WHITE PAPER:

UNDERSTANDING IEEE FLICKER, Ifl, Pst, Plt

Source
Impedance

Contributed by Cowles Andrus, January 2013

ABSTRACT
This white paper covers and explains three of IEEEs
most common Flicker definitions: Ifl, Pst and Plt. The GE
Flicker Curve and how other measurements standards
Load
Supply
compare to the GE Flicker Curve will be covered briefly;
Current
Varying
Voltage
for more information on the GE Flicker curve please
Load
refer to Application of the GE Flicker Curve, available
HERE. The focus of this paper is to provide a better
understanding of IEC 61000-4-15 and how Ifl, Pst and
Plt are derived.
series with the load, I 2R, heat is being generated and in Figure 1. Varying load
some cases could be a fire hazard. Figure 1 shows how across the wiring
FLICKERS DEFINITION
a varying load across the wiring impedance causes the impedance causes the
When most power consumers refer to flicker, it is usually modulation on the line voltage.
modulation on the line
in reference to an inconstant or wavering light. A more
voltage.
precise definition of lamp flicker quoted from the IEC STANDARDS OF DEFINING FLICKER
technical vocabulary is, The impression of unsteadiness THE GE FLICKER CURVE, IEEE 141
of visual sensation induced by a light stimulus whose There are several major standards that have been
luminance or spectral distribution fluctuated with time. developed over the years to quantify flicker. The first of
Excessive flicker perceived involves the eyes and the these standards was IEEE 141, the GE Flicker Curve,
brain; if it continues for a long enough time, it can be which was developed from research done in 1921 on
very irritating and annoying to a customer. At what point human response to light fluctuation. The GE Flicker
this flicker becomes irritating or even perceivable varies Curve is a calculation of frequency based on the number
from person to person and depends on a number of of voltage dips, not the number of changes. This flicker
factors. Some of these factors include a persons age, curve used square-wave step changes in line voltage
neurological, psychological and overall health, and the at a constant frequency as shown in Figure 2. The Figure 2. Square-wave
individuals critical flicker frequency. The individuals percentage of the voltage dip equals the delta voltage steps
critical flicker frequency (CFF), also referred to as
flicker-fusion, occurs within a range of about 5 to 50
7.5 dips per second or 15 fluctuations per second
Hz. Under normal steady state power conditions, most
200
people would observe an incandescent light bulb to be
emitting perfect steady light as if the power source was
150
DC even on a 60 or 50 Hz system. The CCF gradually
decreases with age in adults; however, there remain
some differences from person to person even at the
100
same age. In some situations, humans can perceive
visible changes in light output with as little as 0.25%
50
changes in the RMS voltage that powers the light source.
THE CAUSE OF FLICKER

Flicker is due to a load change which produces a voltage

drop across a systems impedance which, in turn, causes
variations in the voltage applied to lighting equipment
(Figure 1). Among the industrial loads that cause flicker
are starting of large induction motors, arc furnaces and
electric welders. In residential areas, flicker can be
caused by loads like heat pumps, air conditioners, ovens,
small welders and even hair dryers. The effects of flicker
can be more pronounced when there is high impedance
or a loose connection. Sometimes excessive flicker
can be a warning sign to check for loose connections.
Ohms law suggests that where there is a voltage drop in

Tools you need. People you trust.

-50

-100

-150

-200

013012 WP104

0.1

0.2

0.3

Time (Seconds)

Power Monitors, Inc. Call Us: 800.296.4120 www.powermonitors.com

WHITE PAPER:

UNDERSTANDING IEEE FLICKER, Ifl, Pst, Plt

FLICKER TOLERANCE CURVE FROM IEEE STD. 141-1993/IEEE STD 519-1992
6

PERCENT VOLTAGE DIP

5
4
3
BORDERLINE OF IRRITATION
2

BORDERLINE OF VISIBILITY OF FLICKER

flickermeter measurement. For example, the GE flicker

curve is based off of square wave type changes in the
voltage variation at a constant frequency. IEC 610004-15 is based on many loads resulting in more random
and varying fluctuations, not just simple square wave
voltage variation at a constant frequency. Flickermeter
measurement standards are typically included in power
quality monitors, but not in simpler standalone test
equipment. The flickermeter standards described in
IEC 61000-4-15 standardize flicker monitoring across
different manufactures.
FUNCTIONS OF THE IEEE 1453 FLICKERMETER

