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Comment by miahi | Hacker News Reader

3. The flicker fusion issue mostly applies to cathode ray displays and moving pictures. Many LCDs use flickering light (PWM) for backlight, but usually at more than 200Hz. Better LCDs use linear current sources for backlight, so there's no flicker at all. An LCD should be fine even for dogs when static images are displayed.

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Cheap LED bulbs actually flicker significantly, which I realized when I filmed using my camera's "slow motion" capture at 240 frames per second.

In our bedroom, I put in some LEDs, not realizing there could possibly be a difference between cheap and expensive ones. One night I filmed my cat doing something dumb in slow motion, and when I looked at the playback the whole room was strobing.

It was pretty wild. I might even still have the video, and could see about posting it somewhere.

You don't need slow motion camera, it's enough with most normal catch the worst offenders in the store if they have those led display sets where you can see the lightbulb lit. Just shove the camera real close to the lightbulb and watch the stripes. If no stripes, put it even closer (almost touching) and if it's still ok, buy it :-)

well now i’m curious, since we have a handful of LED bulbs throughout the house. they flicker no doubt, detectable through the slow motion setting on my phone camera.

any suggestions on what energy efficient bulbs to replace them with?!

There are plenty of flicker free LEDs available, you just have to check beforehand. AFAIK all Philips LEDs are flicker free now, or at least those branded as “EyeCare”.

My dog will watch my LCD TV, she likes watching Minecraft and dog videos.

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