Help ..... fan lights buzzing

[Bob R]

We recently changed a couple of ceiling fans in our house so while I was doing this, I decided to put dimmers on all the ceiling fans in the house (6 of them). The dimmers switches look like a regular light switch except there is a small slide next to it that controls the power going to the lights.

All the switches work fine, but 2 of the lights have started making kind of a faint buzzing sound. The sound is coming from near the lights and not the switch. I believe all the fans are Hunters.

Anyone ever have this happen to them or know what could be the cause of it?

Bob R

[oldslowchevy]

i have had the same problem with that in the past i had to put the reguler switches back in and install remotesunder the fans mounting base this has worked very good for me ithink the buzz you here is due to the lowwer than normal voltage but i may be wrong

[Minuteman]

Oh brother :eek:

[Bob R]

I did some more research and it appears to be a common problem and most people suggest changing to heavy duty bulbs. I'll give that a try.

Bob R

[swoosh81]

They make a dehummer dimmer switch for ceiling fans. This is a common problem unless your spending in excess of $500 for a ceiling fan. Heavy duty light bulbs won't help much, if you can even find them for a ceiling fan!!

[Rocky Mountain Sparky]

This is a common problem unless your spending in excess of $500 for a ceiling fan.
Can you explain what led you to write this? What on earth does the buzzing of dimmed lamps have to do with the price of the ceiling fan?

Heavy duty light bulbs won't help much...
Funny, I was thinking that might help a lot.

...if you can even find them for a ceiling fan!!
While you're at it, can you explain this? Most ceiling fans use plain old light bulbs. Other variations are probably available in 130V.

[swoosh81]

Post removed for Profanity

[oldslowchevy]

nasty nasty

[Polar Sparky 1224]

Can you explain what led you to write this? What on earth does the buzzing of dimmed lamps have to do with the price of the ceiling fan?


Funny, I was thinking that might help a lot.


While you're at it, can you explain this? Most ceiling fans use plain old light bulbs. Other variations are probably available in 130V.

36 VOLT AND MD MASTER SPARKY ARE BACK!

There are lights that have been made especially for fans, and sometimes it is the switch that can cause problems. You get what you pay for if you have a cheap fan like a cheap blender, both will make more noise than a higher quality product.

WHATEVER HAPPENED TO KIND ADVICE?

[TOD]

Just like a brain and a wagon the lighter the load the more noise they make.

[Rocky Mountain Sparky]

Listen a**hole all you do is jump me about sh*t and I'm fed up with it!!
Dude, I don't even know you. I don't know what I said to set you off. Normally I would care. Given your response, I don't. I could care less how much time you have in, what your license says, whatever. If my own father makes a stupid comment, I would post and say, "Why do you say this?" It's not to disrespect anybody, it's to seperate truth from fiction.

I can verify every f**king thing I type!
Then show us some specs!

Ceiling fans under that price range are known to be cheap Hunter, Hampton Bay, etc.

My point is, dimmed lamps hum. Water is wet, the sky is blue, and when you dim an incandescent lamp, it makes some noise. Whether it's in a can, or a mushroom, a keyless, a ceiling fan, - it doesn't matter, a lamp is going into it. That lamp is making noise.

Cheap fans hum. But it's the fan humming, not the lamps in the light kit of the fan. It looks like a ridiculous statement, without substantiation. I am perfectly willing to eat crow if you can explain how a cheap fan will make lamps hum more than a pricey fan will.

In closing let's see your f**kin' master electrician's license cause I'll sure as f**k show you mine!!
Forgive me if I don't cower at that. I help master electricians, and master electricians help me. Most of the best electricians I've seen and talked to haven't bothered to get their master, many are very content with their journeyman.

Rank determines your wages and your ability to legally perform electrical work unsupervised. It is no indicator of knowledge or sense. I've seen fellas climb out of a trench, take a memorization class, and pass a test. What do you wind up with? A ditch digger with a chip on his shoulder and a license. Big deal.

You bait me, here I am. Colorado Residential Wireman #*****. Look it up yourself, the website isn't working for me.

There are lights that have been made especially for fans...
Can you elaborate? Are you talking about candlabra base globes? I'm just not picturing it.

Who is 36 Volt, and should I be offended? :D

Editted to remove license number. I figure it's been up long enough to demonstrate to everybody that I am, in fact, licensed as an electrician in my state.

[Polar Sparky 1224]

I have seen some so-called vibration bulbs. I think they were GE they cam with the fan i was installing.

