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Tool Talk Discussion Forum

Floursecent light buzz - help!

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jerrycpp(WA)

09-14-2006 17:50:45




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I just installed several high output 8 foot double tube (110 watt each)lights from Home Depot. One circuit has 5 lights, one has 7, and one has 9. The 9-circuit has a buzz that I can't find. I've tried removing all the tubes, some of the tubes, one at a time, nothing gets rid of the buzz. I can't identify which one(s) are doing it. The other 2 circuits are as quiet as can be. Each circuit is on a 20 amp breaker, 12 guage stranded THHN wire, conduit, on a new 200 amp box that checks out at 120 volts that is connected to a brand new 400 amp meter. There is nothing else connected yet. Is there a problem with one or more ballasts, and how do I identify which to take back? Thanks for any and all help.

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Stumpalump

09-21-2006 18:13:27




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 Re: Floursecent light buzz - help! in reply to jerrycpp(WA), 09-14-2006 17:50:45  
These kind of lamps are sold in at least two grades. Shop grade and interior grade. I have no idea what the difference is but the shop grade ones buzz and the interior, like for an office don't.



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oldfarmtractor

09-18-2006 12:10:44




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 Re: Floursecent light buzz - help! in reply to jerrycpp(WA), 09-14-2006 17:50:45  
I had a fixture a few years ago that hummed all the time. To stop the humming, I taught it the words to the song.



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larry in tn

09-16-2006 05:28:24




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 Re: Fluorescent light buzz - help! in reply to jerrycpp(WA), 09-14-2006 17:50:45  
Fluorescent light noise is about as much fun as rechargeable tool batteries.

Radio interference is pretty much a liability when using this type of lighting. Complete isolation of the power sources help but doesn't guarantee noise free operation. Best bet is to insure everything is properly grounded so the noise is carried to ground.

Many noisy ballast can be silence by heating them using a heat lamp. The ballast is windings "Potted" in an enclosure. Sometimes the potting material doesn't set in the windings enough to support and silence them. Reheating helps.

A word to the wise about buzzing lights. For use in your own home it is nice to make them as silent as possible.

However, when working on lights in an area that serves a great number of people, be careful not to make it too quite in one area because everyone else will want the same noise free operation. Let em all buzz a little.

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My Experience .....

09-15-2006 15:52:12




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 Re: Floursecent light buzz - help! in reply to jerrycpp(WA), 09-14-2006 17:50:45  
I haven't had too much experience with the 8' fixtures but lots of humming disappointments with the double 4' fixtures. Generally speaking (in my opinion), the cheaper fixtures (eg. the type sold by Home Depot, etc) tend to hum. If you buy a more expensive, commercial type from a reputable supplier, you probably won't have the problem. You would be suprized at the price difference that exists in what appears to be the same light.

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doc sportster

09-15-2006 14:14:11




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 Re: Floursecent light buzz - help! in reply to jerrycpp(WA), 09-14-2006 17:50:45  
Take the whole fixture back to Home Depot and exchange for a new one.



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Buzzman72

09-15-2006 12:43:50




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 Fluorsecent light - Buzz - can't help! in reply to jerrycpp(WA), 09-14-2006 17:50:45  
Thanks for askin', but I really can't offer any more than what everybody else has said.

Heck, I even had to ask why the fluorescent lights in my unheated garage didn't want to work in cold weather...so that shows I don't know much about 'em.

But again, thanks for askin'.

Buzz



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oldfarmtractor

09-15-2006 07:24:30




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 Re: Floursecent light buzz - help! in reply to jerrycpp(WA), 09-14-2006 17:50:45  
Get yourself a piece of metal, like conduit or threaded rod. Hold one end against the fixtures, one at a time while holding the other end against your ear.

Simple stethoscope



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Ralph - Ohio

09-15-2006 06:25:13




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 Re: Floursecent light buzz - help! in reply to jerrycpp(WA), 09-14-2006 17:50:45  
Try placing your hand on the top of each fixture near the ballast. You may be able to feel the vibration on the offending unit.



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Bus Driver

09-15-2006 06:02:53




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 Re: Floursecent light buzz - help! in reply to jerrycpp(WA), 09-14-2006 17:50:45  
Do not remove lamps from fluorescent fixtures. That causes the ballasts to overheat and burn out quickly. Faulty lamps must be replaced promptly for the same reason.



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DustyMI

09-15-2006 06:02:41




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 Re: Floursecent light buzz - help! in reply to jerrycpp(WA), 09-14-2006 17:50:45  
All the 8' HO/VHO fixtures that I have worked on, when you remove the tubes from the fixture that disconects the hot line from the ballast.



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John T

09-14-2006 19:07:43




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 Re: Floursecent light buzz - help! in reply to jerrycpp(WA), 09-14-2006 17:50:45  
Jerry, Sounds like a ballast problem to me if its that classic 60 cycle hummmmm mmmmm. You would have to unhook them one at a time to isolate where the problem is.

John T



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jeffcat

09-14-2006 18:40:59




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 Re: Floursecent light buzz - help! in reply to jerrycpp(WA), 09-14-2006 17:50:45  
Down at work I have seen voltage problems cause hums. The 227 voltage circuts will have a low leg sometimes. I would go for the ballast in your case. My $.02. Jeffcat



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HIGHLANDCOWMAN

09-14-2006 18:33:12




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 Re: Floursecent light buzz - help! in reply to jerrycpp(WA), 09-14-2006 17:50:45  
THE HUM IS CAUSED BY THE COPPER WINDINGS ON THE PRIMARY OF THE BALLAST NOT BEINGMADE TIGHT ENOUGH AT THE FACTORY.I BELEAVE.THEY ARE VIBRATING AT 60HZ PER SEC. SOMETIMES THEY WILL STOP WE CALL IT "BURN IN TIME" BUT AS A RULE WE WARRENTY THEM.



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HIGHLANDCOWMAN

09-14-2006 18:24:57




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 Re: Floursecent light buzz - help! in reply to jerrycpp(WA), 09-14-2006 17:50:45  
THE HUM IS ON THE 120V SIDE OF THE BALLAST SO REMOVING THE LAMPS WILL NOT SHOW OR STOP THE HUM. YOU WILL HAVE TO DISCONNET THE 120 VOLT POWER O EACH FIXTURE ONE AT A TIME TO FIND THE HUM.THEN YOU CAN SEE IF THE BALLAST IS LOOSE IN FIXTURE AND TIGHTEN YOU MAY BE ABLE TO PLACE A OF RUBBER UNDER THE BALLAST OR RETURN THE BAD ONE.ALL 8 FOOT BALLAST HAVE A 2 YEAR WARRENTY FROM MANUFACTURE THERE IS A PRODUCT DATE CODE ON BACK OF BALLAST.I SELL THIS STUFF FOR A LIVING SO I CAN BUY OLD STUFF THAT THAT WAS MADE THE RIGHT WAY. DOUG

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Hermit

09-14-2006 17:56:05




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 Re: Floursecent light buzz - help! in reply to jerrycpp(WA), 09-14-2006 17:50:45  
Have you tried disconnecting the whole light assembly, one at a time, from the circuit and seeing when the buzz disappears?



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Jim K

09-15-2006 17:05:42




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 Re: Floursecent light buzz - help! in reply to Hermit, 09-14-2006 17:56:05  
Aw! comon you guys everyone knows that ballasts hum cause they don't know the words.



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