Circuit breaker buzzing


  #1  
Old 05-24-19, 07:43 PM
K
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2018
Location: USA
Posts: 16
Upvotes: 0
Received 0 Upvotes on 0 Posts
Circuit breaker buzzing

Hi all,
I have multiple dimmer switches in my house and they all have a small buzzing noise. You would have to put your ear next to the switch to hear it. That is probably not an issue but I noticed that one of them also causes the circuit breaker to buzz. When the light is not on there is no buzzing from either switch or circuit breaker but when I turn on the light I hear the same small buzzing noise when I put my ear next to the circuit breaker. Anything to be concerned about?
 
  #2  
Old 05-24-19, 08:14 PM
PJmax's Avatar
Group Moderator
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Jersey
Posts: 64,928
Received 3,947 Upvotes on 3,540 Posts
That is not an uncommon issue. Since the breakers are thermal/magnetic they sometimes hum. Usually it's with a large load like an A/C but some dimmers can also cause that to happen.
 
  #3  
Old 05-25-19, 11:57 AM
K
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2018
Location: USA
Posts: 16
Upvotes: 0
Received 0 Upvotes on 0 Posts
Thank you PJmax. Anything I should be concerned about or let it hum? The humming does not bother us, an electrical fire would though
 
  #4  
Old 05-25-19, 12:32 PM
PJmax's Avatar
Group Moderator
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Jersey
Posts: 64,928
Received 3,947 Upvotes on 3,540 Posts
The breaker buzz is not harmful. A problem would be if you saw flickering lights.
 
  #5  
Old 05-26-19, 06:02 AM
A
Member
Join Date: Mar 2014
Posts: 1,006
Received 163 Upvotes on 136 Posts
The other thing that you may want to do is read up on dimmer switches and how they work and the reasons for the tabs on the edges of the switch that many times people (non-electricians) break off too many tabs to make more room in the box thus reducing the capacity to carry their loads. Also why they get warm.
 
  #6  
Old 06-07-19, 10:23 PM
K
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2018
Location: USA
Posts: 16
Upvotes: 0
Received 0 Upvotes on 0 Posts
Thanks all. Some tabs are indeed removed but the capacity should be okay. There are 6 LEDs at 11 watts each. Anyways, I'm writing again because the lights are now flickering though, and buzzing from circuit breaker seems to be louder, a recent development in the last few days. It's not consistent but concerning. Is it time to have an electrician take a look?
 
  #7  
Old 06-08-19, 04:26 AM
Tolyn Ironhand's Avatar
Group Moderator
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: United States
Posts: 14,329
Received 877 Upvotes on 740 Posts
Does the circuit breaker feel warm to the touch?
 
  #8  
Old 06-09-19, 07:11 PM
K
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2018
Location: USA
Posts: 16
Upvotes: 0
Received 0 Upvotes on 0 Posts
Hmm, nope not warm to the touch but I don't leave it on when the lights are blinking. When they're not blinking I will leave them on for a while and the breaker isn't warm.
 
  #9  
Old 06-10-19, 05:19 AM
I
Forum Topic Moderator
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Near Lansing, Michigan
Posts: 9,785
Upvotes: 0
Received 45 Upvotes on 43 Posts
LED dimmer technology is not perfected yet. Unless you get a perfect compatibility match between the LED lamps and the dimmer manufacturers there is going to be some buzz, flicker, hum, interference in other devices, etc.
 
 

Thread Tools
Search this Thread
 
Ask a Question
Question Title:
Description:
Your question will be posted in: