Buzzing/Humming from light fixture with LEDs?

[Homerboy]

I recently replaced 3 incandescents with 3 LED bulbs in an old light ficture.
It is on a dimmer and now when I turn the lights on, there is a quite audible buzz/hum coming from the them. It seems to go away after the lights have been on for a while, but it's literally over our dining room table and it's annoying as hell.

Is it the bulbs? Is it due to the dimmer?
Any thoughts?
Thanks in advance.

 

[dlock13]

Did you update the dimmer? I'm not entirely sure on the specifics, but from what I've researched, LEDs do not work with incandescent dimmer switches.

 

[Homerboy]

Did you update the dimmer? I'm not entirely sure on the specifics, but from what I've researched, LEDs do not work with incandescent dimmer switches.

No I didn't. I will have to look at that. I mean they do actually dim, just there's the buzzing now

 

[Paperdoc]

The dimmer type you use can be important, but the LED lamp also can be. I have a 5-lamp fixture in my living room controlled by an old rotary-knob dimmer, and I wanted to switch to 60W-equivlent LED's. Researching on-line disclosed that the Philips LED's seem able to work with several dimmers, are quiet and do not flicker. I bought half a dozen on sale from a local store (in Canada) and they work perfectly with no need to change the dimmer. I never hear a noise from them. I noticed only two differences between these and the older standard incadecent bulbs as the dimmer is turned down:
1. The light colour of the LED's does not change, whereas incandecents go more yellow at lower power;
2. At minimum brightness setting of the dimmer, the LED's are brighter, and do not actually turn off until I push the on / off switch.

The specific bulbs I got are the classic A19 shape of "standard" light bulbs with the medium screw base. The package says the Philips Item # is 461236 (but I've seen similar bulbs with slightly different numbers), and it says they are Soft White light (2700K colour temperature), 60 W replacements using 9.5 W, and dimmable. Light output is spec'd at 800 lumens, lifetime 25,000 hours.

 

[KentState]

That's pretty common when mixing dimmers and LED lights. Dimming occurs by quickly turning the light on and off while an LED also pulses on/off naturally. Make sure the dimmer is meant for LED's and that the bulb is meant to dim.

 

[:emaN resU]

I'll agree with the suggestion to replace the dimmer switch with an LED compatible dimmer. You'll get funky things like flickering, lights turning on and off on their own, if you don't use the right switch. Look up Lutron Diva or Maestro on amazon.

If you have recessed incandescent can lights, you can upgrade them rally easily for 10-20 bucks a piece with an LED retrofit kit and make them look really nice. Just doing some electrical work in our house lately.

 

[Rifter]

Its the dimmer, get rid of it and you will be fine, or get a LED dimmer and make sure the bulbs can dim not all LED;s can.

 

[Homerboy]

Does it make sense though that the buzzing goes away after ~5mins or so?

 

[KentState]

Does it make sense though that the buzzing goes away after ~5mins or so?

I know my CFL lights that dimmed would buzz when cold and then stop once warmed up. The same may apply to your bulbs.

 

[Homerboy]

I know my CFL lights that dimmed would buzz when cold and then stop once warmed up. The same may apply to your bulbs.

Which would lead me to believe the switch wouldn't matter?

 

[ch33zw1z]

Led's use different dimmers. May as well spend the 10 bucks to get what's needed. Also, the bulbs must be dimmable. I know this was already said in the thread....