The flickermeter standards require a normalized input

voltage. It demodulates a flicker signal 60 Hz peak
0
fluctuation waveform, filters and weights the flicker
2
5 10 20 30 1
2
5
10 2030 1
2
5 10 20
1
signal, samples the instantaneous flicker signal (Ifl), and
DIPS PER HOUR
DIPS PER MINUTE
DIPS PER SECOND
then performs statistical analysis of the Ifl. From this
FREQUENCY OF DIPS
information it is able to calculate Percentile Short Term
flicker,(Pst) and from that it can calculate Percentile
Figure 3. GE Flicker Curve divided by the line voltage. The GE flicker curve is made Long Flicker (Plt). See Figure 4.
up of two curves, the borderline of visible flicker and the
FLICKERMETER DEFINITIONS AND EQUATIONS
borderline of irritation as shown in Figure 3.
Ifl, Instantaneous Flicker Level, is directly based on the
FLICKERMETER MEASUREMENTS
IEEE 1453, IEC 6100-4-15 standards. As its name implies,
Figure 4. Flicker The GE flicker curve measurements, although good Ifl quantifies voltage fluctuation at a given instant.
modulation60 Hz for their time, have several shortfalls that have Phenomena that would cause a sudden voltage sag to
waveform been addressed by the IEC 61000-4-15 (IEEE 1453) occur, such as a low impedance load suddenly being
Event Number 126

Channel A

Horizontal 50 milliseconds/division
Vrms: Prev=98.38, Min=98.80, Max=111.8

Tools you need. People you trust. 013012 WP104

Setup 1

12/26/94

03:04:55:95

Vertical 50 Volts/division
Worst Imp= 8Vpk, 0deg

Power Monitors, Inc. Call Us: 800.296.4120 www.powermonitors.com

WHITE PAPER:

UNDERSTANDING IEEE FLICKER, Ifl, Pst, Plt

switched on, would immediately cause a change in the
Ifl data. Ifl calculations are based on studies conducted
on humans that provided an eye-brain sensitivity curve
for different modulating frequencies regardless of how
often the fluctuations may occur.

COMPATIBILITY LEVELS
LOW, MED. V
<35kV, >35 kV <230kV

PLANNING LEVELS
MED. V, 1 kV - 35 kV

HIGH V - EHV

Pst 1.0

.9

.8

Plt 0.8

.7

.6

Pst, Percentile Short Term flicker is based on IEEE

1453, IEC 6100-4-15 standard. Pst is a measurement Figure 5. Flicker Limits to avoid complaints
associated with noticeable flicker of incandescent lights
due to fluctuation of the AC voltage that powers the light.
10
The P in Pst stands for the flicker severity factor. P
IEEE141
can be evaluated on a 10 minute basis in which the ST
stands for Short Term. Short Term is defined over a 10
V
[%]
minute interval versus Plt where the LT stands for a
IEEE 519
V
Long Term interval of 2 hours. Plt values are derived
120V UIE
from the following formula:

Plt or Percentile Long Term flicker is also based on the

IEEE 1453, IEC 6100-4-15 standards. Plt is the measure
of long term flicker used for determining the combined
effect of several randomly operating loads. Plt is a root
mean average of the Pst value over 12 period sliding
time span.

