Energy bulb - buzzing!

[spud1962]

I have just set up a pair of switches in the following configuration

http://i1139.photobucket.com/albums/n547/spud1962/2way_cable_save.gif


Althought the setup works fine with traditional fillament style lightbulbs
when I swap for energy saving style bulbs, the bulb buzzes
slightly when in the "off" position.

A reading of 45 volts is aslo present at the lampholder in this condition.

Not sure where to start to resolve this.

 

[Taylortwocities]

Are either of the switches actually dimmers?

If not then you probably have some induced voltage from the wiring.

Usually because the earths are missing or have not been connected.

If it still persists then there are some workarounds - often you can fix it by getting a different (more expensive) energy lamp..

 

[bernardgreen]

The 45 volts is due to the capacity between the red (live) and blue (switched live ) wires enabling a small trickle of current to reach the lamp when the switches are off.

In a filament lamp this trickle passes through the filament without have any significant effect. In an energy saving lamp this trickle is stored until there is enough energu for the electronics to do something. In most lamps this is a flash every few seconds. Other effects are possible such as buzzing from the electronics as they try to strike ( light ) the lamp.

One solution that might work is a change of the wiring to this

Untitled

• bernardgreen
• 15 May 2011
• 1

which slightly reduces the capacitive effect.

 

[bernardgreen]

The 55 volts, you measured this with a high impedance digital meter which takes virtual no energy from the ciruit being measured. If you used an analogue meter the reading would be much lower as the meter would be taking energy to move the needle. The capacitive coupling is very high impedance so very little energy ( current ) can pass through it.


I use the following

Capacitor 0.047uF micro Farads 250 volts AC in series with a resistor 100 ohms

Which come pre-packaged as a contact suppressor from RS Components

RS Stock No. 206-7847
Manufacturer Evox-Rifa
Manufacturers Part No. PMR209MB5470M100

I have fitted them in ceiling roses between neutral and switched live

There are other sources of the contact suppressors

Read more: //www.diynot.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=1955747#1955747#ixzz1MS6GJs3j

 

[spud1962]

Thank you all for your comprehensive responses.

Best wishes!