LED Dimmer Buzzing

I find it odd that the buzzing sound is coming from the dimmer.

For most LED lights, just because its compatible doesn't mean there won't be buzzing.

This may not help you if its coming from the switch, but for any LED dimmers I buy now I make sure they are either reverse phase dimming or can be reprogrammed accordingly. Ive found most of the time that its the forward phase dimming, which isn't really real dimming to be the issue.

Dimmers with neutral wires have them because they use power themselves, it should likely not impact how your power is stepped down or turned on/off really quickly to create the illusion of dimming.

SubjectivelyObjective wrote: ↑ I find it odd that the buzzing sound is coming from the dimmer.

For most LED lights, just because its compatible doesn't mean there won't be buzzing.

This may not help you if its coming from the switch, but for any LED dimmers I buy now I make sure they are either reverse phase dimming or can be reprogrammed accordingly. Ive found most of the time that its the forward phase dimming, which isn't really real dimming to be the issue.

Dimmers with neutral wires have them because they use power themselves, it should likely not impact how your power is stepped down or turned on/off really quickly to create the illusion of dimming.

Thanks for this. Silly question, but how do I tell if they are reverse phase? Any recommendations on reverse phase dimmers? If my switch is forward phase then perhaps this is exactly the issue.

Also, for nonsmart switches, how do Lutrons compare to Leviton

Typhoonz wrote: ↑ Thanks for this. Silly question, but how do I tell if they are reverse phase? Any recommendations on reverse phase dimmers? If my switch is forward phase then perhaps this is exactly the issue.

Also, for nonsmart switches, how do Lutrons compare to Leviton

Ultimately just have to look it up. Most mechanical switches are going to be one or the other and they will more so tend to be forward phase. For electronic ones, a lot can be reprogramed to be either or.

My house is legrand and they are reprogrammable. Some of my LED lights were insane when I hooked them up, I know the picture lights for sure when it was on forward phase dimming you could hear them humming from across the house. Swapped to reverse phase dimming and they are perfectly quiet. Can't hear a thing even if I put my ear to them.

The old analog dimmers used a rheostat (variable resistor) to reduce the voltage going to the lights. Most electronic dimmers instead turn the voltage off and on at high rate and adjust the duty cycle to control the average power that the lights receive. This can cause a buzzing sound at the frequency of the dimmer's on/off cycle. The sound is caused by mechanical flexing of internal components as the magnetic field snaps on and off, increasing in magnitude as the amount of current flowing through the switch increases.

So what can you do? Tightening down the switch mounts might help a little - or not, You could change to a different switch of course, Also the buzzing actually depends on the interaction between the dimmer switch and the LED lights. Some LED lights have more input power filtering, which would smooth out the current flow through the switch and reduce the buzzing. You might find that a different set of LED lights improves the problem. Sometimes it can be enough to change just one light of a set, if it provides enough damping to smooth things out for the whole string.

SubjectivelyObjective wrote: ↑ Ultimately just have to look it up. Most mechanical switches are going to be one or the other and they will more so tend to be forward phase. For electronic ones, a lot can be reprogramed to be either or.

My house is legrand and they are reprogrammable. Some of my LED lights were insane when I hooked them up, I know the picture lights for sure when it was on forward phase dimming you could hear them humming from across the house. Swapped to reverse phase dimming and they are perfectly quiet. Can't hear a thing even if I put my ear to them.

Thanks. What Legrand switch do you use?

Scote64 wrote: ↑The old analog dimmers used a rheostat (variable resistor) to reduce the voltage going to the lights. Most electronic dimmers instead turn the voltage off and on at high rate and adjust the duty cycle to control the average power that the lights receive. This can cause a buzzing sound at the frequency of the dimmer's on/off cycle. The sound is caused by mechanical flexing of internal components as the magnetic field snaps on and off, increasing in magnitude as the amount of current flowing through the switch increases.

So what can you do? Tightening down the switch mounts might help a little - or not, You could change to a different switch of course, Also the buzzing actually depends on the interaction between the dimmer switch and the LED lights. Some LED lights have more input power filtering, which would smooth out the current flow through the switch and reduce the buzzing. You might find that a different set of LED lights improves the problem. Sometimes it can be enough to change just one light of a set, if it provides enough damping to smooth things out for the whole string.

Really appreciate the response. I might try a No smart switch. The Casetta I put in buzzes more than Diva switch I had in. Seems like anything above 6 pot lights and I get buzzing from the switch…. I can’t switch out of the pots or it’ll look weird in the room

jzmtl wrote: ↑Probably improperly/not potted inductor, not much you can do about it.

Forgive me, but where is the inductor? Is it in the pit light itself, or something I can replace separately?