As for 36 Volt look at the member list and you can find some of his posts. He came across as condescending and rude in his responses and made others a bit touchy as well as me. I may be young but i am not a total moron!
He needed to know how to talk with others, I don't appreciate being called stupid in the responses, if a person is wrong they always take it better if others are nice about it but you do get what you put in.
Think of it like getting a kid to eat cottage cheese, it works better if you sneak in some pineapples in.

[Rocky Mountain Sparky]

I have seen some so-called vibration bulbs. I think they were GE they cam with the fan i was installing.
I reckon I'll do a search and look them up.

I may be young but i am not a total moron!
Hey, I turned 26 today. The way I see it is, one way to learn is to be corrected. I can't count the number of times I've made a erroneous statement, to have the truth thrown in my face. Everybody being grown-up is key to it as well. People who write in a direct manner are seldom misunderstood. :cool:

[Bob R]

Sorry to have started all this, but just wanted to give an update. Switching to heavy duty bulbs eliminated the humming.

Thanks for the help.

Bob R

[Rocky Mountain Sparky]

In closing let's see your f**kin' master electrician's license cause I'll sure as f**k show you mine!!
I'm waiting...

[Polar Sparky 1224]

Rocky Mountain Sparky i think you are missing a few numbers on your liscence nothing came up. Can you give me a link to your State department?
https://secure.utah.gov/llv/llv
My number is missing in action.

[Rocky Mountain Sparky]

http://www.dora.state.co.us/electrical/

That's the website. It's screwing up for me, not allowing me into the search area because of a "Data Encryption Error" message. I was going to give it a shot with a different browser.

I just double checked, I have my number right: *****. :)

I'd take a picture of the license in my wallet, but it's pretty well worn too! :D

edit to remove license number. I figure it's been up long enough.

[Rocky Mountain Sparky]

Okay, here I am. Link removed by RMS 3/12/06

Internet Explorer had a hard time with the site. Netscape works, though. :cool:

Edit to add:
BTW, nice to meet you, Jeff! :)

I forgot to address an issue:

As for 36 Volt look at the member list and you can find some of his posts. He came across as condescending and rude in his responses and made others a bit touchy as well as me.
Let me say publicly, for the record, that with the exception of the occasional verbal abuse dished out to questionable characters such as the MD guy, and this "swoosh" character, I do not mean to insult people when I post.

I have benefitted greatly from internet forums, and I do not hold my knowledge or experience over anybody. Much of what I have learned has been from the kindness of people sharing information with me, and I look forward to sharing what little I know with a new community.

So if I say something that looks offensive: Look twice. It probably was not my intent. It seems as though several people are on their guard when they get here. Hopefully, as time goes on, we can all kick back with a cold one and relax!

I can't wait to show you guys my horrible plumbing work! :D

Edit to remove link. I figure it's been up long enough.

[cjh20]

I've spend a few minutes reading through this thread and came across something that interested me (as well as several things that entertained and/or distressed me):

By Polar Sparky 1224:
I have seen some so-called vibration bulbs. I think they were GE they cam with the fan i was installing

There are several companies that offer "fan lights" that supposedly reduce burn-out due to excessive vibration of the filament. I've always stayed away from these assuming they were similar to standard bulbs repackaged with a higher price. Does anyone have any information on these bulbs?

Just a curious homeowner, not doing any wiring but not wanting to get ripped off by some marketing group.

[House-Medic]

TO cjh20: In regards to your question about the ceiling fan bulbs, Yes, I use these all the time with every ceiling fan I install. They fit inside the glass globes perfectly. They have a heavier duty filament. Plus they do seem to last longer due to they are vibration resistant. In my opinion they are worth the extra $1-1.50.;)

[TNTK9]

Hello

Sounds like someone installed a Light dimmer instead of a fan control in the wall switch? Unless the fan is wired with a 3 wire enableing the light and the fan to be switched seprately.Then the fan can be switched and the light can be dimmed by its own controls. if not when you dimm the lights you are slowing the fan down causing it to buzz..................................

Just my Opinion

GB

[Bob R]

GB,

The lights and fans have individual wiring and switches.

Bob R

[sparkync1]

do u have 3 wire ran to the fans or are u having to pull a string to switch the fan and light seperate ??? if so then i would not recommend any type of dimmer switch the best way to do what you are trying to do would be with a 3 wire ran to the fan/light so that you can use a fan control on the fan and a dimmer on the light this should stop the humming