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🔌General Home Automation => Automating Your House => Troubleshooting Automation Problems => Topic started by: brockp on July 02, 2009, 04:33:55 PM

Title: WS467 Buzzing
Post by: brockp on July 02, 2009, 04:33:55 PM

I just replaced an appliance module that was running a 300W incandescent lamp with a WS467 wall switch.

Unlike other lamp modules are appliance modules I use, this switch when on buzzes.  I looked around online and found its normal for the light to buzz, nothing saying something about the switch its self buzzing.  Switch works reponds to commands etc.  Just the buzzing is really annoying.

Note only buzzes when the light is on (dimmed or 100%),  does not when fully off.

Anyone seen this also?  Did you get rid of the problem?
Brock

Title: Re: WS467 Buzzing
Post by: HA Dave on July 02, 2009, 06:50:18 PM

Quote from: brockp on July 02, 2009, 04:33:55 PM

.....running a 300W incandescent lamp with a WS467 wall switch.

A 300 watt incandescent lamp. Are you sure it isn't really a halogen?

Title: Re: WS467 Buzzing
Post by: dave w on July 02, 2009, 07:41:22 PM

Quote from: brockp on July 02, 2009, 04:33:55 PM

Anyone seen this also?  Did you get rid of the problem?
Brock

Dimmer buzzing is normal, especially under heavy load. Non -X10 dimmers will buzz also. Buzzing is generated by a big choke in dimmers to attenuate the the electrical noise from the triac in the switch. If you have another WS467 you could try swapping them, in the hope that the current buzzer has some lose windings in the choke and the replacement might have tighter or better sealed windings.

Title: Re: WS467 Buzzing
Post by: brockp on July 02, 2009, 08:17:11 PM

Pretty sure, its a honking filament though the entire thing.  I thought it was halogen originally, don't have packaging anymore.

Halogens are dimmable?  Safe to use with that ?  Or should I switch back to appliance switch?

Title: Re: WS467 Buzzing
Post by: dave w on July 03, 2009, 06:29:18 PM

High voltage  Halogens (bulb voltage of 120V or greater) are dimmable and noiseless. All halogens are are incandescent. However the low voltage 12V halogens (under cabinet pucks, etc) many times utilize a switching powersupply which are noisy and may not be dimmable. Regardless, buzzing heard at bulb and switch is pretty normal on high wattage loads. The appliance module would stop the buzzing since it uses a relay rather than a triac to control the load...but you lose ability to dim.

Title: Re: WS467 Buzzing
Post by: brockp on July 04, 2009, 01:15:26 PM

Good to know, so I should be ok, I just never had buzzing before, and wanted to be sure it was all ok.