0.1
0.01

0.1

10

changes/minute

100

1000

10000

Plt values above 1.00 are generally considered a

potential issue. During the development and testing
phase, 1.00 was established as the value where half Figure 6. Comparison of IEEE 141 the GE Flicker Curve and IEEE 519 Flicker Curves,
of all people tested indicated that the flicker level Threshold of Irritability
was noticeable and found it to be irritating. Plt can be
computed by software after a recording by using only the
Pst data. Figure 5 shows recommended flicker limits to
avoid complaints. Figure 6 shows a comparison of IEEE
141 the GE Flicker Curve and IEEE 519 Flicker Curves,
Threshold of Irritability.
The original versions of IEC standard are based on
the effect of voltage fluctuations on 60 watt, 230 volt
system as shown in Figure 7. As the graph shows, the
120 volt bulb is not as sensitive to voltage fluctuations
because the larger filament size for a given amount of
watts has a longer time constant, thus a slower change
in illumination. The 120 volt weighting curve is used in
the United States in the flickermeter implementation of
IEC 61000-4-15.
FINDING THE SOURCE OF FLICKER

PMI recorders conform to the IEC 61000-4-15 flicker

conformance tests. These include the Revolution, Eagle
and Guardian. Each of these recorders is tested to IEC
conformance before shipping.
Figure 7. Flickermeter Curve for Pst=1, Boarderline of Irritation

Tools you need. People you trust.

013012 WP104

Power Monitors, Inc. Call Us: 800.296.4120 www.powermonitors.com

WHITE PAPER:

UNDERSTANDING IEEE FLICKER, Ifl, Pst, Plt

Figure 8. Ifl vs. load current In figure 8, Ifl vs. load current is shown using the
ProVision stripchart function. Ifl is very useful for
locating the source of flicker.
Figure 9. Pst vs Voltage
Fluctuations time trend Figure 9 shows Pst vs Voltage Fluctuations time trend
plot captured by a PMI plot captured by a PMI Revolution. Pst is used for
Revolution determining the severity of the flicker.

Nowadays the short-term flicker severity value Pst and

the long-term flicker severity value Plt are the commonly
used quantities for the characterization of flicker level
in an electrical network in the majority countries in
the world. But in some areas of the Far East such as
Japan and Taiwan, power companies use other criterion
for the assessment of voltage fluctuation, the voltage
flicker index Delta V10 which characterizes the actual
flicker with respect to an equivalent value of the voltage
modulation component with the frequency of 10 Hz.
There are a lot of attempts to find a simple and reliable
approach for the converting from one index to other
by multiplying the index with a factor, but no universal
method has been developed.
CONCLUSION

1. Ifl stands for Instantaneous Flicker Level and

quantifies voltage fluctuations at a given instant. Ifl is
very useful for locating the source of flicker.
2. P stands for Flicker Severity Factor.
3. T he st in Pst stands for Short Term, evaluated on
a 10 minute basis. Pst is used for determining the
severity of the flicker.
4. The lt in Plt, stands for the Long Term interval
defined as 2 hours.

Tools you need. People you trust. 013012 WP104

Power Monitors, Inc. Call Us: 800.296.4120 www.powermonitors.com

WHITE PAPER:

UNDERSTANDING IEEE FLICKER, Ifl, Pst, Plt

5. Plt is a root mean average of the Pst value over 12 effect on human sensitivity and tolerance has helped
period sliding time span.
set the standards for todays electrical power quality.
Understanding the standards and monitoring the
IEEE1453 is currently the preferred measurement compliance of the power quality in reference to those
method compared to the IEEE 141, the older GE Flicker standards can help provide a better quality of life for
Curve method, which is based on a simple square-wave everyone. PMIs Provision software and PQ analyzers
voltage variations at a constant frequency.
support several critical flicker measurements including
Pst and Plt.
PMI recorders can be user configured to make both flicker
measurements. IEEE 1453 is the suggested method for Cowles Andrus, III
measuring flicker because it more accurately accounts Communications Specialist
for complex voltage fluctuations which are more common candrus@powermonitors.com
in real world flicker situations, and it standardizes flicker http://www.powermonitors.com
monitoring across different manufacturers.
800.296.4120
The human perception of flicker varies somewhat from
one person to another. Scientific studies of flickers

Tools you need. People you trust.

013012 WP104

Power Monitors, Inc. Call Us: 800.296.4120 www.powermonitors.com