puckman
Senior Member
- Location
- ridgewood, n.j.
does anyone know why a dimmer makes noise and how can i stop it? thanks for the help
dimmer noise
- Thread starter puckman
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mdshunk
Senior Member
- Location
- Right here.
From Lutron's stie:
What can I do to minimize lamp hum?
Occasionally, lamps may generate noise when dimmed. This noise is caused
by vibration of the lamp filament as the dimmer rapidly switches the lamp on.
Lamp buzz, if it occurs, is generally noisiest at the mid-range (50%) dimming level.
Lutron suggests the following solutions:
? Select another brand of lamp or use lower wattage lamps (100W or less)
? Use rough service lamps
? Use a physically smaller lamp
? Install a lamp debuzzing coil in the lighting circuit, see pg.189
Technical document .PDF on Lurton's "lamp debuzzing coil" gizmo:
Lutron Application Note #13
What can I do to minimize lamp hum?
Occasionally, lamps may generate noise when dimmed. This noise is caused
by vibration of the lamp filament as the dimmer rapidly switches the lamp on.
Lamp buzz, if it occurs, is generally noisiest at the mid-range (50%) dimming level.
Lutron suggests the following solutions:
? Select another brand of lamp or use lower wattage lamps (100W or less)
? Use rough service lamps
? Use a physically smaller lamp
? Install a lamp debuzzing coil in the lighting circuit, see pg.189
Technical document .PDF on Lurton's "lamp debuzzing coil" gizmo:
Lutron Application Note #13
puckman
Senior Member
- Location
- ridgewood, n.j.
i just found out the dimmer is for low voltage lights i guess this is his problem. i don,t know if he dimming the 120 volt side of the light or if he is using 120volt dimmer on the 12v side. will this be the cause of the noise?
Last edited:
MadeInUSA2007
Member
- Location
- San Jose, CA
Buzzzing solutions
Buzzzing solutions
I hear buzzing so often after installing low voltage Tech lighting: monorails, cable systems, etc.
Make sure the dimmer is for the correct load, whether line voltage, magnetic low voltage, electronic low voltage, etc.
Debuzzing coils have so rarely helped, but you could try it, installed on the ungrounded switchleg.
But the remedy that has worked most often is to change the bulbs. I've seen $2 MR16's and $17 MR16's. The better fillament suppresses the noise. And fyi, the noise doesn't always seem to come from the bulb, although changing the bulb cures the patient.
Perhaps a transformer is bad/dying or a connection loose at the low voltage side.
I've also remounted a transformer in a case where the harmonics created on a gluelam (beam) in the attic I mounted the transformer to made an audible humming in the room. Good luck.
The worst is when I have installed a system, find it to be buzzing, then ask for payment from the client. I hate low voltage systems with a passion.
Buzzzing solutions
I hear buzzing so often after installing low voltage Tech lighting: monorails, cable systems, etc.
Make sure the dimmer is for the correct load, whether line voltage, magnetic low voltage, electronic low voltage, etc.
Debuzzing coils have so rarely helped, but you could try it, installed on the ungrounded switchleg.
But the remedy that has worked most often is to change the bulbs. I've seen $2 MR16's and $17 MR16's. The better fillament suppresses the noise. And fyi, the noise doesn't always seem to come from the bulb, although changing the bulb cures the patient.
Perhaps a transformer is bad/dying or a connection loose at the low voltage side.
I've also remounted a transformer in a case where the harmonics created on a gluelam (beam) in the attic I mounted the transformer to made an audible humming in the room. Good luck.
The worst is when I have installed a system, find it to be buzzing, then ask for payment from the client. I hate low voltage systems with a passion.
Good tip!
IMO always remote mount the xfmr and warn about [hemor] toroidal fixtures
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