buzzing led problem , thinking of using lower watt bulbs

[selondonman]

i put in a ring of 12 leds in a room (too many in reality)

put in a good dimmer meant to be able take load but lights causing horrible buzz

i am currently using 5w bulbs

if i replace the bulbs for 3w should that reduce the load and stop the buzzing, trying this before having to take lights out of the ceiling and all the work

thanks

 

[Midwest]

Is the dimmer compatible with the LED lamps, what is the rating of the dimmer?

 

[Andy-1960]

These lamps need a trailing edge dimmer as opposed to the older leading edge dimmers that control incandescent lighting.
Strangely even though dimmable LED lighting is being pushed by the likes of B&Q and Homebase, I was browsing at the weekend in Homebase and noticed that they did not have any trailing edge dimmers, they were all leading edge.

 

[selondonman]

yes 2 way silent trailing edge 250w dimmers led .. varilight v pro .. lights wills dim not to full off and dimming increases the buzzing if that means anything

 

[shaun1]

LEDs will never dim completely off (although some specific LED drivers can get them closer). Does the dimmer have a specified minimum load? Reducing the load might actually make it worse.

 

[Midwest]

The Varilight V-Pro is generally a good quality dimmer. It does state in the instructions, that the maximum LED load is 120watt, so your set up should be okay. Have you tried the other 'modes', to see if that improves things?

What makes are the LED lamps?

PS; where is the buzzing noise coming from, lamps or dimmer?

 

[selondonman]

will try the programming ... LAP screwfix bulbs .. probably the problem but they dont buzz everywhere just where there are more on the gang

 

[Midwest]

will try the programming ... LAP screwfix bulbs .. probably the problem but they dont buzz everywhere just where there are more on the gang

LAP aren't a particularly good make, don't understand your last bit? Is the buzzing very audible, I had a customer said one of the two dimmers I had installed was buzzing louder than the other. But I had to put my ear to it, to hear the difference!

Dimmers do make some noise. If it is the dimmer, perhaps get it swapped.

 

[selondonman]

we have the same dimmers and bulbs across whole install , audible buzzing just on a coupel or rooms that have the most number of lights attached to one switch .. if each room buzzed i thought something wrong with set up .. i assume cheap bulbs are the problem but dont want to shell out for expensive ones and still have the buzzing, i have changed lap lights once as there was a fire risk with the original set which screwfix chnaged .. do i take one light out at a time to see if buzzing drops away if 10 * 5 w doesnt buzz but adding 2 more cause buzz then should 12*3w be a better solution ..

 

[selondonman]

buzzing is very audible, sounds like it is coming from bulbs and a small amount from dimmer

 

[Midwest]

Sorry OP, are you an electrician?

 

[Wilko]

buzzing is very audible, sounds like it is coming from bulbs

I haven't heard this before, but I'm tempted to say loose connection or loose construction of the fitting. If it is actually the bulb, try a different make perhaps?

 

[Cadgey123]

buzzing is very audible, sounds like it is coming from bulbs and a small amount from dimmer

I had this problem with a client.
I changed the dimmer to a quality branded Varilight V - Pro model and it stop it.

Also maybe use higher quality lamps in future, Osram, Philips etc

 

[Midwest]

I had this problem with a client.
I changed the dimmer to a quality branded Varilight V - Pro model and it stop it.

That's the particular dimmer the OP has.

 

[Hardwired]

Weirdly i have had this problem occur twice and both times ( although the wattage had not exceeded the maximum on the dimmer ) the dimmer said no more than ten LEDs to be fitted on dinmer. After splitting the 12/14 LEDs in half into two switch wires and adding another dimmer sw the buzzing was gone.