Buzzing GU10 LEDs

[BritishBeef]

Hi all.

We've just had our kitchen relocated and have 2 banks of 9 GU10 Lap Dimmable 5W bulbs from Screwfix. I already have a set of these bulbs in our old kitchen and have been impressed with their output.

The new kitchen has these leds
controlled by a Varilight V-Pro Trailing Edge 3 gang dimmer switch: https://www.tlc-direct.co.uk/Products/VLIJSI103.html. 2 gangs each control 9 leds and the 3rd gang controls a standard lightbulb.

The issue I have is that all the leds are buzzing whatever the brightness setting. It's not really loud but it's loud enough to be annoying. There is no flickering. Also, I don't believe they are getting up to full brightness - I'm sure the ones in our kitchen are brighter ( they aren't on a dimmer).

I cannot stand the buzzing and I was under the impression that an LED compatible trailing edge dimmer switch would ensure there was no buzzing. The dimmer switch cost a lot of money too

Any idea what is causing the buzzing?

Many thanks for your time and help.

BB.

 

[Crystalclear]

All the results in my search online are coming up with various reasons for your headache...

Best one so far, with more sensible answers is this page. Fingers crossed it helps?

http://lightwaverfcommunity.org.uk/forums/topic/loud-buzzing-when-dimming/

 

[flameport]

All dimmers buzz to a certain extent, and 'full' isn't the same as being on with a normal switch either. Both of these effects are inevitable with any dimmer, although some are better than others.

The dimmer has several driving modes, have you tried all of them?

 

[bernardgreen]

Any idea what is causing the buzzing?

95 times out of 100 it is an inductor ( transformer or choke ) where the coils are able to vibrate. Coating the coil with an expoxy resin or similar will prevent the coil from vibrating. 5 times out of 100 it is a piece of magnetic metal close to an inductor and the metal is vibrating.

The dimmer switch cost a lot of money too

High price is not sign of high quality.


Not encapsulating the coils in resin saves a few pence and avoid the delay to production while the resin sets before the coil can be used.

 

[ban-all-sheds]

We've just had our kitchen relocated and have 2 banks of 9 GU10

18 lights in a kitchen?

Where did you have it relocated to? Wentworth Woodhouse?

 

[AndyPRK]

Think I counted 19!

Even 3 lap without dimmer make a bit of a singing noise.

 

[RF Lighting]

Have you set up the dimmer to suit the type of lamps you have?

 

[BritishBeef]

All the results in my search online are coming up with various reasons for your headache...

Best one so far, with more sensible answers is this page. Fingers crossed it helps?

http://lightwaverfcommunity.org.uk/forums/topic/loud-buzzing-when-dimming/

Thanks for that. I actually came across that thread when I was looking into the issue yesterday. Must admit I got a bit lost after a while!

 

[BritishBeef]

All dimmers buzz to a certain extent, and 'full' isn't the same as being on with a normal switch either. Both of these effects are inevitable with any dimmer, although some are better than others.

The dimmer has several driving modes, have you tried all of them?

Just to be clear, the dimmer switch itself is silent. It's the bulbs that are humming.
According to the instructions this dimmer has two modes - trailing edge and leading. I tried leading edge and the bulbs wouldn't even come on!

 

[BritishBeef]

Any idea what is causing the buzzing?

95 times out of 100 it is an inductor ( transformer or choke ) where the coils are able to vibrate. Coating the coil with an expoxy resin or similar will prevent the coil from vibrating. 5 times out of 100 it is a piece of magnetic metal close to an inductor and the metal is vibrating.

The dimmer switch cost a lot of money too

High price is not sign of high quality.


Not encapsulating the coils in resin saves a few pence and avoid the delay to production while the resin sets before the coil can be used.

The dimmer switch is silent - it's the LEDs that are buzzing.

 

[BritishBeef]

We've just had our kitchen relocated and have 2 banks of 9 GU10

18 lights in a kitchen?

Where did you have it relocated to? Wentworth Woodhouse?

The kitchen is large and very dark with only one window for light. We wanted it to be as bright as possible. To be honest, it's only just bright enough with 18 bulbs!

 

[BritishBeef]

Have you set up the dimmer to suit the type of lamps you have?

I think so. The dimmer is set to Trailing Edge for the LED lamps.

 

[bernardgreen]

The dimmer switch is silent - it's the LEDs that are buzzing.

If they are 230 v LED lamps then there will be a switched moder current source driver in them to control the current through the LED elements. That driver will have at least one inductor.
Matching the type of dimmer to the type of driver can reduce the intensity of the buzz but may never remove all of it.

 

[ban-all-sheds]

To be honest, it's only just bright enough with 18 bulbs!

To be honest, that's because you are trying to light a room with lights which are designed to not light rooms.