out, which was really helpful to confirm the root cause of the issue.

ekul

89 posts

Master Geek
+1 received by user: 10

#2248434 30-May-2019 12:56

Aredwood: Have you actually verified that it is definitely the ripple control? And not something completely different, that happens to simply occur at set times.

nzjscott:

Oh I should mention - like Aredwood said - I tracked the times of the flickering issues and sent an email to Wellington Electricity who confirmed that my log coincided with ripple signals being sent out, which was really helpful to confirm the root cause of the issue.

Yes I have a call open with Wellington Electricity - just waiting for a response to make sure the times line up, every sparky i've talked to date can't think of anything it is it could possibly be

Aredwood

3885 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 1749

#2248746 30-May-2019 21:14

Please keep us updated with what happens next.

ekul

89 posts

Master Geek
+1 received by user: 10

#2249350 31-May-2019 20:16

Still waiting on a reply from Wellington Electricity

I basically asked what times they send ripple control down the lines, the lady was very rude, said they don't have that information but I asked her to check with someone else and get back to me..

Noticed over the last few nights it definitely happens at the exact same time

301 PM

450 PM

501 PM

631 PM

Dell

Shop now for Dell laptops and other devices (affiliate link).

nzjscott

4 posts

Wannabe Geek
+1 received by user: 1

#2249352 31-May-2019 20:24

My times confirmed by WE.

- 0738
- 1701
- 1710
- 1831

I am in the industry and may be able to ask WE. But, if it helps, I am convinced it is ripple. If you are in the hutt or near tawa, even more so. I have heard the ripple signal is louder in these areas.

ekul

89 posts

Master Geek
+1 received by user: 10

#2249354 31-May-2019 20:25

nzjscott: My times confirmed by WE.

- 0738
- 1701
- 1710
- 1831

II am in the industry and may be able to ask WE. But, if it helps, I am convinced it is ripple. If yoj are in the hutt or neear tawa, even more so. I have heard the ripple signal is louder in these areas.

Looks like some of our times match up - i'm in Aotea, Porirua

nzjscott

4 posts

Wannabe Geek
+1 received by user: 1

#2249356 31-May-2019 20:31

Yeah souds like it. Gayrad did offer to make a higher wattage total load zelwegger for me. Seemed crazy to filter the whole house tho. I did get a price but can't find the email. If you PM me I can try to put you in contact. Depending on the load it may not be much cheaper. I have 4 Phillips halo lights and 12 led down lights (small halogen size) on two of the smaller filters. That was about 200-250$. I can try to find out the wattage of the circuits and check model numbers of filters of it helps.

ekul

89 posts

Master Geek
+1 received by user: 10

#2252110 5-Jun-2019 14:20

Latest update

Wellington Electricity confirmed it is more than likely ripple control based off of the symptoms, they sent me a spreadsheet of times they send it down, but in hours blocks not minutes so can't pinpoint it exactly

WE said "Our suggestion is to try another make of LED bulbs or go to the manufacturer and see if they can provide you with any further information around the frequency their bulbs are using."

I've tried another make of downlight and the issue still exists so that doesn't help..

Pretty sure it is Ripple Control. Have asked my electrician if he can come fit a filter on one of my circuits to see if it eliminates the issue or not

mattwnz

20520 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 4797

#2252111 5-Jun-2019 14:27

It would be interesting to see if the Philips Hue bulbs do it, as they should hopefully use pretty decent components in them.

I heard of someone who recently purchased a mains digital clock, and it kept running slowly.I believe it relies on the frequency of the AC current to retain the correct time. They returned it to the shop, but when they tested it in store, it was fine. However when they went out to the customers house and tested it, and it ran slow. So there was something going on with the power in that area, which just happened to be a new subdivision.

New World

Shop on-line at New World now for your groceries (affiliate link).

ekul

89 posts

Master Geek
+1 received by user: 10

#2252113 5-Jun-2019 14:30

Interesting! Yeah I've been considering getting 4 of the hue downlights anyway but I hate that someone can just switch it off at the wall.

Off subject but I have a Wemo Light Switch in my bedroom and love it

ekul

89 posts

Master Geek
+1 received by user: 10

#2254903 9-Jun-2019 17:11

Bit the bullet and installed 4 phillips hue downlights this weekend (https://www.mitre10.co.nz/shop/philips-hue-ambiance-aphelion-led-downlight-h-136mm-w-53mm-d-53mm/p/318836?gclid=CjwKEAjwue3nBRCCyrqY0c7bw2wSJACSlmGZSojkrhbvEakogz7nL5nWmlsQSq8alpVl7uKjYyUYUBoCCgvw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds)

Funny story they are 125MM sized downlights but they don't sell 125MM hole saws in New Zealand, only one store on trademe otherwise you have to order them from overseas.

I just printed out a cut out on the internet of 125MM hole and drew round a circle then used a drillbit/craft knife to make the existing 90MM holes bigger, they fit perfect and flush

and... NO MORE flicker... turns out it just a problem with cheap downlights... I have 2 other types in the house and they both suffer the flicker during ripple..

Good to know, still getting sparky to put ripple filters in the living areas though as it will be cheaper than putting in expensive downlights...

Will post an update once the filters have been installed