Halogen Hum

[Chris F]

I recently had some track lights installed in my home project studio. The control switch that turns them off and on is also a dimmer. I've noticed an annoying buzzing or humming sound coming from both the lights themselves and from the wall plate where the switch/dimmer control is mounted. The amount of hum increases the more I dim the lights, and decreases to an almost bearable level when the slider is all the way up.

My question is: Is this buzzing sound a function of halogen track lighting itself, or is it a result of the dimmer? Would it do me any good to replace the dimmer with a regular on/off switch? If so, I'd gladly do it in a heartbeat.

Thanks in advance,

Chris Fitzgerald

[John Sayers]

Unfortunately it's a product of the dimmer.

Can anyone suggest a dimmer that doesn't buzz??

cheers
john

[Chris F]

John,

So replacing the dimmer with a regular on/off switch will fix the problem? Wow...that's a relief. I really like the spotlighting effects the track lights give, and also the indirect light. I suppose if worst came to worst, I could always replace the 50-watt bulbs with some 30's if I start to feel like the room is too bright.

Thanks!

[ausrock]

John,

I have vague memories of seeing this problem addressed elsewhere..........damned if I can remember where though. I'm pretty sure that there are dimmers available that wont cause hum but they are somewhat more costly than the standard dimmer.

Chris,

I suggest you contact a lighting specialist store or electrical wholesaler (someone who supplies the tradesman).

[RICK FITZPATRICK]

Hi, Dimmers are a no-no. They are a rectifier(I think) and will dirty even the best circuits. You can't isolate them even if you have secondary circuit for your lights(All your power comes from the same line at the supply) Not being an electrical engineer, I don't normally advocate anything electrical(I have a friend who is, and I'll ask him about this)and I can't say difinitively, but maybe if you put your lighting circuit on one phase, and your audio on the other, it might help. But I think I know who can. I put in a question to the United States National Electrical Code forum(NEC) regarding wiring two seperate 20 amp circuits at the kitchen counter, (on seperate phases). Turns out,( it is to code here) my intuition is correct. If the ground failed at the supply, you have a 220 potential between the 2 outlets, since they are on different phase's. Same in the studio. Any time you have 2 different phases in one room, there is that potential between them. Try asking them. I really can't say for sure if code allows this in your case, or even if it will work. Just a thought. However,if you really insist on dimmers, I did read somewhere, that reostats will work(big rotary transformers) but they are big, bulky, get hot and are probably obsolete and hard to find. Maybe consult an electrical engineer? if its worth that much trouble to you. But in any event, if you ARE doing major electrical in a studio from scratch-I can't stress this more-GET A PERMIT! Beats killing a client
fitz

[RICK FITZPATRICK]

Just realized you said halogen. I design store fixtures all the time for macys, that incorporate halogen track lighting, and these are all 12 volt systems. That means a transformer. And they take a special dimmer. What do you really have here? Are you in a country where the voltage is different from the US? Maybe the transformer is your problem. I can't say for sure, but here, 12v track lighting is a no-no because of the transformers. Just a thought.
fitz

[Chris F]

Rick,

Good to hear from another Fitz. i think what I will probably end up doing is getting rid of the dimmer and just going with a regular on/off switch if there's no such thing as a quiet dimmer for Halogens. It's not a big deal really, but it's good to know that I didn't do anything wrong to cause this. Thanks for the advice.

Chris Fitzgerald

[John Sayers]

Music Farm has halogen lights on dimmers but they were $1300 each dimmer. Reostats are what we used to use. They are also expensive.

cheers
john

[Michael Jones]

Is the dimmer a rotary knob or a small slider?
I have a small slider (built into the switch, right next to it) it doesn't hum. At all.

[Chris F]

Originally posted by Michael Jones
Is the dimmer a rotary knob or a small slider?
I have a small slider (built into the switch, right next to it) it doesn't hum. At all.

It's a small slider, right above the on/off switch. The hum isn't terrible, but it's more than I want to deal with.