buzzing low energy bulbs
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shirt

Original Poster:

25,027 posts

224 months

Thursday 17th June 2010
quotequote all
just bought a GE low energy bulb. its a 20W dimmable one, bought as it was the most powerful one I could find with a screw fitting at this hour (24hr Tesco).

having fitted it,its emitting a low but audible buzzing sound. is this normal with new ones? never noticed it with the old ones from IKEA

sherman

14,855 posts

238 months

Thursday 17th June 2010
quotequote all
Try dimming it down or turn it right up if its on a dimmer depending on where you have it. This may sort it.

Rabbitinthenight

75 posts

194 months

Thursday 17th June 2010
quotequote all
Check with a doctor you may have suddenly developed tinnitus!

sherman

14,855 posts

238 months

Thursday 17th June 2010
quotequote all
or you have a fly in the room

Poledriver

29,265 posts

217 months

Thursday 17th June 2010
quotequote all
It's common when using dimmers, except at max brightness.
I've bought a few cheap ones (no dimmer) and they all buzz at different frequencies, I've already got tinitus and they're driving me nuts! frown

shirt

Original Poster:

25,027 posts

224 months

Thursday 17th June 2010
quotequote all
the bulb is dimmable, but is being used with a normal switch. I bought the GE bulb as I have had good experience with their gu10 halogens when cheapie bulbs were popping within days.

its not that loud, but is noticeable as its in the bedroom and I usually read before sleeping.

sherman

14,855 posts

238 months

Thursday 17th June 2010
quotequote all
It could be because its designed for a dimmer or its about to go bang. Turn it off and back on again and it could well go pop.

Rabbitinthenight

75 posts

194 months

Thursday 17th June 2010
quotequote all
Get them at the right frequency and they can counteract tinnitus!

Simpo Two

91,106 posts

288 months

Thursday 17th June 2010
quotequote all
Buy another lamp and set it up an equal distance away on the other side of you. A cunning device, probably with diodes in it, can be used to invert the phase. Then as the buzzing from each lamp reaches you, they will cancel out smile

Eggle

3,609 posts

259 months

Thursday 17th June 2010
quotequote all
Buy a halogen bulb instead.