Buzzing Strip Lights

[TROOPER88]

Hi
I recently posted regarding advice on lighting in my newly built double garage.

In the end I went with 8 twin 5ft anti-corrosive T8 fluroescent strip lights.
They were put up today and aside from one faulty unit that will be swapped all seems ok, apart from a constant buzzing.

There is 2 switches for 4 strips on one side and 4 on the other. Both buzz when switched on loudly which only lasts for a second or so BUT the buzz then gets a lot quitier but does not dissapear.

Because of building regs the ceiling is not massively high (2.3 meters). Is this normal and something I will have to get used to or is there something that is wrong or a way to stop it?

I have only had the lights on for a maximum of 5 minutes so perhaps over more time the noise dissapears?

Any help once again would be really useful

Thank you

[Pcot]

I think you will find, the buzzing comes from the little round starters, located on the side of the tube holders. If the noise is really annoying, the starters can be twisted and removed, once the lights are lit. You will need to refit them though next time you need to turn the lights on.
You may be able to buy better quality, silent starters.

[TonyRPH]

I always thought the buzz came from the ballast, which is effectively a transformer.

[TROOPER88]

TonyRPH said:

I always thought the buzz came from the ballast, which is effectively a transformer.

To be honest thats what I thought.

I will just get used to it. I have just been out to the garage and it is the sort of sound you would just get used to very quickly

Cheers

[Morningside]

Its the laminations of the choke.

As an odd thing, wiring the starter in series with 240v Christmas lights is a cheap flasher (although its a bit RF noisy).

Edited by Morningside on Saturday 13th August 19:53

[Solitude]

a few more bucks and you could have bought HF lights.
pretty sure they don't buzz