Buzzing Shaver socket

[ChrisinShropshire]

Hello,

We have just plugged our electric toothbrush base into the shaver socket in the bathroom of our "new" house and there is a loud buzzing. The buzz is worse in the en-suite than the bathroom. (the socket is on the light circuit. is this right?)

Do we have a problem with the sockets? What do we need to do?

We have LED downlighters (mains and 12v). The 12v ones interfere with our analogue radio. Are they part of the problem?

Thanks for your help.

 

[flameport]

Some possibilities:

Cheap & nasty shaver socket
Toothbrush is overloading the shaver socket
Shaver socket not designed for continuous loads
Toothbrush is not designed for a shaver socket
Shaver socket is old and the internal transformer has loose laminations
Toothbrushes are not shavers

The lights are unrelated, the interference is probably because the 12v LEDs and drivers are incompatible, or the wiring between them is too long.
Dispose of them and replace with mains versions.

 

[winston1]

Hello,

We have just plugged our electric toothbrush base into the shaver socket in the bathroom of our "new" house and there is a loud buzzing. The buzz is worse in the en-suite than the bathroom. (the socket is on the light circuit. is this right?)

Do we have a problem with the sockets? What do we need to do?

We have LED downlighters (mains and 12v). The 12v ones interfere with our analogue radio. Are they part of the problem?

Transformers can buzz due to vibrating laminations. Shaver socket on lighting circuit is OK. Cure change the unit.

Cheap LEDs (and often expensive ones) cause radio interference. Switch mode LED drivers also cause interference. Cure use old fashioned filament lamps. But changing to 240v types LEDs like the others will probably be OK.

 

[bernardgreen]

But changing to 240v types LEDs like the others will probably be OK.

A 240v LED will have to have some form of driver inside it. Most certainly NOT a simple ( but very large ) resistor in series with the LED element. It is 99.9% certain to be a switched mode controlled current source. The only advantage is the lengths of wire radiating the radio frequency energy are confined inside the lamp so effective radiation from the lamp is very low.

On the other hand some ELV ( 12 volt ) LED lamps do have just a resistor and do not radiate any radio frequency energy. But the lead from the switch mode power supply ( aka electronic transformer ) carrying the 12 volt supply to the lamp will be radiating radio frequency energy.

 

[ChrisinShropshire]

Some possibilities:

Cheap & nasty shaver socket
Toothbrush is overloading the shaver socket
Shaver socket not designed for continuous loads
Toothbrush is not designed for a shaver socket
Shaver socket is old and the internal transformer has loose laminations
Toothbrushes are not shavers

The lights are unrelated, the interference is probably because the 12v LEDs and drivers are incompatible, or the wiring between them is too long.
Dispose of them and replace with mains versions.

They at 10 year old MK shaver sockets.
It is the charging base. 1.2 W, so I hope not.
It started immediately it was plugged in.
It has the same 2 pin plug as my old shaver.

We have to keep the 12v LEDs as they are in the splash zone above the bath/shower (or so I understand).
Perhaps the answer is to continue to wet shave and plug the toothbrush in somewhere else. Thanks anyway.

 

[winston1]

We have to keep the 12v LEDs as they are in the splash zone above the bath/shower (or so I understand).

You can get 240v GU10 fittings designed to go there.

 

[flameport]

They at 10 year old MK shaver sockets.

Replace the socket before it overheats and cracks across the front. A common problem with that brand of shaver socket.

Untitled

• flameport
• 21 Mar 2015
• 1

 

[ChrisinShropshire]

They at 10 year old MK shaver sockets.

Replace the socket before it overheats and cracks across the front. A common problem with that brand of shaver socket.

Untitled

• flameport
• 21 Mar 2015
• 1

Thanks. Those are what we have. We have just been out and bought two Crabtree ones to replace them. Hopefully, these are better!!

 

[xr4x4]

...which is why they have "shavers only" slapped across the front.

 

[winston1]

Shaver socket transformers tend to have poor regulation. If your toothbrush is marked 100 to 250v or similar plug it in to the 110v side. There will be less strain on it that way.

 

[RF Lighting]

How exactly?

 

[securespark]

Because the lower voltage will be gentler on the equipment, caressing the components instead of rampaging through them like angry Vikings as 230V does.

I think.

 

[RF Lighting]

I think Mr. Ohm might have something to say about this...

 

[bernardgreen]

Because the lower voltage will be gentler on the equipment, caressing the components instead of rampaging through them like angry Vikings as 230V does.

It's the Watts family what are the problem, especially the daughter Constance Watts. Them Watts demand more electrons to barge their way through the atoms of the conductors if the volts are lower.

Poor Mr Ohm went home confused by power supplies that didn't obey his law.

 

[winston1]

How exactly?

Ever measured the output voltage of a shaver transformer on low load such as a charger?

Can be around 275v, which is a good reason not to plug in toothbrushes or even rechargeable shavers on the 240v side.