New light fitting buzzing

[Mike Garner]

hi guys I’m new to the forum, I’ve tried to find an answer to my issue but so far no real luck.

I have a new light fitting it’s a 5 light fitting with G4 lamps. It says on it “G4 5x max 20W halogen”

It’s got a transformer with an output of 11.5 Vac max:105W eff: 8.75A

I have fitted 5x 2.2W 12V LED lamps and the transformer is buzzing.

It’s not on a dimmer and the buzzing is definitely coming from the transformer.

Has anyone got any ideas why it’s buzzing? Do I have to relent and buy some halogens instead of my LEDS? I hope not as they cost me £28 and I have no other lights that take G4’s!

Any help would be greatly appreciated thanks

 

[Mike Garner]

In fact it also just lowered the pitch of its buzzing and dimmed all the lamps to around half brightness. If I remove a lamp and turn it off then back on they come back full brightness.

My guess it that it just can’t handle all the LEDs?

 

[suffolkspark]

Last sentence in your second post

Most electronic transformers like to work within a minimum and maximum range... These will be way under the minimum i expect by the sounds of it

 

[Pete999]

Last sentence in your second post

Most electronic transformers like to work within a minimum and maximum range... These will be way under the minimum i expect by the sounds of it

Agree, or the TX isn't fixed very well within the fitting itself, causing the 50HZ buzz.

 

[buzzlightyear]

some led g4 are not compatible with some transformers.

 

[suffolkspark]

You cpuld revert to the old bulbs or replace the transformer with one of these

Varilight YT50LZ

 

[telectrix]

try replacing 1 of the LEDs with a halogen.

 

[buzzlightyear]

https://www.bing.com/aclick?ld=d3vV...20Tubes&rlid=5be934097ed3174beb166ff4237c170c

 

[telectrix]

https://www.bing.com/aclick?ld=d3vVCNwg-OdkEg7XE4j6-f3DVUCUw_u3GQojqir6gC7EWFATi9T3fXklYIAcb4wvALAaFbftTnpGPMfuABTvLnCT1D7_0gdQGwAkjGoq5j4fkKonK9lY0MsZreZvZvbFOva-R-iyGzdeS38MeC_eTh9i7KVIZa3NCOhd3q2JaQyJk9i0JX&u=http://clickserve.dartsearch.net/link/click?lid=92700031521275171&ds_s_kwgid=58700003915321210&ds_e_adid=80539261953840&ds_s_inventory_feed_id=97700000002416018&ds_e_product_group_id=4584138855262299&ds_e_product_id=1482P&ds_e_product_country=GB&ds_e_product_language=EN&ds_e_product_channel=online&ds_url_v=2&ds_dest_url=https://www.NoLinkingToThis/p/philips-g4-capsule-led-light-bulb-105lm-1-2w-12v/1482P?kpid=1482P&ds_kid=[*TrackerID*]&utm_source=bing&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=PX%20%7C%20Shopping%20%7C%20Electrical%20%26%20Lighting&utm_term=4584138855262299&utm_content=G%20-%20Light%20Bulbs%20%26%20Tubes&rlid=5be934097ed3174beb166ff4237c170c

and here was i thinking that OP had got you trapped in his light.

 

[Mike Garner]

It’s annoying but the light didn’t come with any lamps, so I can’t even test it with anything different without buying more.

It’s funny because originally (by mistake) I bought a pack of 4 and it’s been working fine apart from the occasional random quiet buzzing. It comes and goes, sometimes for a couple of seconds other times for a few minutes.

But today I bought another pack of four (I bought a single one from eBay but it was a waste of money) and when I put the fourth in hey presto constant louder buzzing then the dimming also after some time.

So if anything to me it sounds like too much load, but can’t see why.

I might try having one halogen, at least that way it will keep the overall wattage down still

 

[Mike Garner]

You cpuld revert to the old bulbs or replace the transformer with one of these

Varilight YT50LZ

This could be an option, although what makes this one more suitable than the OEM one?

 

[Taylortwocities]

So if anything to me it sounds like too much load, but can’t see why.

It sounds like too little load. As mentioned above. See #3.. Didn’t you read the responses?
The old halogen transformers need a minimum load for them to work properly.
Your LEDs are only an 11W load. I expect the minimum for that xfrmr will be at least 20watts.
You need to change the tranny for a Led-compatible power supply.

 

[davesparks]

You need a 12V Led driver to power Led lamps not the 12V AC power supply you currently have.

 

[suffolkspark]

This could be an option, although what makes this one more suitable than the OEM one?

Because the one in the link has no minimum load.

You need a 12V Led driver to power Led lamps not the 12V AC power supply you currently have.

Ive tried to use a led driver on gu5.3s before and it didnt work, guessing as it was d.c and those and these g4s are designed for a.c. the varilight one in the link will fit the bill

 

[Mike Garner]

It sounds like too little load. As mentioned above. See #3.. Didn’t you read the responses?
The old halogen transformers need a minimum load for them to work properly.
Your LEDs are only an 11W load. I expect the minimum for that xfrmr will be at least 20watts.
You need to change the tranny for a Led-compatible power supply.

Didn’t you read MY response? Particularly the part about it working fine with 4 LEDs but when the 5th one is added it goes wrong? (I said it went wrong with the fourth one in the previous post but I meant 5th)

Surely if it’s too little load it would be worse or at least the same with 4 than with five not vise versa?

Also when I sat having me tea earlier it turned itself off 3 times, had to off and on the light switch!

I’ll try adding in a halogen and of that doesn’t work I’ll look at changing the transformer. Although with it being brand new I’m not that keen on invalidating the warranty. But if needs be.

 

[chris gray]

With it being a new fitting you should have manufacturers fitting instructions, in them it will quite likely state that your fitting it not suitable for led lamps.

 

[Mike Garner]

Ive just looked at the instructions and all it says about bulbs is
Maximum wattage - 20W
Voltage - 12V
Lightbulb type -G4 capsule
Don’t exceed maximum wattage as fitting may overheat